Intellectual property (IP) rights can be one of an organization’s most valuable assets. However, too often these assets are under-protected and undefended. Obtaining successful outcomes for our clients is a three-part program:
- Education
- Protection
- Defense
Whether a patent, trademark, trade dress, trade secret, or copyright, the first step is to educate our client as to when the client needs to seek IP protection and the available alternatives. The second step is executing the right protection mechanism for the IP. The final step is monitoring and vigorously defending our client's IP rights.
Services for IP clients include:
Education
- Advise clients on patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition issues
- Conduct IP audits to determine inventory and value of intellectual property
- Evaluate patents and patent portfolios
- Brand development
- Online publishing and development of new types of media
Protection
- Prepare and prosecute patent, trademark, and copyright registration applications
- Prepare filings for maintenance of registrations
- Negotiate and draft patent and trademark licenses
- Draft technology transfer agreements, assignments, and joint ventures
- Handle trade secret matters, including negotiation and preparation of nondisclosure agreements
- Work with clients on licensing, employer and vendor agreements to control the use and disclosure of trade secrets
- Digital Millennium Copyright Act Issues
- Transfer of IP issues
- False advertising claims
Defense
- Prosecute and defend actions for copyright, trademark, and patent infringement
- Prepare and assist clients preparing for litigation including defenses, pretrial motions, briefing and discovery strategies
- Monitor technical developments for clients including unfair competition or antitrust
- Act as local counsel for out-of-state law firms and corporations
- Provide counsel and advice on issues related to website content, ISP agreements and licensing
We provide intellectual property guidance for the entertainment and media law, and franchising industries including film and television financing and production, brand selection, protection, licensing and merchandising, and contractual and management disputes.
Our IP clients range from individual inventors to Fortune 500 companies. They represent a wide range of technologies including aeronautical, automotive, software, business method, biomedical and genetic inventions.
Protect your IP assets. Let us help you develop, enforce, and defend your IP rights.
Recent Blog Posts
- Legal Essentials: Shifting Focus to Data Protection, Cybersecurity and Vendor Management
- Legal Essentials: Biggest Mistakes when Dealing with Copyrights
- Supreme Court Strikes Down Provision of Lanham Act That Barred Registration of Disparaging Trademarks
- Copyright is “In Fashion” Following Supreme Court’s Decision Upholding Protection for Cheerleading Uniform Design
- Supreme Court Examines Where Proper Venue Lies for Patent Infringement Lawsuit
- Big Hollywood Studios Win Injunction Against Streamer VidAngel in Copyright Infringement Case
- Action Required to Keep Your DMCA Safe Harbor Protection
- Employers Should Audit and Update Employment-Related Policies and Agreements in Light of New “Defend Trade Secrets Act”
- Copyright Basics: 3 Tips for Small Businesses
- What is a Trademark?
Publications & Alerts
- Business Best Practices for Monitoring and Protecting Intellectual Property, Foster Swift Business & Corporate Law News, November 21, 2016
- Trade Dress - A Good Fit for Fashion?, Ipls Proceedings - State Bar of Michigan, January 2015
- Protect your Intellectual Property, Greater Lansing Business Monthly, April 2014
- Protect your Intellectual Property, Foster Swift Business & Corporate Law Report, March 27, 2014
- Noncompetition Agreements Are Enforceable If..., Foster Swift Business & Corporate Law Report, June 2012
- Software Licenses Do Not Automatically Transfer in a Merger or Acquisition, Foster Swift Business & Corporate Law Update, Spring 2010
News
- Foster Swift Successful in Achieving Settlement for Client in Patent License Dispute, May 22, 2018
- Business Attorneys Release an Additional Five Legal Basics Videos, November 17, 2015
- Business Attorneys release series of Legal Essential Videos for Business Start Ups, June 17, 2015
- Foster Swift welcomes Attorney John Mashni, June 18, 2013
Events
- Making the Most of International Trade Shows & Missions, Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan, January 29, 2019
- Training Programs: Growing your Business Globally, Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan, January 29, 2019
- Legal Essentials to Exporting: Export compliance, International Intellectual Property and Foreign Business Partners, MEDC, September 19, 2018
- Legal Essentials to Exporting: Export Control Compliance Overview Training, MEDC, May 17, 2018
- Legal Essentials to Exporting: Intellectual Property & Business Partner Due Diligence, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), March 8, 2018
- Legal Essentials to Export Toolkit: Intellectual Property & Foreign Business Partner Contract Seminar, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), September 12, 2017
- Legal Essentials for Export Toolkit, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), September 22, 2016
