Arnason Faktor

Managing Partners: Gunnar Örn Hardarson
Number of partners: 4
Number of attorneys: 8
Languages: English, German, Icelandic, Scandinavian languages

Firm Overview:
Arnason Faktor is the largest and most specialised IP practice firm in Iceland, with 18 employees and extensive experience and expertise in all fields of IP. Through national and international co-operation and with a highly qualified professional team, specialised within the legal, scientific and technical disciplines, as well as the humanities, the firm is well prepared to serve both international and domestic clients alike.

Arnason Faktor traces its roots back to 1969 and has been a pioneer in the promotion of IP protection in Iceland. Led by its four partners, the firm continues on the path shaped by its founding companies, constantly striving for excellence and evolving to meet the needs of its strong client base and future clients.

The firm prides itself on working with local industries in all fields, and emphasises supporting the start-up community, while at the same time helping companies advancing into the international venue. Its partners administer and lecture in the field of intellectual property at national universities, along with having the pleasure of educating the general market in the field of intellectual property. Its aim is to offer a high-quality IP rights consulting service, including an IP rights-based business development consultancy.

Main Areas of Practice:
-Intellectual Property
-Litigation & Arbitration, Board of Appeals & District & Appeal Courts
-EPO Proceedings, including Board of Appeals
-Licensing, Commercialisation & Business Development
-IP Portfolio Administration & Strategic Advice
-Patents
-Trademarks & Design
-Domains
-Copyright

Intellectual Property:
Arnason Faktor specialises in all fields of IP and offers extensive services within the whole spectrum of intellectual property, i.e. litigation and licensing, copyright, patent drafting and prosecution, domain management, trademarks, portfolio management, searches and clearance, and opinion work.

Policing & Litigation of IP:
The firm assists its clients with any kind of contentious work in the field of intellectual property, including enforcement matters, strategies and preparation for and bringing IP cases throughout the litigation process. It has built up extensive experience in the field, which entails seeing cases through the entire court system.

Patents:
The firm’s patent department boasts four European Patent Attorneys — all of whom have over 20 years’ experience in the field of intellectual property — and highly qualified administrative staff, who can assist clients with pre- and post-grant services, as well as analysis and advice, including:
■ Drafting and prosecution, as well as administration, before the Icelandic Patent Office
■ Drafting and prosecution, as well as administration, before the European Patent Office (EPO)
■ Oppositions, appeals, and enforcement of IP rights in Iceland and at the EPO
■ Litigation – including handling of complex SPC matters
■ Validity, freedom-to-operate and infringement opinions

Trademarks:
A dedicated team of trademark attorneys, together with experienced and accomplished administrative staff, provides all services with respect to creating, registering, and protecting your trademarks worldwide, including:
■ Searches
■ Registration and prosecution of trademark applications before the Icelandic Patent Office, international filings, as well as EUIPO proceedings
■ Watches and renewals
■ Brand protection surveillance and clearance
■ Agreement drafting and execution
■ Infringements
■ Handling of a large volume of Boards of Appeal cases

Domain Names:
Extensive services in the field of domain names range from searching and registration, to renewals and dispute resolution, both locally and around the world.

Designs:
The firm’s team handles the registration and protection of designs, both internationally and in Iceland; services include:
■ Filing and prosecution of design applications before the Icelandic Patent Office
■ Filing and prosecution of international design registrations
■ Renewals
■ Counterfeit matters

Copyright:
The firm’s copyright attorneys provide all services in the field of effective copyright protection, including:
■ Enforcing and defending copyright claims
■ Assistance relating to all types of copyright agreements and assignments of copyrighted work
■ Litigation of copyright-related matters

IP Portfolio Administration & Strategic Advice:
The firm’s experienced and competent staff, supported by our efficient case management system, comprehensively manages and organises large volume of IP portfolios. Services include keeping all case records and monitoring all terms. It also offers services relating to IP management and assist clients with their overall strategy, the mapping and watching of their IP rights, as well as their competitors’ area of commercial interest, and enforcing IP rights.

IP Due Diligence:
The firm performs due diligence on intellectual property for all purposes, including any kind of IP transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and IP reports for larger corporations. Licensing, Commercialisation & Business Development: The specialists advise on licensing intellectual property, negotiating agreements and enforcement.

IP Valuation:
There are increasing demands on companies to incorporate IP rights into their accounts and annual reports. Through collaborating partners in finance and accounting, the firm can assist clients with appraising their intellectual property.

Name Creation:
Through cooperation with the firm’s expert partners, who take part in the name changing process, the firm helps its clients to create and register company and brand names as trademarks. To this end, it performs extensive searching, linguistic and IP-related clearing in the relevant market areas, ultimately registering the new name. SPC & Plant Protection: The firm assists with Supplementary Protection Certificates for pharmaceuticals and plant protection products, as well as the registration of plant varieties.

Contacts:
Contact: Mr Gunnar Örn Hardarson, Bsc. Eng., ML, EPA, Managing Partner
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Ms Asdis Magnusdottir, Attorney-at-Law, LLM, Partner
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Dr Einar Karl Fridriksson, EPA, Partner
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Dr Sigurdur Ingvarsson, EPA, Partner
Email: [email protected]