Other Services
Portfolio Management Services
BlackPointe Consulting provides a comprehensive trade mark service, and manages the trade mark portfolios of many well-known companies.
We handle trade mark applications in the UK, European Union (using the Community Trade Mark System) and International Madrid system.
We also handle trade mark applications in every major jurisdiction in the world, including some less well known jurisdictions.
Disputes and Alternative Dispute Resolution Services
We handle numerous trade mark oppositions for both opponents and applicants, seeking effective commercial settlements for the benefit of our clients wherever appropriate, including infringement, passing off (and other common law rights) and licensing matters.
We can also advise clients on Alternative Dispute Resolution options and represent clients in such matters.
Re-branding services
We have extensive experience in dealing with re-branding projects and have experience in handling some of the largest re-branding exercises ever conducted.
We can advise on the best way of managing and handling small and large re-branding exercises, including full world-wide searching facilities (see below), and linguistic checks to make sure your proposed name does not have any adverse connotation in another language.
We also offer Brand Creation services, working with one of our Partners to develop a new brand or a brand update.
Licensing
We are particularly skilled in creating bespoke licence agreements. These range from broad initial strategy documents, often on a stage-by-stage basis, through to the more straightforward licensing of products for manufacture.
Trade Mark Searches
Clearance searches for trade marks and designs are perhaps the single most important area to be aware of before launching a new IP right and therefore we have a fuller section on this.
Domain names and the Internet
BlackPointe Consulting advises frequently in domain name cyber-squatting cases and in relation to associated trade mark infringement, passing off and copyright infringement on the Internet. We can also handle the filing and prosecution of complaints against cyber-squatters under the ICANN Dispute Resolution Procedure provided by the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva and the Dispute Resolution Service offered by Nominet UK, the UK's domain name registry. Other national disputes can be handled through our network of associates.
Intellectual Property Audits
We have a great deal of experience in dealing with IP Audits and can assess and audit existing IP Portfolios Intellectual Property. Our audits are conducted with your business objectives in mind and whilst working closely with your business. Our aim is to respond to the present and future commercial aims of the business concerned.
Brand Valuation is an additional service which is available through one of our Partners, either separately or as part of an IP Audit.
Watching Services
We don't mean that we watch a lot of TV, but what this service means is that we can monitor new applications that are being accepted and published, on a global basis, that could be a problem for your rights. We then advise you of potential problems.
This service can extend to Trade Marks, Domain Names or Company Names.
This is based on an annual subscription based service and is a cost effective way to "police your rights" and provide you with an early warning system, that some action might need to be taken.
You may have experienced the UK Trade Mark system for registration, where the Registrar in the UK objects to applications if they consider that another existing mark is too similar. That doesn't happen everywhere else. Even the UK is considering abandoning this procedure to fall into line with the rest of the EU.
The Community Trade Marks system that covers the EU and does not examine applications [to raise objections] for conflicting earlier registered marks or prior pending applications. The onus is on the trade mark owner, to ensure the protection of their rights. A Watching Service is therefore important to your business and the costs of that should be factored in to the costs of seeking and monitoring your rights.
We can implement a targeted Watching Service for you.
- We will notify you when anyone else files a trade mark application that gets published which might be a problem.
- We can also do the same for company names or a domain names.
- We advise on what action is available.
- We take that action, such as filing oppositions and objections round the world.
IP Corporate Due Diligence
Since we have extensive experience working within large law firms and with multi-national companies we are naturally aware of the need for cost effective and efficient checks and searches required for corporate transactions. We therefore provide a facility to assist corporate law firms and In-house corporate departments in relation to the checking, searching and clearing of IP rights throughout the world.
Through our close relationships with associates around the world and our access to specific searching tools we have been able to provide quick and cost effective assistance when required.
