Globalization and technological advancement have opened new markets for everything from pop music to prescription drugs. Along with great benefits, these changes have ushered in new challenges as well. Namely, it is less difficult and more profitable for unscrupulous actors to infringe on privately held intellectual property rights. Near-perfect reproductions of protected works can be made quickly and cheaply, and disseminated instantly to markets worldwide. Officials estimate that counterfeit goods now make up 5 to 7 percent of trade worldwide. Companies that expect to reap the rewards of exclusive ownership must be prepared to aggressively protect their trademarks and copyrights.
Cozen O’Connor represents a wide range of companies, from small start-ups to multinational blue chips, that operate in diverse industry sectors, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, computer software, luxury goods, industrial science, engineering, finance, education, manufacturing, telecommunications, managed services, retail, arts, and sports. We advise clients on clearance, registration, ownership, renewal, and termination rights; secure valuable brands and copyrights; develop acquisition, sales, and licensing strategies; and enforce and defend clients’ IP rights. Our attorneys enjoy close working relationships with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers around the world. Through these ties, we are able to facilitate prompt seizure of counterfeit materials, a notably effective and inexpensive solution for our clients.
The trademark and copyright practice is no place for uninspired lawyering. The law, technology, and economic dynamics governing trademarks and copyrights are in constant flux, so this is an area where clients need their most tenacious and vigilant counsel. As leaders in the copyright and trademark arena, Cozen O’Connor lawyers are aware of critical developments as soon as they happen. More importantly, we bring a competitive zeal to the defense of intellectual property that drives our tireless supervision of regulators, peer companies, and would-be infringers.
Much of our practice revolves around developing tailored protection and enforcement schemes that allow clients to both leverage their intellectual property assets and maintain full control over their marks and copyrights. There are numerous components to a successful anti-counterfeiting and anti-infringement strategy—proper registration, custom enforcement, third party assistance, trade monitoring—and no two clients should employ the exact same approach. We bring all of our legal, business, and technical knowledge to bear on the task of designing the best enforcement protocol for each client.
SERVICE AREAS
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Research trademark and copyright availability and registrability
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Handle trademark and copyright clearance, prosecution, and maintenance
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Conduct trademark and copyright enforcement
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Negotiate IP agreements and conduct due diligence
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Register IP with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and serve as liaison to CBP offices around the world on counterfeiting enforcement and seizures
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Negotiate trademark, trade dress, and copyright licensing and franchising
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Defend entertainment rights
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Design online enforcement strategies
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Represent clients in domain name registration and disputes
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Develop website privacy policies, and user and membership agreements
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Handle trademark and copyright litigation