Intellectual Property

The team acts for a number of global technology, content and life sciences companies as well as several Irish multinationals, domestic companies and third level institutions on a range of intellectual property matters across patents, trade marks, copyright (including software programs), database rights and trade secrets and associated commercialisation and enforcement matters. We also work closely with our tax department in assisting clients to execute their acquisition, commercialisation and enforcement strategies in a tax efficient manner. In contentious matters, the team is experienced in resolving disputes through the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as well as through court injunctive relief and hearings. Our IP practice also includes a trade mark search, clearance, registration and prosecution service and advice on filing strategies, brand management and advertising and marketing compliance.

Relevant Experience

• Advising a number of multinational clients in the technology, pharmaceutical, medtech and food and agri sectors on IP restructurings and on protection and enforcement strategies.
• Advising Openet Telecom on IP matters including the IP aspects of its sale to Amdocs.
• Advising a pharmaceutical company on injunctive relief in Ireland in patent infringement matter.
• Acting for Ryanair in Commercial Court proceedings it has issued against the operators of various flight comparison websites for alleged screen-scraping and breach of copyright and other IP rights and passing off, and breach of the terms of a licensing agreement in respect of the use of Ryanair’s data.
• Acting for Facebook in defending Irish High Court proceedings brought by public figures in relation to alleged fake advertisements appearing on its platform and on various Notice and Takedown matters.
• Acting for Novozymes A/S, a global biotechnology group, on its acquisition of PrecisionBiotics, an Irish probiotics company.
• Acting for Dunnes Stores in successfully defending an action by Aldi in the leading Irish authority on comparative advertising ultimately determined by the Irish Supreme Court.
• Advising multinational social media companies on the protection and enforcement of copyright and database rights.