Intellectual Property Disputes
Our Intellectual Property (IP) Disputes team advises clients on the full range of IP issues which might affect their businesses in relation to the protection and exploitation of IP rights.
Our strong technical knowledge and highly experienced team has enabled us to build a successful track record in high-profile and precedent-setting cases.
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“Strong team with great industry knowledge across the IP and music spheres.”
Legal 500 2024 -
“Effective team with excellent copyright expertise.”
Legal 500 2024
We provide a full legal service on all cases of IP infringement, including:
- trade marks
- passing off
- copyright
- design rights
- database rights
- advertising disputes; and
- domain name disputes.
We work across all industry sectors but have a particular expertise and longstanding client relationships in media and entertainment, hospitality and leisure, sport and retail. This gives us a unique insight and the ability to provide legal advice which is carefully tailored to the commercial concerns of clients in these sectors.
We have a particular specialism within music, providing a service which encompasses almost all aspects of protecting and exploiting IP rights within the music industry. Our IP Disputes team is known as the ‘go-to firm’ for the UK music collecting societies. Having acted for Phonographic Performance Limited and PRS for Music for decades, both societies have counted on Hamlins as a trusted advisor for all aspects of their IP protection.
We have experience in dealing with cases at all levels of Court proceedings, including trade mark disputes before the Intellectual Property Office, claims in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and, prior to Brexit, in the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Our Work
Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and PRS For Music
We act for Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) and PRS For Music, the UK’s two music collecting societies, in the protection of their copyright in sound recordings and musical works. PPL...
Trademark and Rightsholders against Piracy (TRAP)
Trade mark and Rightsholders against Piracy (TRAP) is the industry trade body for the UK music, film and TV merchandising industry formed of the lead merchandise companies throughout Europe. TRAP members...