Few industries have challenged the boundaries of intellectual property law as profoundly as the software industry. We know, because Townsend has been a leading force in achieving effective protection for software through patents for nearly 40 years. In addition to counseling software companies with regard to the development and commercialization of strong patent portfolios, our lawyers have an intimate knowledge of the special issues involving patents for software and how those patents can be exploited and/or attacked in the context of litigation, representing prominent software companies such as Oracle, Business Objects and Sony as well as a number of clients developing software for their retail businesses and services.
Townsend is also prepared to assess, protect and defend your business with regard to free/open source software policies as well as inbound and outbound licensing issues.
Drawing on their science education, field experience, business acumen and legal expertise, a team of Townsend attorneys can counsel your business regarding proper usage of the free/open source software of others. It is crucial to your business to ensure you are aware of the terms of licensing free/open source software, in addition to maintaining proprietary control over created works within a product you are selling or distributing. Understanding the entire spectrum of inbound and outbound enforcement, including patent assertions and prevention of infringement, are critical factors to managing the impact of litigation which can severely affect your business.
Every business maintains a unique structure of intellectual property assets, and our job is to analyze what makes sense for your company in terms of proper licensing and due diligence. Townsend attorneys will audit your free/open source software usage for compliance, ensuring your business is aligned with the most up-to-date laws and open source policies.
Townsend will protect your company’s interests by responding to and resolving licensing and compliance issues. Providing proper credit for outbound licensing and stating modifications will prevent patent infringement. Depending on the jurisdiction where the software is used can significantly impact licensing terms. Our team will systematically construct, certify, and maintain a policy for free/open source software that will be in full compliance with the law.