Food & Beverage

Food and beverage is a universal leveller. We all need to eat and drink, and a key pressure facing the world’s future is how to feed its people. With shelf space pressure, manufacturing costs, food security issues and provenance questions, businesses in this sector are active innovators, constantly looking at how to attract and retain a strong consumer base, and produce and deliver their products efficiently. Intellectual property plays a pivotal role within this sector, including manufacturing technologies, ingredients, formulations, recipes, branding, labelling, marketing, product design, and traditional knowledge and customs. Robust and relevant IP protection is key to obtaining and maintaining a competitive edge.

Why DCC

Our Expertise

We have expertise in:

Trade mark selection, protection and enforcement to protect and develop brands
Drafting and prosecution of patents in food and beverage formulations, manufacturing processes and technologies
Advertising clearance
Consumer protection
Design protection for novel food products and packaging
Trade dress protection in relation to food and beverage labelling and packaging
Copyright on package labelling and in recipes
Freedom to operate and watching services
Geographical indications
Confidential information and trade secrets in relation to manufacturing processes, technologies, recipes and ingredients
Labelling and packaging claims compliance and other regulatory advice
Domain names and domain name disputes
Licensing, commercialisation and enforcement.

Our Experience

At DCC we have a long history and wealth of experience in this sector, with people across all relevant IP disciplines – patents, copyright, trade marks, geographic indications and trade secrets– combined with industry know-how and an understanding and knowledge of how to strategically use IP to maximise leverage in both domestic and international markets, including for large multi-national, SMEs and individuals. We have worked with key players across all food categories including functional foods, and in relation to alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, as well as the food service sector.

Food and beverage businesses have sophisticated R&D processes and marketing strategies. Assessing and securing IP rights is vital to protect products and technologies against potential commercialisation challenges including appropriation, and maximise the value able to be generated from marketing and R&D investment.