We Offer Strategic Legal Services
Secure Your Other Intellectual Property in France
Protect your creative and commercial assets with our French intellectual property lawyers and paralegals. We handle everything from assessing protectable rights to filing registrations and enforcing them before the INPI, EUIPO, or French courts. Whether you need to secure designs, copyrights, trade secrets, or domain names, our team ensures your IP is safe, compliant, and strategically aligned with your business goals.
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What is Other IP Protection in France?
Beyond trademarks and patents, many business assets can — and should — be protected as intellectual property.
This includes:
- Designs and models, covering the visual appearance of products or packaging.
- Copyrights, protecting creative works such as software, artistic designs, or written content.
- Domain names, which secure your brand’s online presence.
- Trade secrets, safeguarding confidential business information and know-how.
Securing these rights in France ensures that your brand image, technology, and creative works are recognized, protected, and defensible under French and European law.
Main Advantages :
Comprehensive protection: covers all non-patent and non-trademark assets.
Legal exclusivity: prevents competitors from reproducing your designs, texts, or creations.
Enhanced brand value: protected IP increases your company’s market and investment attractiveness.
Fast registration: French and EU procedures are streamlined and often completed within weeks.
Cross-border coverage: European design and copyright systems offer broad territorial protection.
In short, securing your other IP gives your business a complete legal shield across all creative and technical aspects of your operations.
How to Secure Your Other IP in France?
Our lawyers manage your entire IP protection process from evaluation to final registration.
Audit and Identification
We review your business assets to identify what qualifies for IP protection (designs, software, artistic content, etc.) and determine the best strategy for each category.
Legal Qualification and Strategy
We assess originality, novelty, and ownership. Our lawyers advise on the most effective registration path — national, European, or international — and prepare the legal documentation.
Filing and Registration
We draft and file design applications, copyright deposits, or domain name claims with the relevant offices (INPI, EUIPO, WIPO) while ensuring technical accuracy and legal compliance.
Monitoring and Enforcement
We set up IP watches, handle oppositions, and take immediate action against infringement or cybersquatting, protecting your rights proactively.
Renewal and Portfolio Management
Our team monitors deadlines and renewals to keep your rights valid and up to date, ensuring long-term protection.
Why Choose FrenchCo.lawyer?
Your case is handled by qualified French IP lawyers, assisted by experienced paralegals who ensure each filing and enforcement step meets legal standards. We focus on precision, confidentiality, and speed — allowing you to grow your brand while we safeguard its assets.
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What We Need From You to a Secure Your IP?
To initiate your IP protection process efficiently, please provide:
Description of the asset
A detailed explanation of what you want to protect (design, creation, software, content, or domain name).
Proof of creation or ownership
Drafts, source files, publication records, or contracts establishing your authorship or acquisition.
Intended scope
Indicate whether you need French, EU-wide, or international protection.
Supporting visuals or documents
For designs or works, provide high-resolution images, drawings, or screenshots for precise filing.
And Then?
Once these materials are received, our lawyers take charge of the entire process: preparing filings, submitting applications, monitoring examination stages, and delivering your official registration certificates or copyright deposits.
Secure Your IP– Simple Process, Clear Budget
Flat legal fee starting from €690 excl. taxes
Additional mandatory costs: Official INPI or EUIPO filing fees + optional translation or renewal fees
No hidden costs, no surprises.
Our commitment:
No inflated “protection bundles”
No intermediaries or filing agents
Only expert legal handling
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Why Choose Us?
We Believe in Transparent, Lawyer-Led IP Protection in France
Fast and reliable protection: From strategy to registration, we handle every step to secure your IP assets swiftly and precisely.
Legally compliant filings: Each trademark, design, or copyright application meets strict French and EU intellectual property standards.
Protective legal drafting: We prepare filings and responses designed to safeguard your ownership and long-term exclusivity.
High professional standards: All work is overseen by licensed French IP lawyers, ensuring legal accuracy and accountability.
Let us safeguard your intellectual property in France —
so you can focus on developing and expanding your innovations.
