Searches and Current Watches

Confidence is Good – Control is Better

In particular when new companies are founded, the owners and the investors are frequently shocked by unexpected
developments. Substantial innovations may be lost because the owners of prior intellectual property rights, trademarks,
or designs successfully proceed against newly introduced articles or product names. In an attempt to save money at
the wrong end, the "new entrepreneurs" often fail to gather information in advance about the existence of such
intellectual property rights.

Our patent and trademark attorneys have at their disposal a variety of means to carry out complete searches for existing
patents, utility models, trademarks, registered designs and other similar intellectual property rights, if necessary within
a few days or hours. Such means include the investigation of data bases and inquiries to and the inspection of patent
literature available at patent authorities and other pertinent publishing agencies. Major international patent firms like
ours can also access trademark databases where the existence of published competing marks can be established at
short notice, often within one or two hours.

Moreover, when clients own registered trademarks, it is also recommended to watch new trademark publications
continually in order to have early information about the appearance of confusing competitive marks. The owner of a
registered prior trademark is then able to enforce his rights in opposition proceedings at the German Patent Office or
at the European Community Trademark Office, an approach which is substantially less expensive than later litigation.
The R & D divisions of industrial companies also appreciate up-to-date reports about newly published trademarks or
patent applications relating to their respective fields. When the owner of a right tolerates a third party's infringement,
he may forfeit his own right.

The patent attorney, therefore, acts also as an external "information agency" for his clients. The costs incurred for this
service are far less than the damage which may be caused if such a search or current watch is not utilized.

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