IP Transactions
Introduction
The Ashfords' Intellectual Property and Technology Law Department has extensive experience in handling transactions of all kinds for clients who wish to buy, sell, invest in or exploit IP rights. We prepare water tight agreements on a day to day basis for clients of all types and sizes. Deals range in value from many millions to those which simply have great strategic importance to our clients. Our overriding objective is to use our experience, skill and knowledge to place our clients in the safest, most cost effective and productive position possible.
Work handled includes:
- Buying and Selling Technology and IP Rich Businesses
- Transferring Ownership of IP Rights
- Technology Transfers
- IP Due Diligence
- Non-Disclosure Agreements
- IP Licences
- Technology Joint Ventures (Europe, UK, USA and Asia) contractual or corporate
- R & D agreements (private sector and commercial)
- Collaboration agreements (between academics and between academic institutions)
- Establishing Spin Out Companies
- Private sector/public sector collaborations and partnering agreements
- Publishing agreements (all media)
- Author's Agreements
- Celebrity Endorsement Agreements
- Exploitation of Image Rights
- Sponsorship Agreements
- Advertising Agreements (all media)
- Merchandising Agreements
- Franchise Agreements
- Waivers of Moral and Performers' Rights
- Options over IP
- First Look and Evaluation Agreements
- Pre-emption Rights
- Assignments and Novations of IP Contracts
- IP as security for lending
- Tax structures for IP rights
- Commissioning Agreements for Creative Works (all kinds)
- Database Access Agreements
Recent work undertaken includes:
- Technology Transfer and establishment of US joint venture of novel drilling technologies for use in sub prime oilfield environments
- Acquisition of geomechanical oilfield modelling business servicing the global oil production market
- Establishing a US based joint venture to produce and market renewable energy biofuels
- Establishing a Swiss based R and D Group for a manufacturing business
- Recovering and documenting ownership of IP rights for UK building systems designer
- Establishing a long term collaborative partnership with a funding organisation in the Life Sciences sector for a UK University
What others say about us:
"When we launched National Geographic Kids magazine in the UK a big hurdle to clear was making a satisfactory Licence Agreement with the National Geographic Society in Washington. We were presented with a document that had been accepted by many other publishers around the world, but Ashfords clearly advised us of necessary changes and successfully persuaded the licensors of the need to make them. The deal went ahead with goodwill on all sides."
Nigel Deering, Director Attic Media
"We worked with the Ashfords' Intellectual Property Group who negotiated the terms of intellectual property licences, from a global aerospace company for use in silicon gyro manufacture. The issues relating to the use of intellectual property were key to a wider project aimed at fulfilling regional aims. Mark Lomas' assistance was invaluable in terms of suggesting and securing creative solutions, legal input and general commercial awareness throughout the process."
Ian Franklin, South West Regional Development Agency.
"Breadth of experience and ideas to assist in overcoming sticky points."
Chris Martin, Actaris
