도전 과제
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.
해결책
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.
결과
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.
또한 Aurrigo는 자사의 지적재산권(IP) 가치를 극대화하기 위한 내부 절차에 대해 Barker Brettell로부터 자문을 구했습니다. 이 자문은 다음과 같은 내용을 포함했습니다: 새로운 발명품이 적절히 보호될 수 있도록 정기적인 IP 관리 회의를 개최할 것; 해당 분야에서 누가 어떤 특허를 출원하고 있는지 파악하기 위해 특허 모니터링 서비스를 시작할 것; 적절한 보호를 유지하는 데 충분한 자금이 배정되도록 IP 관련 예산 및 일정을 예측하여 수립하는 것; 핵심 직원들이 IP 보호의 필요성과 회사 성장에 있어 IP가 차지하는 역할을 인식할 수 있도록 서면 IP 정책을 공식화하고 작성하는 것; 모든 IP가 적절히 기록되도록 IP 확보 정책 또는 시스템을 공식화하는 것; 그리고 특허 박스(Patent Box) 세제 혜택이 유익할지 검토하고, 오리고가 연구개발(R&D) 세액 공제 제도를 충분히 활용하고 있는지 확인하는 것 등이 포함되었습니다.
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.
바커 브레텔은 오리고에 지적재산권 관련 자문을 계속 제공하고 있으며, 해당 고객사는 자사의 지적재산권에 대한 투자를 지속하고 있다.
“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.”
