R M   L E G A L

IP Audit and Portfolio Review

RM Legal carries out IP audits for businesses, start-ups, investors and acquirers. An audit establishes what intellectual property a business actually owns, whether it is properly protected, and where it is exposed, so that gaps can be fixed before they cause a dispute, delay an investment or reduce a valuation.

What We Review

  • Inventory: trademarks, copyright, designs, patents, domain names, trade secrets and key software.
  • Ownership and chain of title: whether rights sit with the company or with founders, employees, agencies or developers, and whether assignments are in writing.
  • Registrations: what is registered, in whose name and in which classes or countries, and what is missing.
  • Deadlines: renewals, oppositions, examination responses and other pending actions.
  • Use: whether registered trademarks are actually being used. A trademark not used for a continuous period of five years can be removed from the register on application by another party.
  • Licences and agreements: licences in and out, distribution, franchise and co-existence agreements, and restrictions they impose.
  • Risk: conflicts with third-party marks and potential infringement claims, including in markets the business plans to enter.

What You Receive

A written report setting out the portfolio, the issues identified, their likely consequences, and recommended steps in order of priority, with timelines for anything urgent.

When an Audit Is Useful

  • Before raising investment, or before selling or acquiring a business
  • Before entering new markets or launching a new brand
  • After a period of rapid growth, or when founders or key staff are leaving
  • When a portfolio has been built up over years by different advisers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an IP audit?
A structured review of a business's intellectual property to confirm what it owns, how well it is protected, and where it is at risk.

Why do investors care about IP?
Investors and acquirers check that the company owns its brand, technology and content. Gaps such as unassigned IP or unregistered brands can delay a deal or reduce the price.

We registered our trademark years ago. Is it still protected?
Trademarks must be renewed every 10 years. A mark that has not been used for five continuous years is also vulnerable to removal. An audit checks both.

Does a company automatically own IP created by its founders?
Not necessarily. IP created before incorporation, or by founders who are not employees, may belong to them personally unless it has been assigned to the company in writing.

How long does an IP audit take?
It depends on the size of the portfolio and the documents available. A focused audit of a small or mid-sized business can usually be completed within a few weeks.

Reviewed by Nandita Goyal, Partner. Last reviewed: October 2026.

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