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Understanding the Protection of “Other IP” in France
Can a foreigner secure designs, copyrights, domain names, or trade secrets in France?
Yes. Individuals and companies—French or foreign—can obtain IP protection in France. You don’t need to form a French company to file. What changes is how you file and whether you need a professional representative (especially if you have no address in the EU/EEA).
1) Applicants Based Abroad
If you have no address in the EU/EEA, expect to appoint a professional representative or choose an address for service in the EU/EEA. Filing and enforcement can be managed entirely from abroad by your counsel.
2) EU/EEA/Swiss Applicants
You can file directly with the competent offices (e.g., INPI in France, EUIPO for EU designs) and receive notifications at your EU/EEA address. No residence permit or company formation required.
3) Non-EU Applicants Residing in France
You may file directly, but using a French or EU representative for correspondence, oppositions, or litigation remains practical. If you later commercialize in France, align your contracts (authors, freelancers, agencies) to assign IP properly under French/EU rules.
4) Special Treaties & International Routes
Paris Convention, Berne Convention, and Hague System (for designs) allow streamlined priority claims and centralized international filings that designate France and/or the EU.
5) Which registers are involved?
- Designs (dessins & modèles): filed at INPI (national) or EUIPO (Community designs).
- Copyright: no registration required to exist, but evidence of creation (deposit) is strongly recommended.
- Domain names: registered with accredited registrars (.fr via AFNIC rules).
Trade secrets: protected via internal confidentiality measures, not a register.
What ongoing fees or maintenance apply to “other IP”?
Think of this as the “social charges” of IP—mandatory, recurring, and separate from filing:
- Designs
- Renewals every 5 years (up to a max—typically 25 years).
- Monitoring to detect conflicting filings.
- Recordals for assignments/licences to keep the chain of title enforceable.
- Copyright
- No renewal fees; focus on evidence upkeep (source files, dated deposits) and contract hygiene (author agreements, warranties).
- Domain Names
- Annual renewal per name/extension.
- Defensive registrations, Whois privacy, and technical protections (2FA, registry lock).
- Trade Secrets
- Continuous: NDAs, access logs, encryption, staff/IP policies, exit procedures.
- Update measures as your team and vendors change.
Key point: If you don’t maintain, you can lose exclusivity or weaken enforcement.
French Designs vs EU Designs
Aspect | French Design (INPI) | Community Design (EUIPO) |
Territory | France only | All EU Member States |
Filing Speed/Cost | Lower cost, simple scope | One filing for 27+ countries |
Enforcement | French courts | EU-wide scope; national courts designated for EU rights |
Best For | France-centric launches | EU launch, e-commerce across EU |
How does FrenchCo.lawyer help businesses secure other IP rights in France?
- Our firm offers end-to-end IP protection services — from assessing what qualifies for protection to preparing compliant filings, drafting legal notices, and managing registrations before French and European authorities.
All work is performed by licensed French IP lawyers, not intermediaries, ensuring legal accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability. Whether you’re a startup, SME, or international company, we secure your intellectual property so you can focus on innovation and growth.
Why is it important to register or secure my other IP in France?
Securing your IP in France gives you exclusive rights to use, license, or sell your creations while preventing others from copying or exploiting them without authorization. Without legal protection, your work — such as designs, branding assets, or proprietary software — may be difficult to defend in case of infringement.
Our team provides lawyer-led IP protection that ensures your ownership is recognized, your commercial interests are protected, and your creative or technical assets maintain legal value both in France and across the EU.
Do I need a French company, capital, or prior use to protect my IP?
No minimum capital, company, or prior use is required.
What matters is eligibility (e.g., novelty for designs; authorship/ownership for copyright; legitimate interest for domain names; protective measures for trade secrets).
However, be mindful of:
- Designs must be new and have individual character—public disclosure before filing can be fatal (with narrow grace periods).
- Copyright protection arises at creation but you’ll need evidence (timestamped deposit, escrow, or notarial record).
- Domain names work on a first-come, first-served basis—register early across key extensions.
- Trade secrets require documented safeguards (NDAs, access controls, policies). Without them, you can’t claim legal protection.
