When you have a valuable trademark, you probably want to expand its reach. There are a few ways to do this, but there is one potentially lucrative way to make the most out of this intellectual property. You could enter into international trademark licensing agreements and expand into other countries and markets. An Orange County, California IP licensing lawyer from our firm can tell you more about how these deals work.

What Can Be Licensed as an International Trademark?

Plenty of different trademarks can be licensed to partners in other countries. Trademarks for symbols, product names, or even slogans can be licensed. If you have a trademark that is used to identify your goods or services, you can probably enter into an international trademark agreement. This can give you access to more markets and push out any potential imitators.

What Considerations Should Be Made Before Entering an International Trademark Licensing Deal?

There are a few things that you should carefully consider before you sign any international trademark licensing deal. You want to know exactly what you are getting into and make sure that there are no ambiguities that could cause conflicts or confusion later. Some elements you want to be absolutely clear about include:

  • How long the license lasts for
  • When you or the licensee can decide to end the agreement
  • How any disputes that arise will be handled
  • Indemnity clauses
  • The quality of the end product and who is in charge of quality control

Also, make sure that you have a written agreement. Even if you are doing business with friends or family, just having a verbal agreement just isn’t sufficient when it comes to international trademark licensing.

Why License My Intellectual Property in Another Country?

You do not have to do all of the work required to set up your business in another country. When you work with a partner and enter into an international trademark licensing deal, the risk is a bit lower. Maybe you profit from the deal or perhaps things just don’t work out and you can just opt out of renewing that particular license and partnership.

You also may be able to use these licensing agreements as a testing ground. Let’s say you license your trademark in five different countries. Your trademarked products do great in countries one, two, and five, but don’t fare as well in three or four. Well, maybe it’s worth setting up a business yourself and dropping those licensing agreements in countries one, two, and five where demand for your products is high.

Talk to Our Trademark Attorneys

If you are getting ready to make some international trademark licensing deals, you should know exactly what you’re getting into. Contact Burns Patent Law and schedule an appointment with our team. We can tell you more about the potential benefits and pitfalls of such deals.