As a sportsperson or club, your name, brand, image and creative endeavours all deserve the very best protection.
We can provide that protection through our expertise in copyright, trademarks, trade names, domain names, branding, endorsement (see False Endorsement), image rights and all related issues. Schillings deals with all aspects of IP protection (including application, registration, licensing and enforcement) and is able to use all available legal mechanisms to ensure the value of our clients' rights and brands are maintained and enhanced. We have worked with many clients to devise and implement rights protection programmes, and have a commercial and results-driven approach.
By fully utilising the laws of copyright, we can ensure that works such as photographs, sporting memorabilia and autobiographies are adequately protected from unauthorised exploitation by others. For more detail on this area of law, see Copyright.
Schillings can also assist in the protection of sporting trademarks - symbols or signs capable of distinguishing your goods and services from the goods and services of others. Trademarks we can help protect include club logos, brand names and apparel identification marks.
We are also well placed to assist in the protection of sporting trademarks that may not be registered, by using the law of passing-off. Examples of work done by Schillings in this area include acting for Premier League football players and others whose images have been used on endorsements without their consent, and advising in respect of unauthorised biographies. We are also well placed to assist in cases of False Endorsement.
Our lawyers are also experienced in the drafting and negotiation of Image Rights Agreements.
And when it comes to enforcement, we're constantly raising the bar. For example we recently set a new precedent following the successful win of a broadcaster's copyright case.