In short: No capital needed—focus on novelty, authorship, proof, and confidentiality.
Where should I file—France, the EU, or international systems?
Think of this as choosing your registered office for rights—by territory:
- France (INPI): Protects only France. Good for budget-sensitive or France-focused activity.
- European Union (EUIPO): Unitary protection across all EU Member States for designs; one filing, EU-wide coverage.
- International (WIPO—Hague System for designs): Central application designating multiple territories (e.g., EU, France, UK, CH, US, JP). Efficient for multi-country plans.
- Copyright: No register required; use deposit solutions recognized in France/EU.
- Domain names: Register .fr, .eu, and key .com/.net etc. Consider a portfolio strategy + DNS security (DNSSEC, registry locks).
Risks if mis-chosen: limited territorial coverage, higher costs later, or inability to enforce in key markets.
What rights do I get—and how “strong” are they?
This is your tax schedule equivalent: what protection each asset delivers.
- Designs
- Exclusive rights against copying of the appearance (shape, lines, contours, ornamentation).
- Quick enforcement with injunctions, damages, and border measures.
- Best for product shapes, packaging, UI layouts (when eligible).
- Copyright
- Automatic rights for original works (art, text, code, music, photos, graphics, UX).
- Lasts decades (author’s life + 70 years, generally).
- No registration needed, but evidence is crucial to enforce.
- Domain Names
- Control of your online identifier.
- Enforcement via UDRP/SYRELI or court actions against cybersquatters.
- No “IP right” in the abstract—strength comes from use, brand reputation, and alignment with trademarks.
- Trade Secrets
- Protection against unlawful acquisition, use, disclosure.
- Powerful only if you can prove reasonable steps to keep information confidential.
Summary:
Designs = visual monopoly; Copyright = creative control; Domains = digital gatekeeping; Trade secrets = confidential edge.
National Design vs Relying Only on Copyright
Aspect | Registered Design | Only Copyright Evidence |
Proof Needed | Registration certificate (clear monopoly) | Must prove originality + copying |
Scope | Appearance of product/packaging | Original expression (not function/idea) |
Speed to Enforce | Often faster (presumption) | Longer: originality debate likely |
Risk Profile | Stronger against look-alikes | Adequate for art/code; weaker vs “near copies” |
What is the difference between protecting IP through a lawyer and an online filing agent?
Online agents often provide only administrative filing services, without reviewing your case for compliance, enforceability, or strategy. By contrast, FrenchCo.lawyer offers lawyer-led IP protection, meaning each step — from eligibility analysis to document submission — is handled by legal professionals.
This ensures that your filings comply with French IP law, that your rights are strategically structured for future enforcement, and that you receive real legal protection, not just a registration number.
Secure Your IP in France
Let our French IP lawyers & paralegals protect your creations with full legal compliance.
More About the Protection of “Other IP” in France
Can legal entities own IP rights?
Yes. Both individuals and legal entities (companies, associations, institutions) can own intellectual property in France, provided ownership is properly assigned or transferred in writing.
What documents will I need?
You’ll need proof of authorship or creation, assignment agreements if applicable, and identification documents for the rights holder — all verified under French IP law.
Do I need to register all IP types?
Not always. Copyrights and software are protected automatically, while designs, databases, and trade names may require registration with the INPI or EUIPO.
How long does IP registration take?
Processing times vary: copyright filings are immediate, while design or database registrations typically take 2–4 weeks once documents are validated.
Can I secure IP remotely?
Yes. Our French IP lawyers handle the entire process online, including filings, verifications, and submissions, without requiring your physical presence in France.
What are the typical costs?
- Costs depend on the type of protection and number of assets. We offer transparent, lawyer-led IP protection — no hidden fees or unnecessary packages.
What about ownership and compliance?
We ensure your IP portfolio complies with French and EU laws, with proper recording of beneficial ownership and transfer documentation for legal security.
Can I extend protection internationally later?
Absolutely. Once secured in France, your IP can be extended to the EU or other jurisdictions under international treaties like the Paris Convention or WIPO systems.
