Intellectual Property
Our Practice Areas
Our practice areas are geared to the demands of our clients. Ireland is fast developing as a key low tax European base for business and as a result there is an ever increasing amount of inward business investment involving intellectual property rights.
Many firms seek to offer a number of distinct sectoral practice areas under the one intellectual property banner. We offer separate and dedicated Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Media and Entertainment, Life Sciences and Retail and Leisure teams. The specialist nature of our practice groups enables us to offer a focussed industry-based expertise while also providing strategic and expert intellectual property advice and litigation services.
Please click here to access our Intellectual Property brochure
About the Group
Our Intellectual Property Group represents a diverse local and international client base in both contentious and commercial IP matters. We represent national and multi-national clients in intellectual property disputes and advise on IP issues in many of the largest corporate transactions taking place in Ireland.
Led by Alistair Payne, an IP practitioner of many years experience both in Ireland and overseas, the IP Group comprises of dedicated IP lawyers based in the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. Our lawyers have specialised post graduate qualifications and are committed to delivering pragmatic, commercial and concise advice to our clients.
Our IP Group advises on:
Corporate
- intellectual property due diligence reviews and strategic portfolio advice
- acquisition/divestment and licensing of intellectual property rights
- preparing and implementing corporate intellectual property protection programmes
- employee rights and corporate ownership of intellectual property rights
- international re-structuring of IP rights
- securitisation of intellectual property rights
- confidential information and trade secrets
Branding and Trade Marks
- branding and trade mark protection programmes
- trade mark filing and prosecution through Matheson Ormsby Prentice trade mark advisors
- trade mark and get-up licensing
- protection of image, personality rights and business reputation
- trademark infringement and passing-off disputes
- anti-counterfeiting and customs registration
Patents and Technology
- strategic patent protection and commercialisation advice
- research and development agreements and technology licensing
- patent ownership, infringment and validity disputes
Copyright Designs and Databases
- computer game protection advice and licensing
- registered and unregistered designs
- database rights
Internet and Domain Names
- Internet based trade mark and copyright infringement
- website intellectual property risk management
- international domain name protection strategies
- domain name dispute
Emerging Business Programme
We have specifically developed an Emerging Business Programme for companies at the formation stage of their development. This programme is designed to provide such companies with a range of key legal services and access to expert advice, all bearing the stamp of Matheson Ormsby Prentice's quality work - at a cost designed to match their resources. For further information, please access our Emerging Business Programme brochure.
Representative Transactions
- undertaking strategic IP due diligence investigations and advising on IP issues in the context of mergers, takeovers, new ventures and investments in the insurance and cable/satellite television sectors, manufacturing, retail, biotechnology and Internet based software sectors
- representing one of the largest international drinks manufacturers in trade mark infringement and passing-off proceedings and in brand protections matters
- representing Irish fashion retailer in unregistered design litigation brought by a series of high street retailers
- representing technology and research institutes and government agencies in patent ownership and infringement disputes
- advising on parallel importation issues and representing parties in patent infringement disputes
- advising and representing an international pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement dispute
- representing branded merchandise manufacturers in trade mark and anti-counterfeiting matters
- advising international paint manufacturer on copyright protection issues
- advising banks, insurance companies, Ireland's national postal service provider, a international publishing conglomerate, international media company on trade mark and branding strategies and transitional arrangements in the context of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures
- advising multinational information service provider on copyright and licensing issues
- advising Irish national sporting body on exploitation of image rights
- advising private tertiary and governmental institutions on intellectual property policies and the commercialisation of intellectual property rights
Professional Activities
Lawyers in the Intellectual Property Group take an active role in local and international organisations concerned with the development of intellectual property law. Organisations in which we are involved include the Intellectual Property Sub-committee of the International Bar Association, the International Association for Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), the Copyright Association of Ireland, the International Trademark Association (INTA) the Licensing Executives Society (LES), MARQUES (The Association of European Trade Mark Owners), the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) the Intellectual Property Sub-Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce and the domain name dispute resolution service administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Centre.
Contact:
Head of Group
Alistair Payne
Direct Dial: + 353 1 232 2342
Email: alistair.payne@mop.ie