Intellectual Property Rights meaning

How to use this Checklist This Checklist flags issues that frequently emerge when negotiating and drafting the following agreement types: Design licence—pro-licensor Design licence—pro-licensee For further reading on design licensing, see these Practice Notes: Introduction to designs UK registered and unregistered designs Licensing intellectual property rights For example character merchandising agreements, consult the Precedents: Character merchandising agreement—pro-licensor and Character merchandising agreement—pro-licensee. For details of the key terms commonly found in a manufacturing agreement and designs licence, see: Manufacturing agreement and design licence—checklist. This Checklist can also, where appropriate, operate as the foundation for a straightforward non-binding heads of terms. For guidance on doing so, see Precedent: Heads of terms—commercial contracts. For support on negotiating an IP licence clause, refer to Practice Note: Negotiation guide—intellectual property licence clause. Checklist schedule for proposed licence of designs Points to consider • Further information • Notes (if any) (A) Key commercial considerations...

How to use this Checklist This Checklist flags common matters that arise when negotiating and drafting agreements to transfer intellectual property rights (IPRs) in a website. Many of the same points are also pertinent to other types of transaction. Key commercial considerations technical and functional requirements defining the relevant IPRs any cross‑licensing arrangements the terms underpinning the transfer of rights rights held by third parties Use the third column to capture observations or remarks as you work through the Checklist. Checklist for the transfer of intellectual property rights in a website &x2610; Verify each party’s legal status and whether any third parties (such as group affiliates) will benefit from the proposed agreement. &x2610; Confirm when the transfer becomes effective and whether it is contingent on any other agreements or events. &x2610; Confirm if the deal is a one‑off assignment of IPRs or if there will be ongoing licensing or support; where continuing...

This Checklist pinpoints the principal provisions commonly found in a trade mark coexistence agreement. It may serve as a prompt for matters to address when preparing, assessing, or negotiating these arrangements. It can be relied upon as a list of points to review at drafting stage, during review, and throughout negotiations and sign-off process. It may equally be tailored as heads of terms to capture core positions whilst a full trade mark coexistence agreement is finalised. For help on doing so, see Precedent: Heads of terms—commercial contracts. For a model coexistence agreement, see Precedent: Trade mark coexistence agreement. For further detail on factors to weigh when drafting a coexistence agreement, see Practice Notes: Trade mark coexistence agreements and Negotiation guide—trade mark coexistence agreement. Checklist Points to consider Further information Notes (if any) (A) Key commercial considerations ☐ Parties Verify which entities will sign the agreement—specify who owns the trade marks (and related rights) and who is exploiting them. Confirm each party’s legal form and...

This Flowchart considers the conditions that need to be met and steps followed to form a general partnership. Open or print a full-size PDF copy:...

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Passing off action Passing off is a common law claim commonly employed to safeguard unregistered trade mark rights throughout the United Kingdom...

AI regulatory ‘sandboxes’ On 21 October 2025, the technology ministry set out plans to establish AI regulatory ‘sandboxes’ aimed at spotting and removing regulatory obstacles across healthcare, professional services, transport, and robotics within advanced manufacturing. These sandboxes permit specific rules to be temporarily relaxed or adjusted for a set period inside secure, controlled trial environments designed for testing. Nonetheless, the announcement makes it clear that certain areas sit outside the sandbox, including: consumer protection and safety requirements fundamental rights protections for workers intellectual property rights...

In a keenly awaited ruling, the High Court decided that WaterRower (UK) Ltd could not press infringement actions against competing rowing machine manufacturer Liking Ltd, as it lacked any copyright in its own design in this dispute. The court found that the prototype WaterRower devised by John Duke might qualify as an original work for the purposes of EU law, yet it did not amount to a work of ‘artistic craftsmanship’ within the meaning of the UK’s Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Deputy Judge Campbell Forsyth stated that Mr Duke applied his expertise to build the prototype and that it possesses visual appeal, but concluded that, in doing so, he did not act with the attributes of an artist craftsman. Advisers from Gunnercooke, who represented Liking in the dispute, hailed the decision as ‘one of the most important developments in the IP industry this year’. Representatives of WaterRower did not promptly respond to a request for comment on 11 November 2024. WaterRower initially sued...

Radmat Building Products Ltd stated before the High Court, in a July 2025 defence newly made public, that Aco Ahlmann SE & Co KG ought to be stripped of its exclusive rights to a roof-based drainage system capable of retaining water, contending that one of Radmat's then-available products could have led engineers to devise it. Ahlmann has lately claimed Radmat produced a drainage solution named 'PermaQuik 800' that trespasses on its invention. Radmat now maintains, the defence says, that one of its roofing systems disclosed crucial aspects of Ahlmann's concept before the competitor sought protection for it...

