Protecting innovation from day one : From your ideas to their protection… by trade mark, design… and more !

At the heart of Luxembourg’s thriving innovation scene, Marks & Clerk is helping businesses of all sizes turn ideas into valuable assets. From startups to global players, the firm’s local office offers world-class intellectual property expertise. In this interview, we speak with Inès Garlantezec, a seasoned trademark and design attorney at Marks & Clerk Luxembourg, about the importance of early IP protection, common pitfalls entrepreneurs face, and why safeguarding your brand isn’t just smart, it’s essential.

Can you tell us a bit more about Marks & Clerk in Luxembourg ?

At Marks & Clerk Luxembourg, we work with companies, startups, innovators, and creators by helping them protect and strategically manage their intellectual property assets. Whether it’s trademarks, designs or patents, we provide , together with my colleagues, expert guidance tailored to each client’s unique needs and commercial goals.

Luxembourg continues to position itself as a dynamic hub for fintech, deep tech, and R&D-driven industries. As these sectors evolve and attract global attention, our presence here remains essential, not only to support innovation locally but also to help our longstanding clients in a huge variety of sectors expand and thrive internationally.

What sets Marks & Clerk Luxembourg apart is the strength of our relationships. We’ve built long-term partnerships with our clients, grounded in trust, responsiveness and deep technical expertise. Through our office, local businesses gain seamless access to the full breadth of Marks & Clerk’s global network that spans jurisdictions, languages and specialisms. This means they benefit from world-class IP support, whether they’re launching a product or proposing new services in Europe, entering a new market in Asia or scaling operations in North America.
Our multilingual team ensures that clients are supported in various languages, and our integrated approach means they receive consistent, high-quality advice across all areas of IP. We’re proud to be part of Luxembourg’s innovation ecosystem and remain committed to helping ideas flourish—locally and globally.

And can you tell us a bit about your role ?

I’m a trademark and design attorney registered in Luxembourg, representing at BOIP (the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property) and EUIPO (the European Union Intellectual Property Office) and I qualified in France as well. I’ve been working in intellectual property since 2016, advising clients of all sizes – from startups to global companies – on how to protect and enforce their rights. I really appreciate meeting our clients and learning more about their sectors, especially as I am lucky to have clients who are working on very specific products, in niche fields.

My focus is mostly on trademarks and designs. We can also assist on domain names. My colleagues and I help clients shape our client’s IP strategies, making sure their protection aligns with their business goals and budget. That includes everything from filing and prosecution to enforcement and anti-counterfeiting.

Is IP protection only for multinational/big companies ?

Absolutely not. We notice people generally have a wrong perception of IP, they believe it is reserved for big companies with extended budget and think it is not a must.

Intellectual property protection is not just for big corporations. In fact, some of the most vulnerable businesses are smaller ones, especially those just starting out. Our strongest advice is that anyone planning to engage in any kind of commercial activity should seek IP guidance early on.

We regularly meet with entrepreneurs and small business owners to help them assess whether their brand name, logo might conflict with existing rights. Just because a name isn’t visible in Luxembourg doesn’t mean it’s safe to use. It could already be registered in neighbouring countries like Germany under a European Union trademark or the Netherlands and using it here could unintentionally lead to infringement, and even if copying was not intentional, they could still be liable.

By identifying potential risks upfront, we help clients avoid costly legal disputes and ensure they can build their brand with confidence, and that their branding efforts, their new domain name, their storefront sign won’t have to be abandoned or changed. IP protection is about safeguarding creativity and investment—no matter the size of the business. And at Marks & Clerk Luxembourg, we make that process accessible, practical, and tailored to each client’s journey, and budget.

Is it very expensive to protect my IP ?

Protecting your intellectual property isn’t just affordable, it’s a smart investment. For example, a trademark registration lasts for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely. That means a relatively modest upfront cost can secure your brand for a decade and be renewed for other decades if you are successful or still interested in continuing commercializing your product or services. Beyond protection, IP can also become a revenue-generating asset. Trademark owners can license their rights, enter partnerships, or even sell their IP – turning it into a source of income.

And for those concerned about initial costs, there are grant schemes available. In Luxembourg, and through grant schemes like the one offered by EUIPO, businesses can apply for funding that reimburses official fees, making IP protection even more accessible.

What are the top three mistakes you see entrepreneurs make ?

Failing to protect their IP early enough : many businesses assume their intellectual property is automatically protected just because it exists, but that’s a costly misconception. Without checking if your brand is available and without registering it, you risk having to rebrand entirely if someone else secured similar rights earlier than you did. Worse still, your early investments in marketing, product development, or design could be rendered useless. A strong IP foundation isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity from day one.

Not knowing who owns what : just because you created something doesn’t mean you own it. Clearly defining IP ownership from the outset can avoid future disputes.

DIY IP is a risky business : IP protection is a profession. Filing alone can leave gaps in coverage and could expose you to some issues or in the worst case to infringement claims. Expert guidance and monitoring tools are essential.

Let’s connect !

You’ll find us at some events in Luxembourg as well as at leading fairs and IP-focused conferences across the region. If you prefer something more personal, just write us an email and we would be happy to set up a meeting and hear about your projects to assist you the best way possible !

We provide businesses of all shapes and sizes with people whose legal, commercial and technical expertise exactly meets their needs. Our large team of patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, commercial lawyers and IP litigators has helped thousands of businesses all over the world protect, enforce and maximise the value of their intellectual property.

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