Tatiana Brichtová: IP research is due diligence for a brand. Without it, naming is just a gamble.

In November 2025, you brought a conference called Protect & Grow to the market. What does this name symbolize and what is hidden behind it?

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The first Protect & Grow 2025 business IP conference was created with a clear objective: to show that intellectual property (IP) is not just a legal formality, but a strategic tool for value creation.

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Protectingmeans protecting an idea, at the right time, in the right way and in the right markets.

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Grows represents the ambition of subsequent growth, which is built precisely on high-quality and well-thought-out IP protection.

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In the modern economy, IP is what sets companies apart from the competition, from the Apple logo, to the Coca-Cola formula to the technological know-how of chip makers for AI. The most valuable brands of the world clearly demonstrate that in the era of intangible assets, IP is often the most valuable thing that a company owns.

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Think. Protect. Grow. With this message, you opened the conference.

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Just like that. To think. Protect. Grow.

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It is a message for all those who believe in the power of innovation, creativity and great ideas, and at the same time realize that these ideas must also be protected.

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That's why we've been here for over 35 years. And thanks to our unique model IP One-Stop ShopWe can provide clients with everything under one roof — from strategy to long-term rights management.

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Let's explain again: what exactly is intellectual property?

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Intellectual propertyrefers to the rights to the results of creative mental activity, that is, the activity in which we use reason, imagination, knowledge and experience to create something new. IP protects innovation, builds business value and strengthens the trust of both customers and investors.

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What types of intellectual property do we distinguish?

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In general, we are talking about registrablea unregistrable rights.

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Among the registrable are:

trademarks,
Patents/utility models
designs.

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Non-registrable rights are protected directly by law and do not require formal protection:

copyright,
trade secrets,
know-how.

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In the case of trademarks, we also distinguish different forms, such as verbal, visual, three-dimensional, sound, color, multimedia, positional, motion, pattern or holographic. It is the right choice of form that has a fundamental impact on the strength and scope of brand protection.

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The world of the most valuable brands has been ruled by Apple for years.

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Yes, and the sparrows complement it with brands such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia andthe most recent OpenAI.

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Imagine what would happen if these firms did not systematically protect their intellectual property.

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Successful entrepreneurs and managers today understand that IP is not a legal obligation, but an integral part of a business strategy.

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While companies once invested primarily in their tangible assets (buildings, machinery, warehouses) and their protection, today it is crucial to protect brands, technologies, designs, databases, algorithms and other intangible assets, especially in the digital and e-commerce economy.

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You mentioned the story of the Carpathian Pearl.

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The Carpathian Pearl is a beautiful example of strategic thinking back in the 1990s. The family winery, founded in 1991, realized very early on the value that their properly protected intellectual property can create for them, because as we often tell them: “pearls that are born in the vineyard”, It is necessary and necessary to protect.

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Trademark Carpathian PearlIt has been protected for more than 30 years. Since then, we have registered them:

45 trademarks,
2 designs,
1 designation of origin — which is extremely exceptional.

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A small small small Carpathian winery has grown into a brand that can compete even with renowned French producers. Also thanks Consistent and well-thought-out IP strategy.

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So what did the Carpathian Pearl do right?

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Exactly what we recommend to all clients:

had a clear IP strategy,
She built a distinctive brand.
connect the brand with the right classes of goods and services,
She thought territorially — protection in Slovakia alone is simply not enough.

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In addition, there is a simple rule in stamp law: Whoever comes first, takes first. Therefore, the key moment is the correct and timely submission of the application.

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In your practice, you have also experienced opposite cases.

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Yes. Mal isme client, company LAIRwho did not do a quality search before registering. The counterparty, which was the proprietor of the earlier trade mark and closely monitored the market, called on them to stop using the sign immediately.

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The older trademark was successfully defended and our client had to opt for rebrandingwhich cost him a considerable financial and time investment.

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So how should companies proceed to protect their IP effectively?

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The basis is tailor-made strategywhich goes hand in hand with the business objectives of the company. IP protection can never existin a vacuum, it must support business growth.

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What do you consider to be a key moment?

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Unambiguous quality research prior to trademark registration.

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Many businesses make the mistake of relying on Google, public registries, or even AI tools. This is not enough.

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The LAU case also shows that “home search” is misleading. Quality search is Due diligence for the name.

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If The only law firm in Slovakiawe have a sophisticated search tool that combines AI and expert analysis of our specialists.

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What does a quality search look like?

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Let's give an example of cooperation with a branding and naming studio GoBignName.

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The agency creates 20—30 names for the client, which it sends to us for analysis.

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We will draw up the so-called. traffic light search:

red — colliding names,
yellow/orange — potentially risky
Green — free and promising.

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Green proposals the agency presents to the client. The selected name then passes In-depth searchThe result is a detailed Search Report.

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The client is sure that the name is safe not only in Slovakia, but also for international expansion.

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The result? Protection of finances, time and reputation, and no unnecessary rebranding or litigation.

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What do companies often underestimate?

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That with the registration of the trademark everything ends, but the mark must:

actively use,
manage,
and monitor.

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Otherwise, it threatens to “devastate” - as in the case of the words Xerox or Walkman. That's why we also provide clients with a service Guardando.

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What is Watching?

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Watching is the systematic monitoring of new trademark applications and registered trademarks in relevant registers, at Slovak, EU, US or global level.

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Companies often copy successful brands. Watching means learning about potential conflict in a timely manner, prevent misuse of the name and strengthen the strategic management of the brand.

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Registering a trademark is the first step Real protection starts with actively monitoring it..

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And what would you add at the end?

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A good story sells.

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But high-quality legal protection of intellectual property allows it to stand on solid foundations, and grow for a long time.