Frequently Asked Questions
Practical Answers on Intellectual Property
Clear answers to common questions about IP consultations, patent and design services, contracts and licensing, IP disputes, and pharmaceutical freedom-to-operate.
What can I discuss during a one-hour IP consultation?
The consultation may cover IP protection and registration strategies, patent, industrial design and trademark matters, contracts and licensing, disputes, enforcement options, or market-entry risks. The scope will depend on the information and documents provided before the meeting.
What is the difference between a prior art search, a patentability assessment, and an FTO analysis?
A prior art search identifies earlier publications relevant to an invention. A patentability assessment considers whether the invention may meet patentability requirements, including novelty and inventive step. An FTO analysis evaluates the risk that commercial activities in a specific jurisdiction may fall within the scope of third-party patent rights.
What patent and industrial design services do you provide?
We assist with prior art searches, patentability assessments, drafting patent specifications and claims, reviewing applications before filing, responding to substantive examination reports, and filing and prosecuting industrial design applications. The scope is tailored to the invention, design, target jurisdiction, and stage of the matter.
When should a pharmaceutical Freedom to Operate (FTO) assessment be conducted?
An FTO assessment is commonly considered before manufacturing, licensing, investing in, or launching a pharmaceutical product in a target market. It may examine relevant third-party patent claims and legal status relating to active ingredients, salts, polymorphs, formulations, dosage forms, methods of use, manufacturing processes, and related technologies.
What IP contracts and licensing services do you provide?
We assist with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating IP licensing and assignment agreements, technology transfer and commercialization agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, research and development collaborations, and IP provisions in commercial contracts. The scope is tailored to the transaction, the rights involved, and the parties’ commercial objectives.
How can you assist with IP litigation and enforcement matters?
We assist with early case assessment, infringement and validity analysis, evidence review, litigation strategy, technical case support, negotiations, enforcement actions, and defense against IP claims. Court representation and regulated legal services are provided by or in coordination with appropriately licensed legal professionals, where required.
What trademark services do you provide?
We provide trademark consultations, preliminary clearance support, filing and prosecution, responses to office actions, and strategic guidance on protection and enforcement. The scope depends on the mark, the relevant goods or services, and the target jurisdiction.
How are fees and the scope of work determined?
Fees depend on the nature, complexity, urgency, jurisdiction, and required deliverables of the matter. One-hour consultations may be booked as a defined service, while registration, drafting, FTO, contractual, and dispute-related matters are quoted after an initial review of the scope and available documents.