Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is extremely valuable for many companies. By exploiting intellectual property rights, investments in innovation can be recouped. By enforcing intellectual property rights, competitors can be kept at bay. The structuring and restructuring of intellectual property portfolios can yield strategic benefits and tax benefits. Houthoff's IP Team advises national and international clients in all intellectual property areas, including copyright, trademarks, design rights, trade name rights, domain names, database rights and patents. We are also one of the few firms that specialise in plant breeders' rights. Our IP Team also advises clients on the protection of trade secrets.
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Ranked in Tier 2Legal 500, Intellectual Property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights (2025 edition) -
"Renowned for their unparalleled expertise and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, this esteemed firm continues to exceed expectations. With a team of highly skilled attorneys possessing an in-depth understanding of IP, Houthoff offers a level of proficiency that is truly exceptional."Legal 500, Intellectual Property (2025 edition)
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"A client mentions: ‘Exceptionally well-organised, non-intrusive and supportive, with flexible communication times and channels’."
Legal 500, Intellectual Property (2024 edition) -
RecommendedLegal 500, Intellectual Property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights (2023 Edition)
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"One client highlights: ‘Very good cassation team.’"
Legal 500, Intellectual Property: trade marks, copyrights and design rights (2023 Edition)
Our IP specialists assist clients in complex IP cases and have extensive experience in litigating before the Dutch Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice. They represent pharmaceutical companies in patent disputes and are also sparring partners for tech start-ups. They give clients from Houthoff's market-leading automotive practice group advice on a wide range of IP matters. The IP Team is often involved in M&A and technology-related transactions, in which they work closely together with our experts in other areas.
Our IP Team is known for its involvement in groundbreaking IP-related cassation cases and is valued by our clients because of the practical solutions and well-considered advice the team provides.
The Life Sciences, Agrifood and TMT sectors benefit from lawyers with comprehensive sector knowledge. Our IP specialists are part of sector-specific teams, including Healthcare, Life Sciences, Agrifood and Technology, Media & Telecom.
The team was rewarded the Managing IP Award 2021 for "Best law firm in Copyright & Design (EMEA)".
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Represented RDW (Vehicle Licensing Authority) before the Council of State (highest administrative court) in proceedings brought by a group of data subjects alleging violations of the GDPR by RDW pertaining to automated decision-making.
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Lodged a B2B complaint with the Dutch Advertising Code Committee (RCC) on behalf of Marktplaats (a classified advertising site based in the Netherlands) against Pakkie (a payment and delivery service company)
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Represented classified advertisement platform Marktplaats, seeking the transfer of the domain names <marktplaatsnederland.nl> and <marktplaatsbelgie.be>. The disputed domain names were used to operate a scam by redirecting Internet users to third-party websites and fake advertisements.
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Advised European private equity firm CastikCapital on the acquisition of TBAuctions, a leading European online auction platform.
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Advised Mzuri Holdings Ltd, owner of amongst others Decora Blind Systems, a European manufacturer and distributor of indoor window coverings on the acquisition of Coolblinds, an online retailer of made to measure blinds (better known as 123jaloezie.nl, plissegordijn.nl and rolgordijnland.nl).
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Houthoff represented Mr Perridon and current management of Trust, a consumer electronics manufacturer, on the sale to Egeria. Trust's current board of directors will maintain its active role within the company.
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Houthoff advised Poiesz Supermarkten B.V., a chain of supermarkets in the Northern Netherlands, on the acquisition of Zorggroep Friesland B.V., sole shareholder of Van Smaak B.V.. Van Smaak B.V. delivers meals to healthcare institutions and individual customers and has the whole relating process (including the purchase of the raw materials, processing and logistics) in house.
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Representing the French medical device company Biobank in patent litigation proceedings, relating to both validity and infringement of its patents relating to a process for preserving and regenerating human bone.
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Representing the Italian (veterinary) pharmaceutical company Innovet (part of Epitech Group) in patent litigation proceedings, relating to both validity and infringement of its patent relating to pharmaceutical compositions containing micronized compounds.
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Representing the French medical device company Biobank in patent litigation proceedings, relating to both validity and infringement of its patents relating to a process for preserving and regenerating human bone.
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Advising VAR, a subsidiary of Attero, in a patent infringement dispute relating to a concrete crushing installation.
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Successfully representing Nador Cott Protection sarl, holder of the Community Plant Variety Rights relating to the leading mandarin variety Nadorcott, in plant variety rights disputes against various Dutch importers.
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Successfully representing Pictoright, the Dutch author’s rights organisation for visual creators, in copyright litigation against Allposters before both the Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice.
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Successfully representing Ryanair in litigation before the Dutch Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice against PR Aviation and their online booking website Wegolo which also sells tickets for Ryanair flights. The ECJ ruled that a maker of a database which is not protected by copyright or database right, may impose contractual limitations on the use of that database. The ECJ has referred the case back to the Dutch Supreme Court.
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Succesfully representing Rotterdam's Erasmus University Medical Center, one of the largest and most authoritative scientific University Medical Centers in Europe, and Erasmus University in summary proceedings before the Rotterdam interim injunction judge against a spin-off company about the licensing and development of software for laboratory information management and the early detection of hospital-acquired infections (HAI's).
