Main content section

Copyright and Design

Find an expert Get in touch

"Content" is more than just the latest creative buzzword; creative content and design drive commercial growth and genuine innovation builds market leaders. Copyright, designs and associated rights are therefore increasingly significant and valuable rights, which must adapt to rapid changes brought about by digitisation, disruptive technologies and new business models.

Our intellectual property lawyers operate across all sectors advising on the protection, exploitation and enforcement of designs, copyright and associated rights. We are experts in extracting maximum value from those rights for our clients. We understand the technological and legal landscape, and we match our clients in their appetite to innovate, delivering commercial solutions that protect and promote their interests.

We advise on copyright issues across all creative and content-rich industries including Technology, Media & Entertainment, esports, Betting & Gaming, Art and Retail.

Our design lawyers are sector experts across a range of industries with particular expertise in Retail, FMCG and Automotive.

Key Services

Copyright and related rights

Copyright ownership and clearance reviews
Advising on use and exploitation of copyright works, including licensing programmes
Acting for clients in copyright infringement disputes, which often have accompanying claims of data theft, database right infringement, or other economic torts; and obtaining an extensive range of remedies against infringers, from final injunctions and damages awards to Without Notice Search and Freezing Orders
Advising on protection, exploitation and enforcement of rights in databases, in particular, in relation to rights in sports databases
Dealing with online piracy including managing notice and takedown procedures, obtaining website blocking orders, and co-ordination with payment providers
Addressing IP crime and piracy through our White Collar Crime & Investigations team, including conducting private prosecutions, by a team led by former Senior Crown Prosecutors

Designs

Registered design clearance, filing, prosecution and enforcement concerning all forms of products and product packaging
Strategic portfolio management in relation to protection of designs through registered and unregistered right
Acting for clients in relation to design right infringement disputes

Jeremy Hertzog Partner, Chair of Innovation +44 20 3321 7264 jeremy.hertzog@mishcon.com

Meet the team

A Guide to Green Reforms in Retail

Guide

Download our guide

Extremely well resourced and effective.
Legal 500, 2025

This is a very well-oiled and drilled team, which has a wide range of experience and in-depth knowledge of their practice area. The knowledge, commercial acumen and the ability to provide clear and coherent legal advice is unrivalled.
Legal 500, 2025

The team is very strong on both EU and UK law and gives very practical and thoughtful advice on both routine and more complicated matters.
Legal 500, 2025

They are so knowledgeable that they can often provide prompt and thorough advice without much research as they know trade mark and copyright law extremely well.
Legal 500, 2025

What sets them apart from competitors is their ability to provide tailored advice that is focused on achieving their clients’ business objectives.
Legal 500, 2024

The team is constituted by highly-skilled and professional legal experts who are easy to communicate with and dare to take on the challenging tasks. They co-operate very well with the client and achieve the best outcome for the client.’
Legal 500, 2024

Mishcon de Reya has also introduced a number of innovations that have helped to improve the client experience. For example, they have invested in technology to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
Legal 500, 2024

They are very good at managing expectations and communicating clearly and regularly throughout the course of a project.
Legal 500, 2024

Generative AI - Intellectual property cases and policy tracker

See the latest updates

Brand MattersWelcome to the latest edition of Brand Matters.

Mishcon de Reya has deep sectoral knowledge and can grasp complex legal issues efficiently, ensuring the best outcome for clients.
Chambers and Partners 2023

They are always up to date with current case law and advise from a practical standpoint based on likelihood of winning and costs.
Chambers and Partners 2023

The Mishcon team performs at the top of their game. A go-to firm for high-level issues.
Chambers and Partners 2023

Mishcon's work is professional and comprehensive, and the rapport in the team is collegial. They provide comprehensive evaluations and pragmatic solutions.
Chambers and Partners 2023

Work highlights

Work highlight

Design agency

We were able to strike out a copyright and database claim brought against our design agency client by a former contractor, regarding artistic works and maps.

Work highlight

Leading high street retailer

Advising a leading high street retailer in their defence of a claim alleging, post-Brexit, that copyright subsisted in a so-called “design classic” item of kitchenware.

Work highlight

Sky

Acting for Sky in a private prosecution against an individual selling devices enabling unlawful access to, and streaming of, broadcast content. The Defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment.

Work highlight

Nintendo

Acting for Nintendo in obtaining a novel website blocking order in relation to websites selling piracy products designed to circumvent Technical Protection Measures in the Nintendo Switch console.

Work highlight

Market leading gaming company

Advising a market leading gaming company in a claim regarding infringement of copyright and database right in the use of "race day data".

Work highlight

Leading motor car marques

Acting for a number of leading motor car marques on the enforcement of their design rights, including in relation to alloy wheel designs and on general anti-counterfeiting matters.

Work highlight

Retail and luxury fashion brands

Acting for a number of retail and luxury fashion brands in design right clearance, filing, portfolio management, opposition, invalidity and infringement claims.

Work highlight

International manufacturer

Acting for a leading international manufacturer in a claim for breach of confidence, breach of contract, copyright infringement and database right infringement, including obtaining Without Notice Search Orders.

Work highlight

National supermarket

Advising a national supermarket on a software copyright dispute.

Work highlight

UK real estate fund manager

Advising a UK real estate fund manager on a copyright infringement claim concerning a work of architecture which related to a c.£50mn mixed-use property development.

Work highlight

Sports betting and gaming group

Providing copyright clearance advice to one of the world's largest sports betting and gaming groups in relation to the development of in-house gaming solutions.