Arnason Faktor is the largest and most specialised IP practice firm in Iceland, with 21 employees and extensive experience and expertise in all fields of intellectual property. Through national and international cooperation, and with a professional team of highly qualified administrative staff, the firm is well prepared to serve both international and domestic clients alike.
Arnason Faktor traces its roots back to 1969 and has been a pioneer in the promotion of IP protection in Iceland. Led by its five partners, the firm continues on the path shaped by its founding companies, constantly striving for excellence and evolving to meet the needs of its strong client base and future clients.
The firm prides itself on working with local industries in all fields, and emphasises supporting the start-up community, while at the same time helping companies advancing into the international venue. Its partners administer and lecture in the field of intellectual property at national universities, along with having the pleasure of educating the general market in the field of intellectual property. Our aim is to offer a high-quality IP rights consulting service, including an IP rights-based business development consultancy.
Our professionals are specialised within the legal, scientific and technical disciplines, as well as the humanities. We offer extensive services in the field of intellectual property in Icelandic, English, German and the Scandinavian languages.
IP policing, litigation and due diligence
We assist our clients with any kind of contentious work in the field of intellectual property, including enforcement matters, strategies and preparation for and bringing IP cases throughout the litigation process. We have built up extensive experience in the field, which entails seeing cases through to the Supreme Court, along with handling cases before the European Free Trade Association court.
We perform due diligence on IP rights for all purposes, including any kind of IP transaction, M&A and IP report for larger corporations, and our specialists advise on licensing and negotiating agreements.
Patents
The firm’s patent department boasts four European patent attorneys – all of whom have over 20 years’ experience in the field of intellectual property – and highly qualified administrative staff, who can assist clients with pre- and post-grant services, as well as analysis and advice, including:
- drafting, prosecution and administration before the Icelandic Patent Office (IPO);
- representation before the European Patent Office;
- oppositions and enforcement of IP rights;
- litigation, including handling of complex supplementary protection certificate matters; and
- validity, freedom-to-operate and infringement opinions.
Trademarks
A dedicated team of trademark attorneys, together with experienced and accomplished administrative staff, provides all services in the field of trademarks worldwide, including:
- registration and prosecution of trademark applications before the IPO, international filings, as well as representation before the EUIPO;
- watches and renewals;
- brand protection surveillance and clearance on the Internet;
- agreement drafting and execution; and
- handling of a large volume of appeal board cases.
Designs, domains and copyright
Our team handles the registration and protection of designs, domains and copyright globally; services include:
- registration and prosecution of design applications before the IPO;
- filing and prosecution of international design registrations;
- domain registrations;
- conterfeit matters;
- enforcing and defending copyright claims;
- assistance relating to all types of copyright agreement and assignments of copyrighted work; and
- litigation of copyright-related matters.
IP portfolio administration, strategic advice and valuation
Our experienced and competent staff, supported by our efficient case management system, comprehensively manages and organises large-volume IP portfolios. Services include keeping all case records and watching all terms. We also offer services relating to IP management, including assisting clients with:
- overall IP strategy;
- mapping and watching IP portfolios and their competitors’ area of commercial interest; and
- enforcing IP rights.
There is also an increasing demand on companies to incorporate IP rights into their accounts and annual reports. Through collaborating partners in the field of finance and accounting, we can assist you with appraising intellectual property.
Notable case
Arnason Faktor has been leading a case against Iceland Foods in the United Kingdom for over 10 years, representing various industry and governmental organisations in Iceland, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The case regards the right to use the country’s name as a trademark; currently, the dispute revolves around EUIPO registrations owned by Iceland Foods.