Trademark, Copyright & Licensing
Big ideas need to be positioned competitively in the market. Sequel’s intellectual property practice helps clients with licensing, due diligence, protection, litigation, and the leveraging of IP assets to achieve their goals. We work with clients to identify their sources of competitive advantage and then determine effective strategies and methods of protection.
Our intellectual property clients come in all shapes and sizes—from individual entrepreneurs to global corporations. Our experience is particularly deep regarding the licensing of software, content, art, media, curriculums, patented devices and methods, including working with university technology transfer programs.
A trademark protects a company’s investment in its reputation – in its brand, making it one of the most valuable assets of any business. Sequel helps clients develop and protect the value of their trademarks with a full range of services.
We go beyond simple trademark prosecution to help clients shape a global strategy for brand protection. Sequel can help decide where to file, when to file, and how to manage relationships with affiliates, distributors and suppliers.
Prior to the adoption of any trademark, we recommend initiating a clearance search. Aside from the obvious benefits of avoiding an infringement problem, there are other long-term benefits. First, a clearance opinion helps us think strategically about the scope of an application. This threshold step helps us draft an application that is more likely to avoid a refusal and a costly response. Second, reliance on a written opinion provides a measure of defense against an unforeseen claim of willful infringement.
Our depth of knowledge and experience with hundreds of successful applications allows us to work efficiently and provide protection and prosecution services at a reasonable cost. In addition, we can supervise the prosecution and maintenance of global trademark portfolios. We provide our domestic trademark services on a fixed-fee basis unless the client prefers a traditional hourly structure.
Enforcement is just as important as registration when protecting a brand. We help our clients push back against infringement and put their enforcement dollars to best use through careful prioritization and appropriately scaled response.
Sequel is adept in trademark enforcement on the Internet, including domain names. The threats to valuable brands are real, and they are everywhere – counterfeiting, phishing and diversion to competitors, just to name a few. We help our clients develop an online stewardship program to identify the threats to their brands, prioritize them, and take action where appropriate. We can also advise on defensive registrations to proactively protect a brand.
Licensing is an important part of getting the full value from a brand, as well as controlling trademark use. Sequel’s attorneys have extensive experience in all aspects of trademark licensing, including intra-company licensing, distribution agreements, co-branding, joint ventures, and private label agreements.