Intellectual Property Law · European Union
Turn Your Intellectual Property Into a Real, Enforceable Asset
Most ideas are never protected until it is too late — a name used for years but never registered, software copied outright, a design released with no record of who owns it. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted intellectual property lawyer who handles registration, licensing and enforcement across Europe every day, so the value you create stays yours.
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Who this is for
Ideas only become assets when the law recognises them
Intellectual property is the bundle of legal rights that turns intangible creations — a brand, an invention, a design, a piece of software or a written work — into property that can be owned, licensed, sold and defended. For a business, these rights are often the most valuable thing it holds, yet they are routinely neglected until a copycat appears or an investor asks the awkward question about who actually owns the code. Different creations are protected by different regimes: trademarks cover signs and names, patents cover technical inventions, copyright covers original expression, and registered designs cover the look of a product. Each follows its own rules, is territorial in scope, and has its own deadlines for filing and renewal. Understanding which rights apply to you — and acting before they are lost — is where a specialist earns their fee.
Where IP gets lost
The value you create can slip away
in paperwork nobody warned you about
Ownership, timing and territory decide most IP outcomes — and each is easy to get wrong without a specialist.
Unclear ownership
When founders, employees and freelancers work together without written assignments, the law often places ownership elsewhere by default. Discover this during a sale or funding round and you may have no clear title to your own product.
Unregistered rights
Names, logos and designs that are used but never registered enjoy little or no protection in most countries. Competitors can move into the same space and, in some cases, register the very mark you have been building.
Renewals and deadlines missed
Registered rights lapse if renewal fees and filing deadlines are missed. A single forgotten deadline can extinguish a trademark or patent permanently, with no easy route to restore it.
What you get
A specialist who protects every layer of what you create
We match you with intellectual property lawyers who cover the full spectrum — trademarks, patents, copyright and designs — for your sector.
Full IP audit
Your lawyer inventories everything you’ve created, clarifies who owns it, and flags the gaps that could cost you — before a competitor or a buyer finds them first.
Tailored protection plan
Get a priority-ordered strategy covering the right registrations, territories and classes, so you protect the assets that matter most without overpaying for what you don’t need.
Ownership fixed on paper
Assignments, employment contracts and contributor agreements are put in place so that every line of code, design and brand asset is clearly and legally yours.
Disputes handled early
When copying or infringement arises, your lawyer assesses the claim, issues the appropriate notice and represents you through opposition, mediation or litigation as the case requires.
Coverage
Intellectual property lawyers across Europe
Intellectual property rights are territorial and governed by a mix of national law and EU-wide systems, so the right lawyer is one who understands both the registry where you file and the courts where you may need to enforce. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Intellectual property — common questions
What counts as intellectual property?
Intellectual property covers creations of the mind that can be legally owned, including trademarks (brands and logos), patents (inventions), copyright (original works such as text, code and music) and registered designs (the appearance of products). Each has distinct rules, durations and registration requirements.
Is intellectual property automatically protected?
Copyright generally arises automatically when an original work is created, but trademarks, patents and designs usually require registration to be enforceable. Protection is also territorial, meaning a right in one country does not automatically extend to others. A lawyer can confirm exactly where you stand.
How do I know which type of protection I need?
It depends on what you are protecting. A distinctive name or logo points to a trademark, a technical invention to a patent, original creative output to copyright, and a product’s appearance to a registered design. Many products involve several types at once, so a specialist audit is usually the most reliable first step.
Why is proving ownership so important?
Because IP rights are property, their value depends on clear title. Where founders, employees or contractors have worked without written assignments, ownership can be uncertain or held by the wrong party — a problem that surfaces painfully during investment, sale or litigation.
Can one registration protect me across Europe?
For trademarks, a single EU trade mark can cover all member states in many cases. For patents, a European application can be validated in chosen countries. The options and costs vary by right and by country, so a lawyer should advise which route fits your goals.
What happens if I ignore an infringement?
Unchallenged copying can weaken or, in some cases, endanger your rights, and many countries set time limits on opposition and enforcement. The sooner a specialist reviews the situation, the more options you typically have and the stronger your position.
Free case review
Don’t wait for a copycat to prove what you own
Tell us what you’ve created and we’ll connect you with an intellectual property lawyer who handles cases like yours across Europe every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.