Know-how/R & D

Unlocking the strategic and commercial potential of intellectual property, this resource delivers actionable insights and clear guidance on effectively managing know-how and research & development activities. Learn how to safeguard proprietary information, optimise collaborative ventures, and navigate contractual arrangements to foster innovation and legal compliance. Practical tools and expert commentary will support your practice, ensuring your clients' R&D endeavours are well-protected and compliant with current IP laws.

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Know-how and R & D

Latest IP News

Premier Inn rest easy after High Court rules no trade mark infringement in easyGroup claim (easyGroup v Premier Inn)

Premier Inn rest easy after High Court rules no trade mark infringement in easyGroup claim (easyGroup v Premier Inn)

The following IP news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Premier Inn rest easy after High Court rules no trade mark infringement in easyGroup claim (easyGroup v Premier Inn)

IP weekly highlights—18 September 2025

IP weekly highlights—18 September 2025

The following IP news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on IP weekly highlights—18 September 2025

Selection, motivation, and success—lessons from Moderna v Pfizer (Modernatx Inc v Pfizer Ltd and other companies)

Selection, motivation, and success—lessons from Moderna v Pfizer (Modernatx Inc v Pfizer Ltd and other companies)

The following IP news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Selection, motivation, and success—lessons from Moderna v Pfizer (Modernatx Inc v Pfizer Ltd and other companies)

Sweeping UK reforms a mixed bag for simplifying designs

Sweeping UK reforms a mixed bag for simplifying designs

The following IP news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Sweeping UK reforms a mixed bag for simplifying designs

Featured IP content

Introduction to passing off

Introduction to passing off

Introduction to passing offUnlike many other countries, the UK has no unfair competition law. Brand owners seeking to prevent competitors from...

Trade mark infringement—UK

Trade mark infringement—UK

Trade mark infringementRights conferred by a trade mark registrationThe registration of a trade mark gives the owner the exclusive right to prevent...

Copyright—authorship and ownership

Copyright—authorship and ownership

Copyright—authorship and ownershipThe Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988) defines the author of a work as the person who created it....

Passing off—goodwill, misrepresentation and damage

Passing off—goodwill, misrepresentation and damage

Passing off—goodwill, misrepresentation and damageWhat is passing off?Passing off is a common law tort which protects rights that are not capable of...

Practice notes

Absolute and relative grounds for refusal to register a UK trade mark

Absolute and relative grounds for refusal to register a UK trade markAbsolute and relative groundsA trade mark’s essential function is to be a badge...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Copyright infringement—remedies

Copyright infringement—remediesThis Practice Note covers the remedies available for copyright infringement.The remedies available in cases of...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Introduction to revocation of patents

Introduction to revocation of patentsPatents may be revoked, that is, taken off the register of patents, if it is decided that they are invalid in...
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30th May
Practice notes

Joint ownership of intellectual property rights

Joint ownership of intellectual property rightsWhen parties collaborate on creative projects or research and development, complex questions arise...
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Produced in partnership with Jessica Stretch
30th May
Practice notes

Sub-licensing intellectual property rights

Sub-licensing intellectual property rightsAn intellectual property (IP) owner may choose to license its IP to a third party. This can be an effective...
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Produced in partnership with Jessica Stretch
30th May
tag iconIn-house
Practice notes

Brand protection online—strategy

Brand protection online—strategyHaving an online presence is essential for most brands. Many advertise and sell their products online—on their own...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Types of dispute resolution

Types of dispute resolutionThis Practice Note provides an overview of the main types of dispute resolution that are an alternative to litigation in IP...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Parallel imports—UK

Parallel imports—UKThe legal frameworkThis Practice Note explains trade mark law on parallel trade. Parallel imports, or ‘grey market’ goods, are...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Know-how—protection and licensing

Know-how—protection and licensingThis Practice Note explains what know-how is and sets out the different ways know-how can be protected before...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Copyright—secondary infringement

Copyright—secondary infringementWhereas primary infringement requires in most instances the act of reproduction, secondary infringement is about...
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2nd Jun
Practice notes

Licensing intellectual property rights

Licensing intellectual property rightsLicensing IP rights—introductionDrafting IP licences can raise a number of commercial and legal issues, which...
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Produced in partnership with Adam Coughlin of Bristows and Claire Smith of Bristows
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Application to register a UK trade mark

Application to register a UK trade markThis Practice Note provides guidance on applying to register a trade mark at the UK Intellectual Property...
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30th May
Practice notes

IP rights and semiconductors

IP rights and semiconductorsBackground to semiconductorsA semiconductor is essentially any material which has electrical conductivity and can thus...
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Produced in partnership with Ciara Cullen and Noonie Holmes of RPC
30th May
Q&As

Can the assignment of a patent be retroactively effective?

Can the assignment of a patent be retroactively effective?A patent or patent application is personal property that can be assigned (section 30(1) and...
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Produced in partnership with Joshua Marshall of Fieldfisher
30th May
Practice notes

Intellectual property international treaties and conventions

Intellectual property international treaties and conventionsIP laws are almost always national in nature. However, there are many conventions and...
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30th May
Practice notes

Exploiting intellectual property rights

Exploiting intellectual property rightsIP rights are only valuable if they make money for the business. Even if they are used in the business, a...
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30th May

Popular documents

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?

What is the difference between an appeal and a review?What is an appeal?An appeal in insolvency proceedings is no different to an appeal in normal litigation. An appeal will be allowed only if the appeal court is satisfied that the decision of the lower court was 'wrong' or 'unjust because of a

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of case

Strike out—making an application to strike out a statement of caseA strike out order can be made either following an application by the parties or on the court's own initiative. This Practice Note deals with the scenario of the order being made following a party's application.Making an application

Glossary—Latin legal terms

Glossary—Latin legal termsDespite attempts in recent years to simplify the language used in legal cases, there are still a number of Latin phrases commonly used in personal injury claims. The following Latin phrases are listed in alphabetical order:Latin