International Intellectual Property Legal Blog
Can businesses protect their processes without a patent?
Sound products make companies profitable. And while companies can patent those products, companies typically can't patent the processes used to create them. However, keeping production methods and processes out of competitors’ hands is crucial for continued success....
Adidas loses trademark fight with Belgian shoe company
German sportswear company Adidas lost another trademark battle. According to a recent report, an EU court labeled its three-stripe design as "not distinct enough." This comes after a long-running legal dispute between Adidas and Belgian sportswear company, Shoe...
Protecting intellectual property in the age of remote work
The recent pandemic is uprooting American life as we know it. Luckily, since many companies do their work digitally, transitioning to a work-from-home setting is easier than ever before. But with more flexibility comes greater responsibility. That’s because trade...
Drafting vendor agreements that protect IP
Vendors play a crucial role in all kinds of business projects. In the globalized economy, they can help maintain strong relationships, improve cost efficiency and expand a company's reach in a fast-growing and competitive market. While using vendors comes with...
Accounting for encumbrances on intellectual property
Many mergers and acquisitions are based on the acquiring party’s ability to exploit any intellectual property associated with the deal. This is particularly true for business owners in the technology and digital space, where well-protected, vetted IP can be the...
How new businesses fail to protect their IP
Your intellectual property (IP) lies at the heart of your new business. Without it, your business won’t stand out in the market and you will have nothing to differentiate yourself from your competitors. With IP so vitally important, why do so many new businesses fail...
Challenges manufacturers face when protecting their IP
Bringing a unique and cutting-edge product to the market helps your business stand out in a sea of competitors. Developing new and valuable intellectual property (IP) presents its own unique challenges, but what about protecting it? Manufacturers everywhere are...
Who owns the IP? For startups, the answer can be complicated.
Startups often look to grow at a blistering pace, taking advantage of the winds of innovation blowing in their sails. While this breakneck progress can be advantageous, there are some risks. That includes the possibility of overlooking some small – but important –...
When should you seek patent protection?
If you have invented or created a new, useful machine, tool, manufactured item, design or process, you may well wish to patent it. The main advantage to you is that once patented, no one else can make, use or sell your invention for 20 years from the application’s...
Global outsourcing comes with intellectual property risks
There are many potential business benefits to outsourcing. It may be cheaper to manufacture a product in a different country, for example. Or maybe a strategic partnership with a foreign business can help open the door to international success. However, introducing...
