Companies who wish to acquire or maintain a strong market position must invest constantly in innovation and make the best possible use of their creative resources. Our mission is to enhance and protect the IP rights of our clients by means of a specialist consultancy service which embraces every aspect of intellectual property during the various stages involving searches, filing, granting and defence of patents, trademarks and designs in Switzerland and abroad.
The services offered by M. Zardi & Co. SA cover patents, trademarksand designs as well as the legal aspects.
SERVICES OVERVIEW
In the present-day market, protecting innovative solutions is the most effective way to ensure leverage of a company’s potential, which otherwise risks remaining untapped without proper Intellectual Property management.
Patents confer exclusive rights for a 20 year period and can protect, for example, new industrial processes or plants, new equipment or devices or chemical preparations. Exclusive rights can be extended so that they cover several geographical areas.
It is important to define a long-term strategic plan, since obtaining a patent on its own may not be sufficient. Our patent experts can suggest how to integrate the patent management strategy into the corporate vision, considering how a patent can help protect business not only in terms of market share but also in terms of opportunities: a patent may lead to alliances or cooperation with other businesses, the granting of licences or trade exchanges, and constitutes a powerful bargaining tool. Recent tax relief measures, aimed at encouraging companies to invest in R&D, allow access to tax benefits through patenting, making this an even more attractive tool.
PATENT BOX
Recent tax relief measures, aimed at encouraging companies to invest in R&D, allow access to tax benefits through patenting, making this an even more attractive tool. With the Patent Box, following registration of the patents, a company may take advantage of the tax incentives available for its revenue. Our experts carry out the patent analysis, in preparation for the tax and financial study, in order to quantify the possible benefits of the Patent Box. Income from patents is taxed separately from other profits and at a reduced rate. The reduction may be as high as 90%. Eligible income includes royalties, patent revenues contained in the product price and profits from the sale of patents. Some of the Swiss Cantons grant capital tax relief when the capital is attributable to shareholdings, patents and intra-group loans.
A trademark constitutes an immediate link between the manufacturer and consumer, often representing a key distinguishing factor and an instinctive choice for the consumer. Its value is something which is built up over time, in large part by the reputation of the company, the quality of its products or services, but also by careful registration, skilful protection and appropriate use. Our firm offers a specialized service for conducting searches, filing, obtaining and defending trademarks, within the regulatory framework in Switzerland and abroad, and operates, inter alia, in the high-fashion and luxury goods sector, with a view to fully realizing the potential of a trademark. Our consultants offer expert advice, anticipating the extent and way in which the trademark can attract consumers, influence them, guide their choices and help to concretely increase the value of the branded products and services.
It is of fundamental importance to be able to distinguish products by means of their appearance. The creation of a design is therefore the tool which is able to protect the appearance of a product, as defined by its aesthetic characteristics such as lines, contours, colours, surfaces, materials or embellishments. Exclusive rights over the design of a product may acquire a surprising economic value, especially when considered in relation to the economic investment required for obtaining protection. Planning the development of an aesthetically unique product, or an entire range of products sharing a common aesthetic identity, is the key to success for well-known companies.
Also in highly innovative technology sectors, where patents of invention are the primary means of protection, designs are increasingly used for parallel protection, in order to achieve immediate, long-lasting and across-the-board market penetration.
We provide help and advice on a wide range of legal questions relating to Intellectual Property rights. We work alongside Swiss and international law firms in litigation proceedings, providing an all-round technical and legal perspective and proposing the right pragmatic solution. We deal with Intellectual Property right infringement, copyright, confidentiality and trade secrets, data protection law, domains, know-how protection, licences, technology transfer and freedom-to-operate analysis.
We provide assistance throughout the product development process, advising R&D teams, and conduct research and monitoring before and after launch. We provide advice on the best portfolio management strategy. We improve the competitivity of clients, also helping them to launch new products on the market by anticipating any possible difficulties.