For many businesses, IP is their most valuable asset. As such, it is closely guarded and zealously enforced. But in today’s competitive landscape, where collaboration is key and mergers are many, IP must be made available to others in order to survive and thrive. Cozen O’Connor works closely with inventors, owners, licensors, licensees, buyers, and sellers to both protect and leverage the value of owned or licensed IP to the greatest extent possible.
IP Transactions & Licensing is a multidisciplinary practice that benefits from Cozen O’Connor’s combined knowledge of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, domain name, and data privacy and security law, as well as years of experience representing clients in a diverse range of industries, from blockchain to pharmaceuticals.
Our team also combines corporate and litigation capabilities. Attorneys successfully negotiate financially beneficial transactions alongside the firm’s renowned M&A and tax counsel, while identifying areas of potential liability and designing creative solutions to mitigate risk.
Licensing
Cozen O’Connor advises clients on the many nuanced issues applicable to IP licenses, from exclusivity to enforcement considerations, while keeping in mind each business’s unique financial, structural, and corporate needs. Our attorneys handle straightforward license-for-income transactions, complex multi-party strategic agreements, co-brand and cross-license agreements, SaaS and PaaS agreements, and a host of other IP-sharing arrangements.
Due Diligence
Cozen O’Connor offers industry-leading due diligence — thorough but efficient review of all traditional IP (trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets) as well as IP assets that are sometimes overlooked in corporate transactions (rights of publicity, data privacy and protection, open source software, and unrelated contracts that implicate IP). We review client and target IP and quickly isolate pertinent issues, make findings actionable, and guide clients and counterparts to effective solutions.
Service Agreements & Collaborations
Done right, joint ventures, collaborations, and strategic alliances can generate new IP, expand market reach, and create new revenue streams. But healthy, mutually beneficial business partnerships are founded on well-designed agreements, continually serviced by counsel who understand the underlying IP and legal pitfalls. Cozen O’Connor routinely drafts and negotiates joint venture, strategic partnership, and co-development agreements; reseller, co-branding, sponsorship, and co-marketing arrangements; and other service agreements that promote strategic collaboration.