Intellectual property covers different rights. Trade marks, business identifiers and patents fall within industrial property; copyright protects works under its own rules. The first step is to identify the creation, ownership, use and relevant countries.
What this area covers
Trade marks and business identifiers
Assessment of the sign to be protected, earlier rights searches and analysis of relevant goods, services and territories. Assistance with applications, notices, oppositions and use-related matters.
Patents and inventions
Legal assessment of the invention, ownership and protection objectives. Technical requirements and filing routes are assessed case by case, with technical support coordinated where needed.
Copyright
Advice on authorship and use of texts, photographs, graphic works, digital content and other protected works. Assessment of permissions, commercial exploitation and third-party use.
Agreements and enforcement
Drafting and review of licences, assignments and confidentiality agreements. Assessment of notices, negotiation and remedies for unauthorised use, based on the rights and evidence available.
When we can help
- Launching a trade mark, business name or visual identity
- Preparing an application or responding to an industrial property notice
- Unauthorised third-party use of a trade mark, work or content
- Determining rights in commissioned or jointly developed creations
- Licensing, assignments and expansion into other markets
Documents to gather
- Identify the trade mark, creation or invention and its authors and rights holders
- Dates of creation, disclosure or use, countries and relevant business activities
- Existing applications, registrations, notices, agreements and permissions
- Links, screenshots and correspondence documenting the use concerned
- Indicate any deadlines or correspondence received without submitting confidential technical details through the form
How we assess your enquiry
- We identify the creation, rights, rights holders, objectives and relevant deadlines.
- We assess the available information, territories and need for searches or technical support.
- If we can assist, we explain the proposed scope of work, required information and applicable terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does registering a company or domain protect the trade mark?
These registrations serve different purposes. A company name or domain does not replace trade mark registration or the assessment of earlier rights.
Is a trade mark registered in Portugal protected in every country?
No. National rights granted by INPI apply in Portugal. Protection in other markets requires assessing the countries concerned and the appropriate registration route, including EU or international routes where applicable.
Can I disclose an invention before seeking protection?
Public disclosure may affect the novelty required for a patent, subject to applicable statutory exceptions. Protection and confidentiality should be assessed before publishing, presenting or sharing technical details.
Does copyright always depend on registration?
As a rule, protection arises when a work is created, without registration. Optional registration may strengthen evidence of ownership; certain subject matter and forms of protection follow specific rules. An idea alone is not the protected expression of a work.
What should I do if someone uses my trade mark or creation?
Preserve evidence of the use, dates and parties involved. Whether an infringement has occurred and which remedies are available depend on ownership, scope of rights, permissions and the particular circumstances.
Main jurisdiction: Portugal
Updated on: 19 October 2026
Informational content. The legal context, documents and deadlines are assessed before the scope of work is defined.