Intellectural Property

RIZZO & DIERSEN provides a broad array of legal services and counseling on issues relating to the Internet, e-commerce, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition. One of our newest practice areas, the firm's concentration in intellectual property issues arose from the many novel and complex legal challenges of the Internet Age. We are committed to providing timely, thorough and cost-effective representation in helping to develop and protect the intellectual property of businesses and individuals. Our practice in this area includes, but is not limited to:

Internet

Selection and/or registration of domain names for existing top-level domain names (i.e. .com, .edu, .net, and .org) and notification of the availability of new top-level domain names as they become available

Negotiation and drafting of domain name transfer agreements, linking and revenue sharing agreements, and copyright licenses and releases

Negotiation of contracts with web page developers and other e-commerce professionals

Creation or review of agreements, disclaimers, warranties and policies regarding users, privacy, billing, shipping, customers, suppliers, advertisers, consultants and employees

Trademark screening, trademark searching, and preparation and submission of applications to register trademarks for domain names, slogans and/or logos

Creation and review of web site content to identify existing or potential infringements of intellectual property rights

Briefing clients on developments in law, legislation and technology

Investigation and pursuit of, negotiation with and/or litigation against individuals or businesses that violate intellectual property rights

Trademark

Selecting names, logos, symbols or slogans to be registered as a trademark or service mark

Screening comprehensive international databases to determine if a name has been registered as a federal mark or state fictitious name

Searching comprehensive international databases to determine if a name or phase likely to be confused with your proposed mark has been registered as a federal mark or state fictitious name

Searching comprehensive international databases to determine the connotation of a proposed name in dozens of different languages

Providing an opinion of counsel letter regarding the availability of a name as a potential trade mark or service mark

Registering and retaining trademarks and service marks (both federal and Wisconsin)

Litigating trademark infringement and trademark dilution claims

Copyright

Registration with the United States Copyright Office for copyrights on original works of authorship recorded in permanent form (i.e. computer software, databases, and literary, artistic and musical works).

Drafting agreements for the license or sale of works protected by copyright

Litigating copyright infringement claims

Trade Secrets

Representation of employers or employees in trade secret matters, including negotiating, drafting, interpreting and enforcing non-disclosure agreements

Litigating trade secret violation claims

Unfair Competition

Litigation of claims regarding intellectual property misappropriation, tortious interference with contract or prospective business advantage, defamation, anticompetitive conduct or other unfair competition

Monitoring technological and legislative developments affecting our clients in the areas intellectual property, unfair competition and antitrust law.