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Dispute resolution

Intellectual property dispute solicitors

Protect the brand, ideas and content your business has worked hard to build.

Make an enquiryCall 01543 263 456
  • Jason Alcock
  • Martin De Ridder
  • Ian Meadows
  • Louise Palmer
  • Alexander Medford
  • +5 more
Your dispute resolution team

In short

Ansons Law's intellectual property solicitors help businesses stop others copying their brand, designs and content or misusing their confidential information. We also defend businesses accused of infringement. Many problems end with a well-judged cease and desist letter, and where that fails the courts can order the infringement to stop and award damages or an account of the infringer's profits. Smaller claims can go to the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, which is designed to be quicker and to keep costs contained.

First step
Usually a cease and desist letter
Registration
Trade marks and registered designs need registering; copyright arises automatically
Smaller claims
The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC)
Head of dispute resolution
Jason Alcock, Director
Intellectual property Make an enquiry

Act quickly

Acting fast matters, both to limit the damage and to keep the strongest remedies available. Where confidential information or trade secrets have been taken, moving quickly is essential once the problem comes to light.

What intellectual property rights does your business have?

Your brand, your designs, your content and your know-how are valuable business assets. Intellectual property law protects them through several different rights, including trade marks, copyright, designs and confidential information. Each is protected and enforced in its own way.

Some rights need to be registered, such as trade marks and registered designs, while others, such as copyright and unregistered design right, arise automatically. Good records of when and how you created or registered your IP make enforcement far easier.

How do you stop someone infringing your IP?

When someone copies your work, trades off your name or walks off with your confidential information, it can cost you customers, revenue and reputation. The aim is to stop the infringement quickly and protect what is yours.

Many infringement problems are resolved with a well-judged cease and desist letter, setting out the right infringed and what needs to stop. Where that does not work, court action can include orders to stop the infringement, to deliver up or destroy infringing goods and to pay damages or account for profits.

There is also a specialist court, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, designed to handle smaller IP claims more quickly and with controlled costs. That can make enforcement realistic for smaller businesses.

Can you help if we are accused of infringement?

Yes. We act for businesses on both sides: enforcing rights against others and defending businesses accused of infringement. Either way we focus on the commercial outcome, and we advise on the strength of your position before you decide how to respond.

Going through papers at the round table in the Ansons Law office in Lichfield
What we do

What our intellectual property solicitors can help with

From a copycat competitor to a former employee taking your know-how, we help you respond.
  • Trade mark infringement and passing off
  • Copyright infringement
  • Registered and unregistered design rights
  • Misuse of confidential information and trade secrets
  • Cease and desist letters
  • Defending infringement claims
  • Disputes over ownership of IP
  • Breach of licence and IP agreements
  • Domain name and online infringement
  • Employee and ex-employee misuse of IP
  • Settlement and undertakings
  • Court proceedings, including in the IPEC
The team

Your dispute resolution team

The solicitors who handle intellectual property disputes at Ansons Law. Every card opens the person's profile.
Meet the whole team
Jason Alcock Director, Head of Dispute Resolution and Employment Jason Alcock Martin De Ridder Managing Director Martin De Ridder Ian Meadows Director, Dispute Resolution & Property Litigation Ian Meadows Louise Palmer Senior Associate Solicitor Louise Palmer Alexander Medford Associate Solicitor Alexander Medford Victoria Simpson née Ramshaw Associate Solicitor Victoria Simpson née Ramshaw Rachael Wood Advanced Paralegal Rachael Wood Robin Heslop Consultant Solicitor Robin Heslop Ranjit Shergill Associate Director Ranjit Shergill Charlie Woolman Trainee Solicitor Charlie Woolman
Questions

Intellectual property questions

Someone is copying my brand. What can I do?

If they are using a name, logo or branding similar to yours, you may have a claim for trade mark infringement or passing off. The first step is usually a cease and desist letter, and we will advise on the strength of your position and the right route.

Do I need to have registered my rights?

It depends on the right. Trade marks and registered designs need registration to give the strongest protection, but copyright and unregistered design right arise automatically. Either way, there is often action you can take.

What is passing off?

Passing off protects the goodwill in an unregistered brand. In broad terms, it stops a competitor presenting their goods or services in a way that misleads customers into thinking they are connected with you.

A former employee has taken our confidential information. Can we stop them?

Often, yes. Confidential information and trade secrets can be protected, and urgent court orders may be available, but speed is critical. The sooner you take advice, the more options you tend to have.

What is the IPEC?

The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court is a specialist court for lower value IP disputes. It is designed to be quicker and to keep costs more contained, which makes enforcement more realistic for smaller businesses.

What can I recover if someone has infringed my IP?

Remedies can include an order to stop the infringement, delivery up or destruction of infringing items and either damages or an account of the infringer's profits, depending on the circumstances.

Accreditations and awards

Talk to an intellectual property solicitor

Tell us what is being copied or misused and when you found out. Enquiries are confidential, and the sooner you take advice, the more options you tend to have.

Call 01543 263 456
Offices

Our offices

Our dispute resolution team works from our offices across the Midlands. Every office can take your enquiry.
Contact us
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