Whether your rights, content, text, images, audio or visuals are being copied, used without your permission or there is a risk of them being used, we’ll fight for what’s yours. If you have been accused of infringing, we will advise on your best options.
Social media and online publishing are creating new threats to ownership and usage of materials.
As a niche media and litigation practice, we fully recognise the importance of protecting the name, brand, image and creative work of our clients.
This means halting breaches of intellectual property as quickly as possible to minimise financial impact and to protect brands from further damage and exploitation.
We have substantial experience of enforcing our clients’ intellectual property rights and protecting brand names and marks through negotiation, mediation, High Court proceedings and injunctive actions.
We work nationally with businesses as well as musicians, writers and other creative individuals to protect ownership and usage of all forms of intellectual property:
Whatever the intellectual property dispute, we’re experienced in securing the results our clients need.
While each case turns on its own facts, it is usually sensible to approach the other party to ask them to stop infringing your rights as the IP owner. Ensuring your rights are protected must not involve issuing unwarranted threats – which in some circumstances in itself can be actionable. The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill [HL] 2016-17 is now subject only to Royal Assent before coming law.
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 creates the legal right for the originator to exclusively print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material for a fixed period.
There is no formal process to register a copyright. Artists/writers are advised to make a contemporaneous record of origination and ownership, such as sending a copy to a professional adviser.
Copyright generally lasts 70 years from the end of the year that the author/originator died although IP duration very much depends on the rights.
No, copyright is an internationally recognised, automatic right.
If it isn’t possible to settle the matter outside of court, for SMEs and private individuals who may otherwise be deterred by the costs of litigation, the Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court offers a less formal alternative to asserting their rights. It offers the same remedies as the High Court, including damages, injunctions and disclosure but costs are limited so exposure to huge financial risk is controlled.
For all enquiries, please call 01244 230000 and a member of our team will be happy to help. Alternatively, you can fill out a quick form on our contact page.
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