Metroconsult assists its clients in identifying the most appropriate form of protection to protect and economically maximize the value of their creativity, be it an invention, a new brand, or a design model.
Metroconsult offers extensive services throughout all the phases of the protection process; from an in-depth initial analysis of all that already exist (prior art search), to the elaboration of suitable protection strategies, to the filing/registration of the application and the granting of the Intellectual Property right at a national and/or international level, up to the enforcement of any potential infringement actions.
Our services
In addition to prior art searches, which evaluate the inventive and creative level of patents, trademarks, designs and other Intellectual Property rights, with the help of specialized databases Metroconsult conducts in-depth research on topics which are of particular interest to a client in various technological fields and provides research on the innovation and patent activities of a client’s business competitors.
In collaboration with our clients, Metroconsult monitors national and international markets, with a special focus on the Chinese Market, to prevent counterfeiting and protect our clients’ Intellectual Property rights.
With a remarkable experience in defining procedural strategies, both in front of national and international courts, we provide support when quick and effective emergency measures are necessary. In cooperation with customs authorities, Metroconsult acts to prevent the entry of counterfeit goods into the European Union.
In addition, in partnership with other specialized companies, Metroconsult also provides (reverse engineering) services to identify infringement of Intellectual Property rights.
Metroconsult assists its clients in enforcing their Intellectual Property rights by managing legal actions for infringement and counterfeiting, including requests for preliminary injunctions and customs seizures at a national and international level.
In additional to that, Metroconsult supports its clients in drafting, negotiating and revising assignment and licensing agreements with the goal of maximizing the economic value of the client’s Intellectual Property rights.
Metroconsult provides Intellectual Property valuation services to facilitate an economic return for its clients by helping them to better understand the value of their intangible assets and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Areas of expertise
PATENTS
We assist our clients in the protection of their inventions through patents and utility models. We work together with our clients starting from prior art searches, up to the drafting, filing, and maintenance of the patent at a national and international level.
The main services offered by Metroconsult for patent protection are:
- Consultancy services for the protection of inventions
- Prior art searches
- Drafting and filing of national and international (EPC and PCT, Chapter I and II) patent applications
- Entering national phases of EPC or PCT applications
- Payment of renewal fees
- Software protection
- Consultancy services and legal assistance in examination, opposition and appeal proceedings
- Assistance and advice on validity and infringement of patents
- Market surveillance and infringement investigation services in cooperation with customs authorities to prevent the entry of infringing goods into the European Union
- Drafting of agreements for patent licensing, sale or acquisition
- Transfer of patent ownership
- Technical and legal translation services from and to English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese
- Due diligence and patent valuation
- Seminars for clients on patent matters
TRADEMARKS
A company’s corporate identity or brand image requires effective and adequate protection. Starting from prior searches to facilitate the choice of a suitable brand name up to the filing of the trademark at a national and international level, we provide our clients with consultancy services to help them protect their corporate identity in the market.
The main services offered by Metroconsult for trademark protection are:
- Consultancy services relating to the adoption of a business name, corporate or trade name, outdoor signs, geographical denominations (IGP, DOC) and domain names
- Prior art searches
- Drafting and filing of national, international (WIPO), and EU (EUIPO) trademark applications
- Prosecution of national, international, and EU trademark applications
- Consultancy services and legal assistance in examination, opposition and appeal proceedings
- Maintenance and renewal of registered trademarks
- Legal opinion on validity and trademark infringement
- Market surveillance and infringement investigation services in cooperation with customs authorities to prevent the entry of goods infringing trademark and design rights into the European Union
- Transfer of trademark ownership
- Drafting of agreements for trademark licensing, sale or acquisition
- Due diligence and trademark valuation
- Seminars for clients on trademark matters
DESIGN
Design protects the aesthetic form of a product. Starting from prior art researches to the choice between registered and unregistered design, up to the filing of the right at the national and international level, we assist our clients in protecting creativity through design.
The main services offered by Metroconsult for the protection of design are:
- Consultancy services in design protection
- Prior art searches
- Drafting and filing of national, international (WIPO), and EU (EUIPO) design applications
- Prosecution of national, international, and EU design applications
- Legal opinion on validity and infringement of design
- Market surveillance and infringement investigation services in cooperation with customs authorities to prevent the entry of goods infringing design rights into the European Union
- Drafting of agreements for design licensing, sale or acquisition
- Seminars for clients on design matters
DOMAIN NAMES
Together with trademarks, domain names are a distinctive element of your company that uniquely identify your website. Through domain names your company can reach potential customers all over the world.
The main services offered by Metroconsult for the protection of domain names are:
- Availability search of domain names
- Registration of domain names
- Maintenance and renewal of domain names
- Market surveillance services for domain names
- Procedures for reassignment and assistance in disputes concerning domain names
COPYRIGHT
We provide protection for published and unpublished literary, musical and artistic works, and for creative design products.
The main services offered by Metroconsult for the protection of copyright are:
- Services for copyright protection
- Filing of unpublished productions with the Italian Association of Authors and Publishers (SIAE)
- Filing of published works with the Copyright Office
- Video file protection
- Software protection
- Design protection
- Market surveillance and infringement investigation services in cooperation with customs authorities to prevent the entry of goods infringing copyrights into the European Union
- Seminars for clients on copyright matters
SOFTWARE
Metroconsult has significant experience in the protection of software through copyright law and software patents.
The main services offered by Metroconsult for the protection of software are:
- Services and legal assistance for the protection of software
- Filing of computer software with the special Public Register
- Drafting and filing of national, European and PCT applications for software patents
- Market surveillance and infringement investigation services in cooperation with custom authorities to prevent the entry of goods infringing software rights into the European Union