Protection of businesses and fair market practices
The protection of innovation, commercial identity and business investments extends beyond intellectual property rights. In many cases, conduct designed to poach customers, appropriate the results of others or create confusion in the market can be countered through the application of the law on unfair competition.
In this context, we assist Italian and international businesses in preventing and managing unfair conduct – whether or not it interferes with intellectual property rights – carried out by competitors, distributors, former employees and other market operators.
Relevant conduct may include acts causing confusion, slavish imitation, misappropriation of merits, denigration, poaching of employees, poaching of customers, breach of confidential information and the unauthorised use of the results of others’ business activities. Our work also encompasses the assessment of commercial and promotional strategies, product presentation methods and conduct in relations between competitors.
In this context, LGV Avvocati has extensive experience in assisting clients involved in interim and substantive proceedings aimed at obtaining injunctions against unlawful conduct, the seizure of products, their withdrawal from the market, the publication of the court order and compensation for damages.
We also provide ongoing assistance to businesses called upon to defend themselves against allegations of unfair competition, identifying any infringements and distinctions in relation to the industrial property rights that may be involved (it is often the case that actions to protect against unfair competition are brought alongside actions based on registered rights).