Protection should follow the business's products, markets and exploitation plans. We coordinate trade marks, patents, designs, copyright and trade secrets with development and licensing agreements. A coherent rights chain is needed before technology or content can be licensed reliably.
What we assess
Filing priorities, publication dates and budget should be considered together. Exclusive licences need practical performance obligations and exit provisions. Where know-how is kept secret instead of patented, access controls and confidentiality measures must support the protection claimed.
Four practical examples
Illustrative scenarios, not accounts of client matters. The appropriate response depends on the documents, applicable law and procedural position.
A start-up targets several markets
The company cannot file everywhere at once. Markets and protectable subject matter are prioritised against the business plan. Filing deadlines and intended disclosures are considered so that early choices do not unnecessarily obstruct later expansion.
Worldwide exclusive licensing
A partner asks for broad exclusivity. Territory, field of use, minimum performance and reversion rights are negotiated. Without suitable obligations, an exclusive licence may block the owner's exploitation even if the licensee does little to develop the market.
Due diligence reveals a rights gap
A contractor's rights were not properly obtained. Contributions and contracts are examined. Corrective agreements and accurate disclosure can address the issue; registration alone does not establish every substantive entitlement.
Manufacturing know-how remains secret
The company decides against a patent filing. Access rules, confidentiality agreements and marking are aligned. Trade secret protection requires demonstrable safeguards, not merely an assumption that everyone involved will remain loyal.
Documents that help
Development plans, market priorities, rights registers, contractor and employment agreements, licence drafts and confidentiality arrangements.
From assessment to the next step
We first distinguish established facts from disputed allegations and identify any step needed to preserve rights. The legal route is then assessed against the commercial objective, available evidence and potential cost. Where technical or foreign-law input is required, responsibilities are coordinated before further work is commissioned. Negotiation, formal proceedings and practical implementation are considered together; a favourable legal position still needs a workable route to the intended result.
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Discuss your matter
Tell us the parties involved, your objective and any deadlines. Our main office is in Hanover, Lower Saxony. We advise on German-law matters nationwide and coordinate cross-border work with locally qualified counsel where required.
Send an enquiry — all fields optional · +49 511 3573560
We check conflicts and agree the scope and fees before accepting instructions. An enquiry alone does not create an engagement or preserve a deadline.