IP & e-business
Intellectual Property (IP) often represents "hidden" value
in a business. Our experience in IP law and management enables us
to assist businesses to unlock, protect and enhance the hidden
value of IP. Guernsey, in particular, has developed a
word-class set of legislation that is ideally suited to the
management of IP offshore.
Collas Crill are at the forefront of IP and e-business development
in the Channel Islands.
The Guernsey Image Rights Registry is open for business
Guernsey Image Rights enable the registrant to protect their
personality and image rights in a formal way for the first time
anywhere in the world.
The application process consists of 2 parts - personality rights
and underlying image rights. There are 5 categories of personality
rights, namely:
Individual
Joint Personality - 2 or more persons who are
connected and the constituent parts of which can not change - think
Morecambe & Wise, Ant & Dec.
Group - 2 or more persons who are connected and
the constituent parts of which can change - think Queen, The
England Footbal Team
Fictional Character - this can be either of a
human or a non-human, so for example James Bond or Buzz
Lightyear
Legal Entity - this category allows
corporations to register as a personality, for example Disney or
Coca-Cola
Once the personality rights have been registered, it is then
possible to register the image rights associated with that
personality.
To register an image right or for more information please visit
Collas
Crill IP or contact Jason
Romer or David
Evans, our image rights experts.
We continue to influence and shape the way that IP legislation is
developing and can assist our clients with the wide range of issues
affecting the management of IP offshore. Guernsey and Jersey offer
a unique position as a centre of excellence for IP management.
Collas Crill is the only Channel Islands firm to offer an
innovative, fully integrated IP service through our associated
business, Collas Crill IP. We are uniquely placed to offer this
one-stop service to clients, enabling local and international IP
registration combined with the provision of tailored legal
advice. Working closely with our dispute resolution practice
we can actively enforce your IP rights and ensure protection of
your IP assets.
Our services include:
- Registration of IP in the Channel Islands and other
jurisdictions
- Protection of copyrights and other unregistered IP
- Database rights
- Creation of structures to manage IP offshore in a tax efficient
manner
- Use of trusts to assist in the tax efficient exploitation of
IP
- Advice on licensing arrangements
- Advice on IP issues as they may affect company acquisitions and
disposals
- Website development agreements
- IT development and maintenance agreements
Collas Crill has a particular specialism in e-gaming, which has
become an increasingly important sector to the Channel Islands'
economy, having grown exponentially in recent years. The
opportunities are huge, but the legislative and regulatory issues
facing the industry require close attention. Our specialists can
advise and assist companies and other organisations on the issues
in setting up and managing online businesses and managing the risks
to succeed in a global market.
Collas Crill's IP and e-business practice is well placed to help
develop and protect your business' IP and build a structure to
enhance its long-term value. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures
our IP and e-business practice can handle all legal aspects of our
clients' business that may arise from commercial and
employment law issues to disputes and financing matters.