DESIGNS · CONFIDENTIALITY · AGREEMENTS
Develop ideas.
Protect value.
Product designs and confidential information can be valuable assets for businesses and their partners. We advise on design rights, trade secrets and the related contracts and disputes.
Discuss your matterIntellectual property. Licences. Representation.
YOUR MATTER
Intellectual property rights confer powers while limiting what others may do. We clarify whether you wish to establish, acquire or use a right, or have a claim made against you reviewed.
We assist businesses and founders with the allocation of rights in product designs and the protection of confidential information. Agreements with designers, clients and cooperation partners are tailored to the specific project.
We draft rights of use, remuneration and cooperation arrangements from your respective position. Rights holders need controllable permissions; users need a reliable scope of authorisation. We also review existing licences when the business model changes.
We assess alleged infringements and the scope of the asserted right. We assist rights holders with enforcement and those facing claims with their defence. The scope of protection, actual use and available evidence are decisive.
OUR SERVICES
Our services in this area focus on design rights and trade secrets. We connect these matters with the related contracts, confidentiality arrangements and intended commercial use.
Consider creative design and its use together.
We assist designers and businesses with ownership of designs and contractual arrangements for product designs. We advise manufacturers, clients and other users on the scope of use and possible conflicting rights. We assess approaches to protection, publications and the specific design. Where forms are copied or similar, the key questions are which right exists and its scope.
Protect valuable knowledge in everyday operations.
We assist businesses with confidentiality agreements and legal provisions governing access and use. We advise employees, cooperation partners and recipients of confidential information on their duties and permitted actions. We assess the information concerned and existing safeguards. Where a leak is suspected, evidence and possible claims are assessed separately.
Agree permissions, limits and remuneration precisely.
For product designs, we advise licensors on permitted uses, control and retaining their rights. We assist licensees with the scope needed for their plans and with protecting their investment. We draft terms on territory, duration, exclusivity, sublicensing and termination. When design rights are transferred, we review the documented chain of title and existing commitments.
Assess the allegation and legal consequences separately.
Where design infringement or unauthorised use of confidential information is alleged, we review the legal basis and available evidence. We support rights holders in pursuing claims and those facing claims in assessing and defending them. Requests to cease conduct, provide information or make payments are assessed separately.
Transfer intangible assets transparently.
We assist sellers and buyers in reviewing design rights and related contracts. In collaborations, we draft arrangements for access to confidential information and the allocation of rights in product designs. Disclosure, permitted uses and existing commitments are coordinated with the relevant corporate, project or purchase agreement.
WORKING TOGETHER
We first clarify the asset concerned and your role. This determines the documents needed, the scope of searches and any further specialist input required.
We examine creation, register documents, contracts and actual use. Publications, potential disputes and dates are identified first.
We assess the legal position and further review needed. We agree the scope of searches, drafting or dispute representation and the cost framework.
We draft or negotiate contractual provisions and support the agreed steps. In disputes, we focus on evidence, claims and available responses.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
An initial guide to common questions. Your legal position, the documents and the facts determine the assessment of your individual case.
Legal information: 1 November 2026
An agreement can form part of the protection. However, trade secret protection also depends on the factual requirements and reasonable secrecy measures. We therefore examine how the information is handled, access rights and the specific purpose of use.
Yes. For allegations concerning design rights or trade secrets, we review the legal basis, scope and requested undertaking. Please tell us when the notice was received, the deadline and any responses already made so that we can assess the further review needed.
Yes. We assess whether the contract covers the planned use, what duties apply and which changes are needed. Actual use, other participants and changes in products, markets or corporate structures are particularly relevant.
