Intellectual Property
An organisation’s intellectual property (IP) is an intangible asset, which, in today’s digital world, are often more valuable than bricks and mortar resources, and therefore requires robust protection and in the case of an infringement of rights, a rapid response.
Our intellectual property lawyers, led by partner Gríana O’Kelly , and Marc Fitzgibbon will give you practical, commercially astute advice on how best to protect your IP, both within Ireland and internationally.
IP is intangible property which is created by an individual or organisation. Examples include inventions, art (such as music, books, and films), designs, and trademarks. Failure to protect IP can result in unfortunate consequences; for example, next time you sing Karaoke, think of the inventor, Daisuke Inoue, who failed to patent the invention and lost out on millions. And the person who invented the ‘smiley’ emoticon also never protected his work and earned a mere $US45 for his original design.
By registering your IP, you can be confident that others cannot profit from your creativity without paying you for the privilege. In the case of trademarks, by registering them, you can protect your company’s brand and reputation.
If you have IP rights in the form of a registered trademark, design right or patent, or through copyright, if someone else uses your IP without permission you can act to enforce your rights. The Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, the Patents Act 1992, the Trade Marks Act 1996 and the Industrial Designs Act 2001 all contain provisions imposing civil liability on any person or organisation that infringes existing IP rights.
When it comes to IP infringements, time is of the essence. Our IP lawyers will move fast to make an application for an injunction and bring a claim for damages, or an order to account for profits if appropriate.
If you register your trademark, design right or patent only in Ireland, it will have no enforceable rights in a foreign jurisdiction. To have protection across all EU Member States, you need to register your IP with the appropriate body such as the European Patent Office or the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
Dublin has been home to the European headquarters of numerous multi-nationals for many years. Having been an integral legal advisor to Irish businesses for decades, we have a deep understanding of cross-jurisdictional IP issues and will take the time to discover the best protection route for you and then implement the necessary registration. By taking care of the complexity for you, you can carry on with growing your business, confident your valuable IP is protected.
‘They have a professional but friendly approach which is beneficial particularly when the matters at hand can have periods that are stressful. The ability to reduce tension is matched with clear communication even when dealing with complex situations where decision making is required by the client. It is a rare skill to maintain this approach, with integrity intact, with all the engaged parties. In short they win with people.’
The Legal 500, 2023
‘Lavelle partner Gríana O’Kelly encapsulates all the qualities of the M&A team. As with other firms, Lavelle’s are competent and efficient, Ms O’Kelly is no different and you feel that she cares, a good outcome for you is a good outcome for her. It is a refreshing experience to have when travelling through a legal process.’
The Legal 500, 2023
‘I engaged with Lavelle partners when acquiring a business, and I found the service outstanding. The team made the experience as seamless as possible for me. The team were extremely knowledgeable, helpful, approachable, professional and efficient.’
The Legal 500, 2023
‘The practice were very well regarded in the market for Commercial, M&A and Employment Law work. We had heard of their reputation from other companies. They were very engaged in understanding what their client wanted to achieve and understood their concerns. Their lines of communication were clear and timely. They used their technology to deliver efficient results and a good level of transparency. Their people were easy to deal with and also you had a sense of confidence in what they were doing. Overall they were approachable, professional and focused on the end result for the client.’
The Legal 500, 2023
‘The individuals worked as team and built up a level of trust with the client. They were approachable and listened to any concerns the client had at any stage. They were also technically very good at understanding and managing the transaction. From the senior partners to the associates dealing with the case, there was a feeling that whatever the situation, the team could handle the problems facing the client.’
The Legal 500, 2023
‘Fast execution, in depth knowledge, excellent advice.’
The Legal 500, 2023
‘We have been working with Lavelle Partners for four years across a number of departments and I must say that all our engagements and interactions with all of their staff have been overwhelmingly positive. As a client, you really feel that they have your best interests at heart – they are very client focused. They are very quick to understand their clients’ business and needs. Their ability to collaborate and work as a team and transfer knowledge about a case or client, particularly across departments, is second to none, and from the client’s view it is absolutely seamless.’
The Legal 500, 2023
‘Gríana O’Kelly is our primary contact on the business side and she’s great – very quickly comes up to speed and understands our requirements, and deals with things quickly and thoroughly, spotting any potential issues and dealing with them along the way.’
The Legal 500, 2023
For further information on how we can help you with all intellectual property matters in Ireland and the EU, please contact Marc Fitzgibbon or Gríana O’Kelly, Lavelle Partners, in confidence on (01) 644 5800.
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