Inventory and protection of intangible assets: register and protection plan

Situations calling for intangible asset protection

• A brand being launched uses its name without an inventory of existing titles.
• An SME uses domain names and databases without organised protection.
• A growing network prepares a franchise and seeks to know the status of its assets.
• A company prepares a fundraising or a transfer and wishes to inventory its intangible assets.
• An export project exposes the brand in new territories of use.

Process

1. Purchase and onboarding. The client first acquires the intake form CV-17. ASKonsult then opens the secure exchange space.
2. Synchronous scoping. The first session, a 60-minute videoconference, sets the scope and the territories of use. It also identifies upcoming projects: export, franchise or fundraising.
3. Asynchronous collection. The company completes the form and provides its existing titles and contracts. Written questions then flow in both directions.
4. Analysis and correction. The in-house engineering team establishes the asset register, the protection status of each asset, the gaps and the risks of misappropriation. It then ranks the formalities and internal measures to be undertaken.
5. Synchronous delivery. The second session, lasting 90 minutes, presents the register and the protection plan. ASKonsult delivers the validated deliverable on this occasion.

Deliverable

The deliverable opens with a register of the company’s intangible assets. It then specifies the protection status of each asset, territory by territory. Finally, a prioritised plan organises intangible asset protection. This plan covers formalities, confidentiality measures, monitoring and border measures. ASKonsult delivers the whole set at the debrief session, at the end of a 3- to 4-week process. Filings and oppositions on behalf of the client, however, fall outside the deliverable.

Prerequisites

The package requires completion of the intake form CV-17. The company also provides its existing certificates and contracts. In addition, the list of markets of use completes these documents. It makes it possible to establish the protection status territory by territory.

Frequently asked questions

How is the quote for the package established?

A qualification exchange precedes the subscription. It assesses, in particular, the number of assets and territories of use. The special terms then set the scope, timetable, number of sessions, expected documents and deliverable. ASKonsult then creates the order on the basis of the quote. The start date is also set out in these special terms.

Which assets are included in the inventory?

The inventory covers the intangible assets used by the company. It includes, in particular, trademarks, domain names, know-how and databases. The scoping, however, sets the exact scope and the territories of use. Upcoming projects, such as export, franchising or a fundraising, then guide the analysis. The register thus reflects the company’s situation at the date of collection.

Does ASKonsult file trademark applications?

No. Filings and oppositions on behalf of the client fall outside the package. These steps fall within the remit of an authorised professional. Likewise, official prior-rights searches are not part of the service. The intangible asset protection plan, on the other hand, identifies the formalities to be prioritised. The company thus has an order of priority for undertaking these steps.

What share of the work takes place in synchronous sessions?

The package includes two videoconference sessions, 2 h 30 min in total. The first, lasting 60 minutes, frames the scope. The second, lasting 90 minutes, presents the register and the protection plan. Between these two sessions, the work proceeds asynchronously, through the form, the titles provided and written questions. In addition, ASKonsult schedules the sessions in advance.

Do the titles and contracts provided remain confidential?

ASKonsult treats the information and documents provided as confidential, including titles, certificates and contracts. They circulate only through the secure exchange space. Their use is also limited to the purposes of the package. This obligation survives the end of the relationship. Reciprocally, the client undertakes the same discretion regarding non-public tools and deliverables.

What follows the package?

The protection plan ranks the formalities and internal measures to be undertaken after the debrief. For regular support, the Steering subscription (A-02) is intended for growing SMEs and mid-sized companies. It offers a point of support for handling day-to-day questions and checking directions. The formalities themselves, however, fall within the remit of an authorised professional.

Out of scope

The package excludes filings and oppositions made on behalf of the client. Nor does it include official prior-rights searches. In addition, the financial valuation of assets falls outside the service. Likewise, infringement actions fall within the remit of an authorised professional. The package thus concerns the organisation of intangible asset protection.