Patents, Trademarks,
Know-how & Copyright
PATENTS & TRADEMARKS
We provide comprehensive assistance in filing and registering patents and trademarks at national and international level: from preliminary studies to obtaining the licence. We also manage the retention of rights in the post-licence phase.
We also conduct strategic consultancy dedicated to the best creation and management of trademark and patent packages.
UTILITY MODELS
Whenever possible, we propose utility models as an alternative to patents to protect the technical innovation of certain simpler products more quickly and economically. We assess together with the client all factors for a correct choice: the content of the innovation, the Nation were protection is being sought, commercial and legal interests.
ORNAMENTAL (DESIGN) MODELS
We protect the appearance, shape, lines and colours of products of all kinds. Through multiple (national and European) design registrations, it is possible to protect the outward appearance of multiple products of the same kind with a single application.
KNOW-HOW
We provide technical and legal advice on the most appropriate protection of company secret information, both technical and commercial.
COPYRIGHT
We provide assistance and advice on the filing and protection of works protectable through copyright, such as formats, software, videos, websites, advertising material, engineering projects and unpublished works.
Preventive Protection &
Technical-Legal Defence
PRIOR ART SEARCHING
To avoid infringement and to assess the novelty of your ideas, we perform thorough prior art searches to check for the existence of similar patents or trademarks.
From a strategic perspective, prior searching reveals the state of the art in a given sector, highlights the progress made by competitors and frames the true extent of innovation developed by a company in relation to its competitors.
PRIOR INTERFERENCE ASSESSMENTS
We check for potential interference of products and processes, patents or trademarks with industrial and intellectual property rights held by others. After appropriate searching, we are able to issue clearance opinions for the production and marketing of a product or the use of a trademark, without running the concrete risk of counterfeiting.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK SURVEILLANCE
We monitor the registration of new trademarks at national and international level in order to promptly report the filing of similar trademarks. We alert the customer to possible interferences and intervene promptly with warnings and oppositions to resolve critical issues at the administrative level, preventing much more costly legal action.
TECHNICAL AND PATENT ASSISTANCE IN LITIGATION
We provide technical assistance in intellectual property and unfair competition litigation.
We prepare technical opinions in case of litigation. We prepare complete documentation for legal proceedings and representation in court.
LEGAL DEFENCE IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND COMPETITION MATTERS
We provide full and direct client support in national and international intellectual property and competition litigation. In close cooperation with Studio Feltrinelli & Brogi, Apta’s specialised legal department, we provide direct advocacy in legal proceedings for infringement and invalidation of intellectual property rights and unfair competition, particularly for slavish imitation, appropriation of merits, trade disparagement, misleading advertising, enticement of employees, and misappropriation of trade secrets.
Contract writing
KNOW-HOW ASSIGNMENTS AND LICENCES –
NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS (NDA)
Also on an international level, we prepare articulated contracts for the transfer and licensing of company secret information (know-how) and to regulate relations with employees, collaborators and others who are involved in the handling and use of company, technical and trade secrets, through specific non disclosure agreements (NDA) confidentiality agreements and non-competition agreements.
ASSIGNMENTS AND LICENCES OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
We provide comprehensive assistance in the drafting and direct negotiation of national and international contracts for the assignment and licensing of patents and trademarks, appropriately regulating the most critical issues and possible risks.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS
We manage research and development contracts for new products and processes with universities, national and international public and private research organisations, scientists and researchers with specific regulations, with particular reference to the ownership of results, protection of intellectual property and confidential company information.
OTHER TYPES OF CONTRACTS (DISTRIBUTION, SUPPLY, FRANCHISING, MERCHANDISING)
We support the proper commercial exploitation of trademarks and have long experience in the preparation and direct negotiation of national and international commercial agreements of different types, such as distribution, supply, franchising, and merchandising agreements.
Economic
valorisation
APPRAISALS OF THE VALUE OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS
We carry out expert opinions on the economic value of intangible corporate assets such as patents, trademarks, know-how, software, designs and models. Estimating these intangible assets is crucial for making strategic decisions, attracting investment and demonstrating a company’s potential.
These appraisals are particularly useful for measuring the value of a business in the case of business transfers, extraordinary corporate transactions, business crises and legal proceedings for damages.
Training
TRAINING ACTIVITIES ON INDUSTRIAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We organise training courses for companies, business associations, public and private entities to spread more knowledge about industrial and intellectual property.
The training courses are run by subject matter experts and are customised according to demand. They are organised at various levels, from generalist lectures to specialised seminars. They provide a comprehensive view of the field and concrete dynamics of registering, maintaining and protecting trademarks, patents and know-how, on the sum of confidential business knowledge, on copyright, on unfair competition, and on the protection of know-how.