Getting the right advice can make the difference
Businesses are under increasing pressure to reinvent themselves and stay competitive. With IP licensing, businesses can enter into profitable collaborations and explore new markets.
Inversely, getting the right advice and assistance can help businesses protect their key assets in specific territories and maintain their competitiveness through strong IP-focused policies and agreements.
Unlock your organisation’s potential
IP Protection and Management
For an organisation to properly register their IP for protection and manage their IP portfolio to the best potential, a comprehensive process including the drafting of adequate agreements and registration to local and international platforms is required.
Increasing commercial value
Getting the best commercial deals when commercialising IP requires a proper strategy, be it through preparing expert reports on IP valuation, or the drafting of exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements.
Understanding all the implications
Ownership of IP also brings various tax, transfer pricing, financial and legal implications. Working closely with specialists in such fields can help maximise an organisation’s investment in the development and commercialisation of their unique technology.
IP Identification
Regardless of the type of IP you hold (copyright, patent, trademark, industrial design or trade secret), we can help throughout the lifecycle of your IP. This includes:
Helping you understand and identify what IP assets you own and how these may add value to your business;
Holding preliminary information sessions/discussions on options for IP asset protection and possible registrations which fit your goals;
Qualifying your IP for protection and carrying out necessary preliminary ground work to properly value your IP.
Protection of IP
Communicating with the relevant authorities and drawing up any necessary documentation to ensure the protection of your IP asset in relation to:
Local IP asset registration applications;
EU platforms, such as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);
International platforms, such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO); and/or
Any other international or regional relevant registration platforms.
Exploit the value of your IP Assets
We can provide advice and support in terms of how to best exploit your IP, including:
Organisation and management of IP assets;
Drafting of royalty, licensing and franchise agreements as well as copyright protection and employment clauses;
Advice on prevention of IP infringement and implementation of effective security measures;
Preparation and review of IP valuations, including in the preparation of purchase price allocations wherein intangible assets are being acquired and the required expert report in terms of Article 73 of the Maltese Companies Act is being prepared.
Housekeeping
Help with the renewal, transfer or termination of your IP;
Revising and/or renewing existing IP-based agreements;
Consulting with Authority requests on your behalf;
Advising on any re-branding and/or modernisation queries;
Assistance with filing necessary objections to the use of products or services which are in breach of or conflict with the protection of your IP.
Our Tax Services related to IP
Are you eligible for incentives?
We can help you on certain funding opportunities, namely:
Advising on any available incentives relating to IP, including advice on the Patent Box Regime and R&D incentive schemes;
Assistance with the preparation and review of application forms and various correspondence with the relevant Authorities;
Assisting with performing calculations to optimise the benefit that could be availed of;
Assisting with ongoing reporting requirements;
Assisting on funding opportunities for other capital and operating expenditure.
Contact us
To find out more about how PwC can help your organisation address its key intellectual property challenges, please get in touch with one of our subject leaders below.
Contact us
