INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS

Our patent attorneys, IP solicitors and trade mark attorneys specialise in maximising the value of advanced materials

Advanced materials are being used in more and more ways and in ever more complex products. This can create a tension between the producer of the advanced material and those in their supply chain who are likely to be developing their own intellectual property (IP) portfolio.

As such, those inventing, advancing and producing advanced materials must maintain a delicate balance between innovation, protection and commercialisation. Keeping this balance requires highly specialist expertise.

WHY SHOULD YOU TALK TO POTTER CLARKSON'S ADVANCED MATERIALS TEAM?

The patent attorneys, IP solicitors and trade mark attorneys in our specialist advanced materials team have all the expertise you’ll need to achieve the commercial success you deserve.

We understand that while the production of advanced materials often requires innovative methods of manufacturing, this doesn’t necessarily mean that protecting these methods with a patent is the best option.

Similarly, there are many different options when it comes to how you plan to sell your materials. If your IP is to do the job you need it to, it must map to your preferred business model and offer you the protection you’ll need to deliver it.

Therefore, our first step is always to get to know every aspect of your business so that together we can design the right IP strategy for you.

We also understand your materials will be used long after the original patent lifetime. This means we also need to help you build a trusted brand and ensure it is supported by the appropriate licensees and prevented from becoming generic and difficult to enforce or maintain.

We do all this by creating a fully integrated, multi-disciplinary team for you that comprises of attorneys and solicitors with the right technical background and the most appropriate client experience. This ensures we can provide the most strategically valuable advice, the advice you’ll need to maximise the commercial value of your innovations.

And our rare combination of patent and trade mark attorneys and IP solicitors means we can offer the rare combination of legal and technical advice from a single source.

We’ll not only protect your IP rights, but we will also put the commercial agreements and licencing arrangements you need in place and, if necessary, steer you through the international litigation process if your position is challenged.

HOW WILL OUR PATENT ATTORNEYS, IP SOLICITORS AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS HELP YOUR ADVANCED MATERIALS BUSINESS?

While the support we provide for the manufacturers of advanced materials will depend on your situation, your commercial objectives and what stage your business is at, the areas we most often help clients with include:

Advising you on the most strategic use of all your IP rights
Registering your patents, trade marks, designs, and trade secrets throughout the world
Providing patent and trade mark infringement and validity opinions
Conducting patent and trademark searches and watches
Defending your IP rights whether you are attacked via a patent office or court proceedings
Enforcing your rights against competitors infringing your rights
Drafting the commercial, IP and licensing agreements you need to support your business

Graphene has emerged as one of the most promising nanomaterials because of its density, strength and conductivity. Graphene's unique combination of extraordinary properties has placed it at the forefront of projects involving wearable electronics, sensors, composites, coatings, membranes, biotechnology and renewable energy.

Furthermore, the emergence of other 2D materials has created a host of opportunities that support the growth and expansion of this industry.

In addition to working with an ever growing number of graphene and 2D materials based businesses, we continue to work closely with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre and the Graphene Council, helping their members make sure they extract the maximum benefit from their IP.
Polymers are near ubiquitous in modern technology. The diversity of functional properties and end uses coupled with the difficulties that often arise precisely defining their structure creates unique challenges when developing IP portfolios. We are aware of these challenges, and have experience in protecting polymer technologies across their range of uses.

We have particular expertise in supporting companies protect their polymer technologies at the EPO using creative drafting focussing on novel parameters, product-by-process and use claims.
Metallurgy sits at the interface of chemistry and engineering, with innovations that are best understood by teams having an in-depth knowledge of both disciplines. We have significant experience in this technical area, supporting companies developing alloys ranging from advanced steels to alloys for medical use. The interdisciplinary nature of metallurgy has led to specific case law being developed, and our knowledge and experience in the area can help you navigate this body of case law to obtain protection for your innovations.
A diverse range of materials have conductive properties, ranging from polymers to alloys and composite materials. Many advanced materials obtain their conductive properties from the manufacturing process used to make them, with their exact structure remaining unknown. Protecting these materials can therefore be challenging and relies on a good understanding of both the technology and the legal framework.

We have expertise in protecting a range of technologies incorporating novel conductive materials, ranging from solar cell technologies, printed circuit boards, battery membranes and electrodes, electrolytes, graphene and nanotechnologies. We can create a team with the necessary technical capabilities to understand your innovations, and legal capabilities to help you protect and exploit your products.
Biomaterials are intended to interact with biological systems, such as prosthetics and surgical glues, and new biomaterials such as tissues made through additive manufacturing.

These materials fall very much at the intersection between biology, materials science and engineering. We have attorneys with deep technical and often practical scientific expertise in these areas, and we can put together a bespoke team of attorneys to work on your technology.

We know that biomaterials have to have the required biological function and meet the appropriate regulatory criteria so that you can bring your product to market, and so we build the regulatory process into your IP strategy.

WHY ASK US TO HELP YOU GROW YOUR ADVANCED MATERIALS BUSINESS?

Given the advanced materials experience our patent attorneys, IP solicitors and trade mark attorneys offer, we can also deliver a broader commercial perspective you can use to build your business. This includes:

1. Conducting due diligence

More and more companies are starting to recognise the benefits of mergers and acquisitions or divesting their subsidiaries so they can develop the technology independently. We have the expertise to successfully conduct the due diligence a successful restructure requires and secure your Freedom to Operate post completion.

2. IP portfolio management

We have a wealth of expertise in developing IP portfolios for companies of all sizes, ranging from start-ups to multinationals. While patents will be a core part of your strategy, we also understand the strategic importance of protecting the trade secrets and brands associated with your innovations.

3. Consulting on commercial strategy

As advanced materials are often used in the manufacture of composite products, you need to stay abreast of what both your competitors and your customers are doing. We will help you monitor the IP developments in your market and, if necessary, carry out freedom to operate analyses.

If you’d like to discuss how our patent attorneys and IP solicitors could help you protect and commercialise your latest advanced materials innovation, please contact our specialist advanced materials team today.