Hi-tech law and intellectual property law problems solved

Hi-tech intellectual property law problems solved

Information technology and hi-tech systems are more integral to the business world than ever before, and we understand how important they are to companies and individuals.

Any threat to the intellectual property rights of the material you publish online can be a potential disaster for your business, so it is vital to make the necessary legal arrangements to protect against any such misfortune. We can help.

You can contact First4Lawyers and ask about how to safeguard the intellectual property rights relating to your hi-tech business.

What is hi-tech law?

There are laws that govern the way that you can use the software that you purchase for your business, and bespoke software that you commission for your business. There are also laws that concern IT support and development work, and the way you use the internet.

One of the most important areas of hi-tech law is intellectual property. The material you publish on the internet receives protection from the law under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, but it is important that you take the necessary steps to ensure you publish your work in line with legal requirements.

You might also be interested in technology law - covering digital copyright and digital data.

How can I ensure my hi-tech intellectual property is protected?

To ensure that the law protects your web assets and other aspects of your IT business, you should:

• Use copyright notices.
• State the trade marks that you are using on your website or on any other web asset, such as emails.
• Make sure that you don’t use any images or text that are protected by someone else’s copyright or trade mark without permission.
• Be sure not to link to other web pages in such a way that it makes them appear to be part of your website, such as by embedding content without permission.
• Check that the domain name you wish to use for your website and emails is not already in use and does not conflict with anyone else’s copyright.

If you are commissioning a designer to create a website or any other web asset for your business, it is important to establish exactly where the copyright and design rights will be assigned, and agree the terms of use in an appropriate licence.

The designer should also be required to warrant that any intellectual property used within the designs is not in breach of anyone else’s copyright.

Our specialist solicitors can assist you in making sure that your work meets the relevant legal requirements and is protected by copyright and design law.

My work in hi-tech has been exploited by someone else without my permission – what should I do?

Speaking to a proper legal professional is always a good first step. Although you could independently contact the third party that you believe to be infringing your copyright or trademark with a cease and desist letter. Often, an agreement or settlement can be reached without the need for court proceedings.

However, discussions with a third party can be a sensitive issue and often require mediation and we can advise you around that.

Get in touch to discuss how to start protecting your assets against potential breaches of your intellectual property rights.

We can also offer you advice and assistance from experienced IT law professionals to keep you safe from any potential claims that could be made against you.