Our Trademarks, Service marks, Patents, Industrial Designs, Geographical Indications, Trade Secrets, Plant varieties and Copyrights Practice provides legal advice, searches, registrations, renewals, restorations, licensing, assignments, franchising, technology, transfer agreements of positions, litigation, watching series, anti-counterfeiting actions, management services, strategic counselling and dispute resolution in connection with brands, industrial designs, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, slogans, logos, Internet domain names and trade dress. We also advise on all types of copyright-related matters, from the development of copyright identification and registration programs to the examination of moral rights and related issues. We work with local and foreign companies and small businesses across a host of industries, as well as individuals, celebrities and entertainment personalities, to establish, acquire, exploit, protect, preserve, save, sustain and restore their intellectual property rights. We file and prosecute applications before the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and the African Regional Industrial Property Office (ARIPO).
Monitoring, Enforcement and anti-counterfeiting:
When counterfeiting occurs or when goods or productions are copied and sold without our clients express permission we will seek to protect our client’s by taking protective measures including cease and desist letters, injunctions, interim restraining orders and litigation/administrative orders against infringement. Initially, we will explore alternative dispute resolution-negotiations, mediation and arbitration where they fail we will file suit in court.When litigation is necessary we work as a team to effectively enforce our client’s rights.Our trademark department has experienced lawyers and trademark agents who are experienced in filing and prosecuting trademark applications in Uganda and internationally through a network of experienced foreign law firms and associates.On the advisory front, our firm handles trademark search, due diligence and clearance projects and advises clients on a broad range of issues.We assist clients to secure, protect, preserve, restore and renew their trademark rights in Uganda. We actively protect and enforce those rights through instituting and maintaining suits in courts and before administrative tribunals. The firm’s lawyers have extensive experience before the Courts of Judicature of Uganda and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB). Bitaguma & Co. Advocates has represented trademark owners in litigation, infringement and passing off actions, anti-counterfeiting, licensing disputes, oppositions and objections to trademark applications.In trademark disputes, our lawyers represent clients in administrative and judicial proceedings in establishing and enforcing or challenging trademark rights, including dilution claims. We also represent clients in passing off, trade dress and unfair competition matters under Common Law, Trademark Laws and the Penal Code Act. In addition, our lawyers have represented clients in connection with certification mark disputes and other disputes arising under Uganda trademark laws.We monitor the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and the Uganda Gazette (the Official Gazette) published weekly by the Uganda Printing & Publication Corporation (UPPC), promptly notify our clients of the publication of potentially conflicting trademarks, and will oppose them if authorized by the clients. We actively monitor the electronic and other press for unauthorized uses of client’s trademarks.
Obtaining Trademark Registrations: We regularly assist clients in obtaining and maintaining registered trademarks, including conducting all necessary searches, filing applications, preparing and filing necessary affidavits and renewal applications, defending opposition proceedings and handling other matters that may arise before the Trademark Office and international trademark offices.
Trademark Litigation: Our attorneys have over 25 years experience in handling trademark, service mark, trade name litigation in the courts. We work closely with associates in other countries in foreign trademark litigation.Searching and selecting trademarks: We advise our clients to carefully search, select and clear word marks and logos. This includes obtaining searches of registrations and usage related to proposed marks, and advising as to the likelihood of registrability and opposition or objection by third parties.Harnessing Trademarks: Our attorneys are experienced in working with clients to harness, benefit, take advantage of and make use of trademarks, especially through drafting and negotiating trademark licenses, assignments and related marketing agreements.Unfair Competition: We litigate, and provide pre-litigation preventative and enforcement advice involving proceedings before administrative authorities and the courts. Our attorneys have also handled disputes under Customs Laws. This has enabled clients to obtain prompt relief from infringement in importation.The firm’s trademark attorneys prepare and prosecute applications before our National Trademark Office, draft assignment and licensing agreements, and litigate before the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and Courts of Judicature. In addition, the firm assists clients in obtaining and enforcing trademark rights in other countries and in obtaining Uganda Revenue Authority Customs Department protection against infringing imports and exports.Our trademark practice is pro-active, efficient, cost effective, extensive and diverse.
Our firm advises employers on compliance with Employment and labour Laws, Health and Safety Laws/Regulations of Uganda. We further formulate Internal Rules and Regulations for our clients to ensure that employees understand the core and principal rules and regulations of their employees. We understand that some companies outsource value addition employees from outside Uganda. Our immigration attorneys guide our clients on the most appropriate way to secure employment for non-Uganda citizens in Uganda by obtaining the necessary work permits, entry permits, special passes or certificates of residence.Our employment law and labour relations department offers customized, effective and convenient advice on employment and labour matters. Protecting our client’s business is our primary concern, whether by promoting commitment and productivity of employees through performance agreements, non-competes, whether intellectual property, through tailor-made employment contracts, restrictive covenant and confidentiality agreements or other methods. Our team will help you arrange effective employer-employee relations and formulate policies and procedures governing matters such as;
- Occupational Health And Safety
- Harassment
- Sickness And Disability
- Progressive Discipline
- Corporate Compliance
- Compensation
- Work Perks and Benefits
- Summary Dismiss or Termination
Our firm is a friendly conduit for our employers to the appropriate and registered labour/trade unions. We apply our practical experience honed for over 20 years and our sound knowledge on the law regularizing and governing the operation of labour/trade unions in Uganda ensure that these unions are not are frequent impediment to our client’s daily business operations.Our firm has experience in handling employment disputes and our attorneys apply the firm’s practical, appropriate and commercial sense principles to remedy such disputes either by alternative dispute resolutions methods or an adversarial system of justice before Labour Officers, The Industrial Court or the High Court of Uganda. Whether unionized or non-non-unionized, conglomerate or mid-size company, our client’s company’s workforce is one of its most vital and complex elements. To manage and challenge the convoluted and myriad issues employment law presents, you need an experienced and strategic legal ally. When dealing with organizational restructuring or change management, trust our comprehensive counsel on the human resource aspects and labour law implications. If you face claims of retaliation, employee misconduct, bullying, harassment or discrimination, our experienced team will be in your corner. We help you address even the most sensitive and high-profile claims and investigations. We can also guide you through whistle-blower concerns, corporate governance issues, fiduciary duties of senior management and other challenges.