IP Agreements

Creative innovation often involves working in partnership with others, and we are seeing an increase in the use of contractual collaborations as a tool to open new doors for existing businesses. These agreements help businesses expand into new fields, adopt new sales channels, and reach new audiences. Our IP expertise ensures that intellectual property issues are addressed proactively in all collaboration agreements.

We support businesses in:

• Research and development collaborations (both commercial and academic).
• Complex multi-party collaborations.
• Brand collaborations.
• Advertising, social media, and influencer collaborations.
• Addressing IP disputes arising within corporate joint ventures.

Engaging another organisation to develop IP on your behalf is a supply of services arrangement that carries significant intellectual property issues and risks. Our IP agreement solicitors help businesses secure their intellectual property rights in development agreements by:

• Drafting research and development services agreements.
• Advising on design services agreements.
• Negotiating software development and website/app development agreements.
• Preparing commissioning agreements for art, photography, music, and other creative assets.
• Structuring freelancer and consultancy agreements to ensure IP ownership and protection.

IP licensing involves a rightsholder granting another party the right to use its IP rights in some way, whilst retaining ownership of those IP rights. Most IP related agreements involve some form of licensing arrangement – and they can even be a useful way to settle infringement disputes.

Whether you are looking to exploit your own IP rights or secure the ability to use those belonging to another, our specialists can help. We draft and negotiate licences involving any and all forms of IP rights, and we understand the different issues and considerations that arise in each context and in different industries. Our team provides legal support for:

• Drafting and negotiating licensing agreements for trade marks, patents, copyright, and design rights.
• Managing intra-group licences to ensure companies within a business group have appropriate IP access.
• Structuring cross-licensing agreements between multiple parties.
• Addressing IP disputes that arise from licensing agreements and contractual misunderstandings.
• Resolving trade mark infringement cases through licensing and settlement agreements.

Ownership of IP is critical for maintaining business value and avoiding legal disputes. Our IP agreement solicitors assist with:

• Conducting chain of title reviews and ensuring compliance with intellectual property laws.
• Preparing and negotiating ownership transfer agreements.
• Advising on IP ownership within corporate group structures and intra-group assignments.
• Resolving IP disputes concerning commissioned work from third parties.