課題
Before appointing Barker Brettell as advisors, Aurrigo – a leading international provider of transport technology – had a robust trade secrets policy which worked well for the company. However, when Aurrigo was looking to attract investors to expand its business, Barker Brettell advised the company to review this strategy, bearing in mind that investors preferred to back companies where the funding is covered by patent protection.
解決策
Barker Brettell’s relationship with Aurrigo began with one of its highly experienced patent partners spending the day at the client’s headquarters. During the day, the patent partner presented on IP as a business asset, the filing criteria and rights provided by patents, and the monetary value of patents. Following the presentations, we proceeded to capture inventions for potential patent protection.
結果
The first patent application Barker Brettell drafted included many different inventions around one of Aurrigo’s key products. The strategy was to save on filing costs and defer prosecutions costs by including multiple inventions in the application. Barker Brettell has gone on to adopt this strategy in other patent applications it has drafted for the client. The first application has now led to granted rights in the UK, the US and Singapore,with a pending application in Europe and scope for further divisional applications.
Barker Brettell has, to date, drafted eight separate patent applications for the client. Most of these applications contain multiple, separable inventions, providing scope for protection in multiple jurisdictions as well as further divisional patent applications. Barker Brettell has also advised on trade secrets; the client maintains a ‘know-how’ record and the client is aware of the importance of confidentiality, including the correct use of NDAs.
また、Aurrigo社は、自社の知的財産（IP）の価値を最大化するための社内プロセスについて、Barker Brettell社から助言を受けています。これには、以下の点に関する助言が含まれていました。新たな発明が適切に保護されるよう、定期的なIP管理会議を開催すること；当該分野で他に誰がどのような特許を出願しているかを確認するための特許監視サービスを開始すること； 適切な保護を維持するために十分な資金が割り当てられるよう、知的財産に関する予算とスケジュールを策定すること；主要な従業員が知的財産の保護要件およびそれが会社の成長において果たす役割を確実に認識できるよう、知的財産方針を正式に策定し文書化すること；すべての知的財産が適切に記録されるよう、知的財産取得方針またはシステムを正式に確立すること；そして、特許ボックス税制が有益であるかどうかを検討し、オーリゴ社が研究開発税額控除制度を十分に活用しているかを確認すること。
When Aurrigo launched on the AIM market in 2022, the business was valued at £20 million, with its patent portfolio and copyright in its software forming an important part of that value. In preparation for the flotation, Barker Brettell carried out an IP audit, helping the company meet the necessary requirements for listing.
バーカー・ブレテルは引き続きオーリゴに対し知的財産に関する助言を行っており、同社も引き続き自社の知的財産への投資を続けている。
“When the business launched on AIM in 2022, it was valued at £20m, with its software patents and copyright forming an important part of that value.”
