Intellectual Property (IP)
Future facing law firm with deep knowledge in protecting and commercialising IP assets
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CMS IP at a glance:
In today’s changing world, with technology evolving rapidly and global markets becoming ever more interconnected, businesses in every sector are facing an unprecedented array of IP challenges, each requiring strategic attention.
In the patent arena, the rapid adoption of advanced technology - especially in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and clean energy - raise complex questions concerning patentability, inventorship, and cross-border enforcement. Copyright challenges are also increasingly complex due to digital content proliferation and AI-generated works, which complicates the traditional concepts of authorship and originality, alongside ongoing issues with online infringement. Jurisdictions around the world are reconsidering longstanding legal principles as businesses adapt to these new technological realities.
Trade marks continue to face threats from brand dilution, counterfeiting, and unauthorised use in the expanding e-commerce landscape. Design rights are becoming increasingly important to businesses, for example in the consumer products and medical device sectors, and legislation is continuing to evolve both at the UK and EU level.
Our dedicated team of over 450 specialist lawyers, scientists, patent and trade mark attorneys brings a wealth of expertise and industry insight to support your business needs - IP expertise built through advising some of the world’s most recognised brands, spanning banking, technology, media, life sciences, and major players in the FMCG sector.
At CMS we understand both the challenges and the opportunities that these evolving issues present. We manage the full lifecycle of IP assets, handling both contentious and non-contentious matters. Whether you own or license IP, we are committed to helping you maximise the value of your assets in today’s rapidly changing landscape of technological advancement.
Protecting your IP rights in a changing world
Trade marks play an essential role for both businesses and their consumers. CMS advises on all elements of trade marks with us managing more than 86,000 trade marks globally, along side having conducted the second largest number of UK Trade mark hearings over the last three years.
This extensive experience enables us to advise on trade mark registrations, oppositions and portfolio management, globally and locally. If disputes arise, we are there to guide you through the litigation process, whether you are pressing or defending a claim locally or across national borders.
The CMS patent attorney practice disrupts the traditional boutique approach to provide a service that meets the needs of modern business practice.
High profile and global life sciences and hi-tech companies trust us to manage their patent portfolios. Their portfolios are under constant scrutiny and they need to know they are in the very best hands. Our attorneys have long-held passions for the sectors we work in, with many having PhDs and/or industry experience in their chosen area.
Portfolios are actively managed using a CMS-built database that gives clients direct access to their data whilst enabling us to proactively manage every case. In fact, we manage more than 3,800 patent applications across 50 jurisdictions at any one time.
Creativity comes in all forms. It may be a new manufacturing process, an innovative piece of code or how an existing piece of tech can be repurposed for improved usability. This creativity deserves the best defence.
Whether it is dealing with trade secrets or applying the latest copyright legislation, the CMS team can handle all matters relating to the copyrights and infringements.
We establish ownership of copyrighted works and register copyrights, we police potential infringements and have substantial experience in copyright litigation.
Discover key CMS Intellectual Property insights
CMS Global IP Contact Card June 2025
Unified Patent Court
International Digital Regulation Hub
Artificial Intelligence and Copyright Case Tracker
Digital Regulation Tracker
To help you navigate the tsunami of digital regulations in the EU and in the world, visit our digital regulation hub and brand new digital Regulation Tracker tool
AI Navigator
From foundational infrastructure to advanced applications, developing, deploying or using artificial intelligence gives rise to different challenges that businesses should understand when making any strategic AI investment.
Legal experts for Intellectual Property
Highlighted experience
Case studies
Since mid-2024, CMS has managed the entire worldwide trade mark portfolio for Jaguar Land Rover (‘JLR’), which consists of 10,000+ trade marks across the globe, including some of the world’s most recognised brands – JAGUAR, LAND ROVER, DEFENDER, RANGE ROVER and DISCOVERY.
CMS taking over responsibility for JLR’s trade mark portfolio coincided with huge corporate changes at JLR, including the shift to its new JLR corporate identity and a ‘House of Brands’ approach.
CMS has supported JLR through its high-profile launch of the new Jaguar Type 00, with a concept car revealed in Miami in December 2024.
The CMS team supports JLR’s in house IP team in relation to numerous disputes and infringements, support in relation to rolling out new car, model and trim names, and advice on transactional IP matters.
CMS is retained by Microsoft on its small bench of European Patent Attorneys, undertaking original drafting work for technology originating in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, and EPO filing work for applications with origination in the US. As well as this European-focused work, we are also frequently entrusted with the management of acquired portfolios. CMS currently has in excess of 1,200 live applications in prosecution for Microsoft.
Microsoft trusts CMS because of our combination of technical expertise, tech sector knowledge ranging from AI, communications to physics and the excellent working relationships we have built together.
Innovative thinking and systems are central to our success. CMS has built tools for tracking objection types raised by the patent office and uses automated tools for checking patent draft formal requirements. These enable us to work efficiently for high volumes of matters. CMS uses video conferencing facilities for hearings which gives efficiencies for our clients.
Local market knowledge. Global outlook
We provide future-facing legal advice to help your organisation thrive. Combining local market knowledge and a global perspective, and with lawyers in locations worldwide, your organisation benefits from the expertise it needs, even across borders.
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