Intellectual Property
Intellectual property rights can be defined as the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds.
Furthermore Maltese legislation is fully in line with the TRIPS agreement and the EU Acquis.
Advocates Primei advises its clients on all legal aspects of intellectual property development, acquisition, prosecution, protection and strategythrough our practically applied IP knowledge and expertise. We routinely seek to manage and mitigate risk and to maximise the return from intellectual property assets for the benefit of our clients. We assist clients with securing the rights in the intellectual property necessary both to operate their existing business and to enter new markets. Furthermore, we also help clients assess whether intellectual property ownership is the right model in each instance, and, when it is not, work with our clients to license the necessary rights.
- advice on copyright protection and infringement;
- assistance with Patents, inventions and Industrial Property Rights
- registration and searches of trademarks, service marks, commercial names and designations within the Maltese jurisdiction or with the OHIM (Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market).
IP Companies
Malta’s corporate tax system makes Maltese IP companies an ideal solutuion for clients who are seeking a viable corporate vehicle which be hold and manage their various IP rights. A Maltese company can be used for the holding of copyright, designs, domain names, patents, trademarks and other related assets.
Once the Maltese company has been given the ownership of the intellectual property it may start collecting any licensing or royalty fees. Tax is paid on the profits at a rate of 35% however the shareholders’ may claim a refund of between 5/7ths and 6/7ths of the Malta tax paid.
View our fact-sheet entitled ‘Taxation of Maltese companies‘ for further information.
Furthermore it is important to note that in view of the fact that Malta has implemented the EU’s Interest and Royalties Directive (2003/49/EC) ? whic means that any interest or royalties paid to Maltese company by an EU associated company are not subject to withholding tax.
Kindly Contact Us now for further information and advice.