Practice Note Use this Practice Note to identify the governing law before the courts of England and Wales for harmful events that took place between 11 January 2009 and 31 December 2020. Where incidents happened outside those dates, the UK courts will apply an alternative choice-of-law regime, and the regime engaged turns solely on the date of the occurrence. If the date falls outside that span, a different regime applies, selected by reference to timing of the event. For direction on those regimes and how they interrelate, see Practice Note: Applicable law regimes. It summarises the special rules governing particular heads of claim under Regulation (EC) 864/2007 on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations (Rome II). The topics include product liability, unfair competition and restraints on free competition, environmental harm, intellectual property (IP) rights, industrial action, unjust enrichment, negotiorum gestio—i.e. agency without authority, and culpa in contrahendo—fault in forming a contract, as well as insurance...

This new starter guide offers a primer on trade mark law, distilling the core principles and signposting numerous Lexis+® UK sources and materials for fuller detail. It is aimed at trainee solicitors and readers new to trade marks. Details of other intellectual property (IP) rights, including further starter guides, appear in Practice Note: Intellectual property (IP)—new starter guide. Where topics sit beyond this basic outline, explore the three Trade marks/passing off subtopics: Trade mark transactions and management; Trade mark and passing off disputes; Anti-counterfeiting. For concise summaries of each, see: Trade mark transactions and management—overview; Trade mark and passing off disputes—overview; and Anti-counterfeiting—overview. This guide also explains how to subscribe to the IP daily and weekly news alerts and how to contact LexisAsk... Introductory materials Absolute and relative grounds for refusal to register a UK trade mark Managing a trade mark portfolio Trade mark infringement—UK Introduction to passing off Anti-counterfeiting in the...

This Practice Note forms part of the Lexis+® UK Corporate private equity buyout transaction toolkit. Beyond choosing between a share sale and an asset sale structure, a range of matters should be weighed at the outset of a private equity buyout (MBO), before due diligence begins and the principal transaction documents are negotiated. These matters can influence the core commercial and legal terms, so each side is well advised to address them before settling any headline terms (and before executing heads of terms for both the acquisition and equity elements) and before fixing the transaction timetable. The topics outlined below (and in the Practice Notes referenced in this sub‑phase) may remain relevant throughout the deal, particularly during negotiation of the formal documentation, but they are highlighted early because lawyers for all interested parties ought to consider them and brief their clients as soon as possible. Corporate issues to consider Selected corporate law points are outlined below; applicability will vary with the nature of the deal and the parties...

This Agreement is entered into on [ insert date ] Parties [ insert name ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] with number [ insert company number ] and having its registered office at [ insert address ] (Licensor); and [ insert name ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] with number [ insert company number ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (Licensee). Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party, and together the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties. BACKGROUND (A) The Licensor [ is the [ registered ] proprietor of OR is the applicant to register OR has the right to licence and/or sub-licence ] certain intellectual property rights. (B) The Licensee is [ insert background to licence/relevant transaction ]. (C) The Licensor has agreed to grant a licence of those intellectual property rights to the Licensee, and the Licensee has...

This Agreement is entered into on [ date ] Parties [ Insert name of party ] [ of OR a company incorporated in England and Wales under number [ insert registered number ] with its registered office at ] [ insert address ] (Party 1); and [ Insert name of party ] [ of OR a company incorporated in England and Wales under number [ insert registered number ] with its registered office at ] [ insert address ] (Party 2), each of Party 1 and Party 2 being a party and, together, the parties. BACKGROUND Party 1 supplies [ insert description of goods and/or services ]. Party 2 supplies [ insert description of goods and/or services ]. The parties intend to submit a Bid as a joint tender to the Customer in answer to the Invitation to Tender. The parties seek to state their obligations and manage their rights concerning the Bid and, if the...

This Agreement is entered into on [ date ]. Parties [ Insert name of licensor ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] under number [ insert registered number ] whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (Licensor); and [ Insert name of licensee ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] under number [ insert registered number ] whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (Licensee), Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party, and together the Licensor and the Licensee constitute the parties. Background The Licensee is [ insert details of the Licensee’s background/background to licence or relevant transaction. ] The Licensor has agreed to provide the Licensor Content to the Licensee and to grant the Licensee a licence to use the Licensor Content in accordance with the terms of this Agreement...