Intellectual Property Law

REGINA LEX ATTORNEYS AT LAW

Ms. Douglin holds an LL.M degree in Intellectual Property Law and was for several years the Partner with responsibility for Intellectual Property Matters at her previous Law Firm.

Protecting clients’ intellectual property rights in Barbados and other Caribbean jurisdictions, the firm provides services for trademark registration and prosecution, patents registration and prosecution, copyright law, entertainment law, domain names, security interests in intellectual property, licensing and franchising.

Ms. Douglin has researched expansively the area of Geographical Indications providing advice and consulting on a project with an industry organization.

The firm is a member of the International Trademark Association and the European Communities Trademark Association and has acted as Deputy Director of the Advisory Committee of Intellectual Property.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is intellectual property (IP)?

Intellectual Property is products of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, any symbols, names, images and designs used in commerce. Intellectual property includes patents, trade marks, registered and unregistered designs, copyright and geographical indications.

How is IP beneficial to me?

IP is an intangible asset that adds substantial value to a business and can provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace. IP can be exploited by licence agreements to earn royalties.

Will I own the intellectual property that I create?

The creator of an item of intellectual property usually owns it. There are however certain exceptions to this rule – e.g. if IP is created during the course of a particular commissioned project it usually belongs to the commissioning company or academic institution.

What is a licensing agreement?

A licensing agreement involves the transfer of intellectual and proprietary knowledge in return for royalty as revenue from one company or individual to another.

Why Protect Intellectual Property?

Protecting a new idea for a process or product makes it possible for individuals and businesses to protect their work and investments. Without this kind of protection, it would not be worthwhile for people to invest large amounts of money in new inventions and/or projects since they would not be able to prevent competitors from immediately making use of their invention.