our services
Stonehampton specialises exclusively in the field of intellectual property. We have particular expertise in protection of inventions in the fields of mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and software.
PATENTS
Owning a patent can also have a significant tax advantage. Under the Patent Box scheme which came into effect in April 2013, a patent proprietor will pay less corporation tax on profits from a patented product or product produced by a patented method.
Our firm’s core focus is on obtaining patents for clients’ inventions, both in the UK and worldwide. We have very extensive experience in drafting patent specifications and prosecuting the subsequent applications through to grant. We also have experience in enforcing the resulting patents and defending the patents from oppositions by third parties.
We also offer a wide range of post-grant services, including payment of renewal fees and drafting and recordal of assignments and licences. In addition, we provide validity and infringement opinions on patents of third parties and prior art searching services
TRADEMARKS
A trademark can often be a company’s most valuable asset. A company’s reputation is often linked to its trademark as a guarantee of the source of goods or services provided and as a guarantee of quality.
Registering a trademark gives the proprietor exclusive rights to use the mark and any confusingly similar mark. Failure to register a trademark can allow a competitor to use a confusingly similar mark and so take advantage of the reputation of the mark. If this is allowed to go unchecked, then the owner of the mark could lose the right to use the mark, with an associated loss of customers and profits.
Through our network of associates in the UK and abroad we have extensive experience in helping our clients obtain trademark protection throughout the world.
As with patents, we offer a wide range of post-grant services including trademark watching services so that you will be notified of filing of similar marks by competitors and also services relating to trademark renewals.
DESIGNS AND COPYRIGHT
In addition to registered rights, clients will also have unregistered rights such as design right and copyright which come into existence automatically on creation of intellectual property. We often advise in relation to these complicated areas of intellectual property law.
IP AUDITS AND REVIEWS
We carry out IP audits with clients, identifying and evaluating inventions in the early stage of development. We can then advise on the best and most effective way of obtaining protection. We also review existing IP portfolios, identifying important dates and providing a forecast of upcoming costs.
We also review portfolios, identifying the client’s key intellectual property and which intellectual property may no longer be of relevance to the client’s commercial objectives. This allows the client to better focus their IP budget on supporting business growth.
Assets which are no longer key to a client’s business can often be out-licenced or assigned, providing an extra source of income. Similarly, there may be important intellectual property which a business may wish to acquire. We are happy to advise on assignment and licensing of intellectual property.
