One of Alston & Bird’s core competencies is the drafting and negotiation of traditional intellectual property license agreements. Our focus on intellectual property rights allows us to protect our client’s intellectual property assets and deal with complex issues of IP ownership when multiple parties are involved. Many of our attorneys have significant experience in the procurement and protection of patents, trademark registrations and copyright registrations and rights. As a result, we frequently are asked to prepare patent and know-how licenses directed to a wide range of subject matters, including business methods, chemical compositions, computer software, electronic games, electronic hardware and semiconductor devices, financial services, health care and medical products and devices, as well as simple and complex mechanical devices and systems. The fact that a number of our attorneys are also registered patent attorneys enables our attorneys to efficiently and effectively represent our clients in these transactions.
Our experience with trademark licenses ranges from straightforward uses of trademarks and service marks in connection with products and services to merchandise licenses encompassing trademark rights and rights of publicity. As for copyright licenses, while we represent clients regarding all types of copyrights, we typically represent copyright owners or licensees involved in the computer software, literary and music industries, as well as the electronic game industry.
We also routinely represent software owners, developers and distributors, as well as businesses that are users of software in licensing matters. These transactions range from straightforward software licenses to licenses for complex software and systems. The software that forms the basis of these transactions includes proprietary or customized software, as well as open source software (OSS), and often includes licensing of software as a service (SaaS). Frequently, these transactions also include software development agreements, software and systems migration and integration agreements, and software maintenance and support agreements.
IP & Software Licensing
Intellectual property assets are increasingly important within business enterprises across industries. The strategic use of licensing can expand your brand and facilitate entry into different geographic markets. Our team structures, drafts, and negotiates licenses across the full spectrum of intellectual property assets, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
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