Services

IP rights

We handle the securing of all registrable rights - patents, trade marks, designs, copyright (in certain countries), domain names - throughout the world. We deal directly with the UK Intellectual Property Office, the European Patent Office, the Community Trade Marks and Designs Office (OHIM) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). We deal with other patent and trade mark offices via independent attorneys in each territory. We advise on unregistered rights including copyright and design rights.

We handle the full range of technical subject matter, including the increasingly complex areas of biotechnology and electronics.

IP disputes

We advise in connection with all IP disputes, including as to ownership, infringement and validity of rights.

IP portfolio

We maintain IP portfolios on behalf of our clients and encourage them to view their records and documentation via the internet using secure access. Our clients can therefore obtain directly the full information concerning all their IP rights, including details of the costs that have been incurred.

Small business support

We provide advice and assistance to individuals and small businesses grappling with intellectual property issues for the first time. We work with the various agencies, including West Yorkshire Ventures and Business Link, in helping businesses develop and protect their important intellectual creations.

IP audits and reviews

We can carry out IP audits, working with the clients to identify and evaluate early stage technology and advising on the best and most cost-effective ways of protecting any inventions. Audits can also include a review of existing IP, including checking ownership, providing summaries of critical dates such as nationalisation and renewals and providing a forecast of IP costs.

We can review a client’s patent and trade mark portfolio in relation to its business objectives and the competitive environment. We can help the client to devise IP strategies to maximise the strength of the portfolio and so support the growth of the business.

Technology transfer

We help clients identify any assets which are not core to their business and which may provide an out-licensing opportunity and also identify which IP assets might be in-licensed to strengthen their core portfolio. We can also help clients to conclude their licence agreements by providing them with licensing support, such as assistance with the construction of deals and in negotiating terms.

IP education

Gilholm Harrison can provide in house training aimed at company personnel to whom an understanding of IP and its exploitation is important. These include researchers and technology transfer staff. We can advise marketing and new product development departments on the registration and use of trade marks and brands.

IP Consultancy Service

Gilholm Harrison offers a bespoke IP consultancy service, providing a tailored solution to the management of clients’ IP portfolios. We can provide a full range of IP services in-house, which often gives an ideal solution for those clients with larger portfolios who may require a greater degree of control over portfolio management and the IP budget.

Our consultancy services are offered on a fixed fee basis, with packages tailored to clients’ specific requirements. This is ideal for clients who need consultancy on an ongoing regular basis, or for those requiring assistance with specific projects, such as acquisitions and divestments, etc. We can also providecover for maternity leave, sickness and sabbaticals amongst the client's own staff.

Clients currently using our consultancy services have seen significant cost savings. They have also been able to take advantage of having an IP professional on hand, in order to do the kind of tasks which would generally be given a low priority, for example intra company transfers and recordals and also portfolio reviews.

If you would like to discuss our consultancy services further, please contact Michael Harrison or Steve Gilholm of this firm.

Services