We advise founders, creators and businesses on registering trademarks, owning and licensing intellectual property, and responding to an infringement allegation.
Overview
Intellectual property, often shortened to IP, is the set of legal rights over things people create: a brand name or logo, a piece of writing or software, an invention, a design. These rights let the owner control how the work is used and stop others from copying it.
For many businesses the brand is among their most valuable assets, yet it is often left unprotected until a problem appears. Checking that a name is available, registering where appropriate, and recording who owns what is created are inexpensive steps compared with a dispute.
Different rights work in different ways. Trademarks, copyright, patents and designs each have their own rules on what is protected, how rights arise, and for how long. In Pakistan, registration of several of these rights is handled through a government office, and the process and requirements should be confirmed at the time.
We help you work out what you have, how to protect it, and how to deal with others who use it.
Who we help
- Founders and businesses choosing and protecting a brand name or logo.
- Creators, writers and software developers who want to protect their work.
- Companies that need clear ownership terms for staff and contractors.
- Businesses facing an allegation that they have used someone else’s rights.
How we work
- We identify what you have created and how you use it.
- We explain which protections may be available and what each involves.
- We agree the scope and fee approach, including alternative fee arrangements where suitable.
- We handle the applications, agreements or correspondence, and advise on enforcement.
What to bring to a first conversation
Bring examples of what you want to protect or have been using, such as names, logos, product designs, written or software work, together with any dates of first use or creation. Tell us who created the work and under what arrangement, whether employees, contractors or agencies, because ownership can depend on that. If someone else is using something similar, bring dated evidence such as screenshots. Whether registration is available or useful depends on the type of right.
Typical work
Trademark search and registration filing
Read the related questionOwnership and licence agreement for IP
Copyright advice for creative or software work
Read the related questionResponse to an alleged infringement
Read the related questionIP clauses for employment and commercial contracts
Read the related question
How trademark registration usually works
The stages and their names can change, so we confirm the current process at the start.
Search
We search the register and other records for names that are the same or similar, and explain the risk.
Choose what to protect
We agree the name or logo to file and the goods or services it will cover.
File the application
We prepare and file the application and keep the filing details for you.
Examination and objections
The office reviews the application. If it raises an objection, we help prepare a response.
Publication and opposition
The application may be published so that others can object before registration.
Registration and renewal
If the application succeeds, the mark is registered, and a renewal date applies.
Types of intellectual property compared
| Compared on | Trademark | Copyright | Patent |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it protects | Names, logos and signs that identify a business | Writing, art, music, software and similar work | New inventions |
| How it arises | Use in the market, or registration | Usually when the work is created | Only after an application is granted |
| Registration | Often registered for clearer rights | Confirm what the law requires | Required |
| Typical example | A shop name or product logo | A book, a photograph or an app | A new industrial process |
Frequently asked questions
Information on this website is general in nature and is not legal advice. Anything that depends on the law is marked until a lawyer has checked it.
What is intellectual property?
Intellectual property means legal rights over things people create, such as brand names and logos, written and artistic work, software, inventions and designs. The main types are trademarks, copyright, patents and industrial designs. Each works differently and protects different things. Knowing which applies to you is the first step.
More detail
Many businesses find their brand is among their most valuable assets, yet leave it unprotected until a problem appears. A short review can show what you have and what to do first.
Do I need to register a trademark?
A trademark is a sign, such as a name or logo, that identifies your goods or services. Registration generally gives clearer and stronger rights than relying on use alone, so many businesses register. Whether you need to depends on the law and on how important the brand is to you.
Who owns work created by an employee or contractor?
It depends on the contract and the law. Without clear written terms, ownership can be uncertain, and the person who made the work may keep some rights. That is why agreements with staff, freelancers and agencies should state who owns what is created. We can review or draft those terms.
How do I check whether a name is already taken?
Search the trademark register and business name records before you invest in branding. Also search online and in your market for similar names. A search lowers the risk but cannot remove it, because unregistered names and pending applications may not show. A lawyer can read the results and advise on the risk.
What can I do if someone copies my brand or work?
Options depend on what was copied and what rights you hold. They can include a written demand, negotiation and, if necessary, legal proceedings. Keep dated evidence of the copying, such as screenshots, and of your own use. Do not contact the other side until you have taken advice.
What is the difference between a trademark and a company name?
A company name is the name under which a business is registered. A trademark identifies goods or services in the market. Registering a company name does not necessarily give you trademark rights, and the two are checked in different places. Many businesses need to think about both.
Does copyright need to be registered?
In many legal systems, copyright arises when a work is created, and registration is optional but can help as evidence. Whether and how Pakistani law treats registration should be confirmed before you rely on this. Keep dated drafts and files to show when and by whom a work was created.
How long does trademark registration take?
We cannot promise a fixed time. It depends on the examination, any objections, and whether anyone opposes the application. Filing early is sensible, because the process takes time and you may want to use the brand in the meantime. We give you an estimate based on the current process.
Do I need a lawyer to register a trademark?
You can usually apply yourself, but a lawyer can help choose the right classes of goods or services, run a search and respond to objections. Mistakes in an application can be hard to fix later. Advice matters most when the brand is central to your business.
Glossary
- Trademark
- A name, logo or other sign that shows which business a product or service comes from.
- Copyright
- The right to control how a piece of original writing, art, music or software is copied and shared.
- Patent
- A right, granted after an application, over a new invention. It lets the owner stop others from using it.
- Industrial design
- The look of a product, such as its shape or pattern, which can be protected separately from how it works.
- Licence
- Permission to use someone's intellectual property on agreed terms, such as for a fee or for a set period.
- Assignment
- A written transfer of ownership of an intellectual property right from one person or business to another.
- Infringement
- Using someone's protected work, name or invention without permission or another legal basis.
- Opposition
- A process in which another party objects to a trademark application before it is registered.
Sources
Official bodies named for reference. Check the current text of any law with the body itself or with a lawyer.
- Pakistan Code (Ministry of Law and Justice)Official federal law database. Check the current text of any law here or with a lawyer.
- Intellectual Property Organization of PakistanThe government office that handles registration of several rights. Confirm its current website and forms.
Questions about your own matter? Send us a message.
General information. Not yet reviewed by a lawyer.
How we write and check this content: editorial policy.
Information on this website is general in nature and is not legal advice.