Intellectual Property for Sportstech

At the end of 2022, the global sportstech market was valued at almost $13.2bn. Given the increasing demand for technology-based solutions to support the development and safety of every sport, it is no surprise that the sportstech sector is expected to grow by more than 20% every year between now and 2030.

Given the huge range of applications for which technology is being developed across every sport and the rapid rate of development in each, it is easy to see why such a high rate of growth is being predicted.

The wearable device market is booming and diversifying. Fitness trackers are not only increasingly commonplace but are also tracking much more than just activity. AI is transforming both athletic and commercial performance. The Internet of Things (IoT) is providing ever higher levels of connectivity and data analysis capabilities for people, equipment, and stadia. Fitness equipment is becoming even smarter; it can’t be long before real-time feedback and immersive workout experiences are considered standard.

The world’s major sports bodies are also seeking new ways to increase fan engagement and improve the fan experience. This is going to involve taking enormous strides in digital technology and distribution models to ensure both engagement and experience can be delivered globally.

Brands are also placing greater focus on the collection and utilisation of fan data to better monitor the performance of their marketing spend and work out how best to engage directly with their consumers.

As in all other areas of technology, data is integral to sportstech.

The application of AI in areas as diverse as athlete performance, team strategies, coaching models, injury analysis/prediction and rehabilitation, personalised fan experiences, ticketing, brand performance, and content generation has come as no surprise. However, the rate of adoption has vastly exceeded most people’s expectations. This poses its own problems. The collection and analytic techniques must be protected, and the ownership and security of the data must be secured.

HOW WILL POTTER CLARKSON'S IP LAWYERS HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR SPORTSTECH INVENTIONS?

In any fast-moving, competitive, and innovation-heavy sector, protecting the intellectual property (IP) at the heart of a business is vital. Unprotected, you run the very real risk of your competitors infringing, reappropriating, or reengineering the ideas your business is built on.

Our specialist multidisciplinary sportstech team is made up of patent and trade mark attorneys and IP solicitors with enormous experience in, amongst other areas, wearables, performance tech, AI and data analysis, AI-driven coaching models, AR and VR, access systems, connectivity solutions, online brand protection and enforcement, and licensing, partnership, and collaboration agreements.

Together, we will help you find the most effective way to successfully navigate the complex world of IP rights by:

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 trade mark searches and watches
Defending your IP rights whether you are attacked via an IP 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
Providing a wider commercial perspective that you can use to build your business

We will make sure your most valuable assets are not only fully protected but also managed in a way that will maximise the commercial value of all your new ideas and your brand. We do this by not only putting the required IP rights in place but also by crafting the commercial agreements you’ll need to ensure your products reach your chosen markets safely.

Sportstech is also an area attracting a huge amount of investment.

There is huge optimism around increased valuations within the sector, not least because potentially huge global markets, including India, Brazil, and the Middle East, are continuing to open up.

If you are a company that is looking to attract investment, we know how to get you ‘investor-ready’ and make sure you are as attractive as possible to potential investors.

If you are looking to invest in sportstech, our dedicated investor team will help you examine potential investees from an IP perspective using our proven VerifyiP model. We’ll make sure you have the level of insight you need to make the very best investment decisions.

While we have experience in each of the major areas of sportstech, we have particular expertise in: