Intellectual property
Trademarks, copyright, licensing, trade secrets and franchising.
In Colombia, industrial property is governed by Decision 486 of 2000 of the Andean Community, and copyright by Law 23 of 1982, as updated by Law 1915 of 2018. The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC, the industrial property office) grants trademarks, patents and industrial designs; the National Copyright Office (Dirección Nacional de Derecho de Autor) registers works, software and contracts. The rights most often lost are those that are neither registered nor agreed in writing.
We advise companies on protecting, using and defending their intangible assets: trademark registration and watching, licensing and technology transfer agreements, assignment of rights over works and developments created by employees and contractors, protection of trade secrets and structuring of franchises. We act in oppositions, cancellations and infringement proceedings before the SIC and the courts.
We coordinate with our contracts and competition practices when a dispute involves unfair competition or distribution.
What we do
- Clearance searches, registration and renewal of trademarks, slogans and trade names before the SIC.
- Oppositions, non-use cancellations and appeals within the registration process.
- Registration of works, software and contracts before the National Copyright Office.
- Copyright and invention assignment clauses in employment and service agreements.
- License, technology transfer and trademark use agreements between group companies and with third parties.
- Trade secret protection protocols and confidentiality agreements.
- Structuring of franchises: agreement, operations manual, trademark and exclusivity regime.
- Trademark and copyright infringement actions before the SIC and the courts.
- Domain name management and disputes over trademark use on the internet and social media.
- Intellectual property due diligence in acquisitions and investments.
Questions we answer
- I registered my trademark in Colombia. Is it protected when I export to other countries?
- A contractor developed our software. If we never signed an assignment, who owns it?
- Another company uses a name similar to ours on social media. What can I do?
- Can I use a supplier's trademark in my advertising without written permission?
- I want to franchise my business. What must the agreement contain so the trademark is not put at risk?
- How do I protect a formula or a process that I cannot patent?
Let's talk
Tell us the decision you have to make. We reply the same business day.
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