Solicitor for Intellectual Property Law in Marsa

I’ve developed what I believe is an innovative new business method for how I structure and deliver a particular type of service. I’m wondering whether this kind of business method, rather than a physical invention, is actually something I could protect through a patent in Malta.

I own a registered trademark in Malta and I’ve been approached by another company interested in using my brand under a licensing arrangement rather than me operating it myself in a particular context. What’s actually involved in properly setting up a trademark licence, and does anything need to be formally registered?

I’ve developed a physical product with what I believe is a genuinely distinctive visual design, separate from its brand name or any technical function. I understand trademarks protect brand names and logos, but I want to know what actually protects the distinctive shape and appearance of the product itself.

Beyond my brand name and logo, I also use a specific catchy slogan consistently across my marketing in Malta, and I’d like to know whether a short phrase like this can actually be registered as a trademark in its own right, separate from my main brand name.

A former employee of my company in Malta was involved in developing some proprietary processes and technical documentation as part of their role, and they’ve now left to join a direct competitor. I’m concerned they might use or share what they developed while working for me. What are my rights here?

I’m considering applying for a patent in Malta for a genuine technical invention I’ve developed. I want to understand how long the resulting protection would actually last, and whether I can simply keep renewing it indefinitely to maintain protection long-term.

I sell an accessory product in Malta that is specifically designed to be compatible with a well-known, trademarked brand of device, and I want to clearly communicate this compatibility to customers by referencing that brand name on my packaging, along the lines of ‘compatible with’ the trademarked product. Is this kind of reference to another company’s trademark actually permitted?

I’ve started a small business in Malta with a distinctive brand name and logo, and I want to properly protect it before a competitor potentially copies it. What’s actually involved in registering a trademark here, and roughly how long does the process take?