SERVICE OVERVIEW
Trademarks
Our trademark services can be divided into three categories, namely, (i) trademark search services, (ii) trademark filing services, and (iii) trademark prosecution services.
The trademark search services may cover one or more specific jurisdictions. We also have the capacity to conduct a global trademark search by using the Global Brand Database of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). We strongly recommend conducting a comprehensive trademark search prior to filing any trademark application. Such a search may save you the expense of submitting a trademark application which is unlikely to be granted.
Regarding our trademark filing services, we are able to submit trademark applications in most jurisdictions around the world. In some cases, we will be able to represent you directly before the relevant trademark offices. In other cases, we may need to use local partners who will officially represent you. When preparing trademark applications, we pay particular attention to the description of goods or services in relation to which you will use your trademark. This is because too broad descriptions may be subject to cancellation based on non-use, whereas descriptions missing certain goods or services will not provide you with the requested protection.
Trademark offices often issue actions requiring trademark applicants to amend their applications and/or provide further information. Our trademark prosecution services include replying to office actions and submitting other documents required by trademark offices during the prosecution phase of your trademark.
In addition to the above services, we regularly prepare and submit international trademark applications based on the Madrid system, i.e., the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks of 1891 and the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement. Such applications allow you to register your trademarks in a large number of countries, without the need to submit separate trademark applications in each of those countries.
Copyright
More than 175 countries signed the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, also known as the Berne Convention. The list of signatories is available here. Under the Berne Convention, copyrights for creative works are automatically granted upon the date of the creation of those works. Hence, a formal registration is not required for the establishment of copyrights. However, a formal registration of copyrighted materials can be used as evidence proving the existence of copyright at a given date.
We have experience in submitting copyright applications for various types of digital content, e.g., source code, images, and textual materials.