Connected devices

Connected watches, connected fitness trackers, connected shoes and connected devices were the stars of the Consumer Electronic Show (CES Las Vegas), the world’s largest digital show, held from 5 to 8 January 2017. France was not left behind, with 275 companies represented, including 178 French tech start-ups.

A connected device is defined as a “physical object which has the technical means allowing it to hold, process and retransmit data via wireless technology”. Connected devices are booming and it is estimated that the global market for connected devices will increase six-fold by 2020 to 1.7 trillion dollars.

Assistance and recommendations to protect your connected devices

At the stage of protecting connected objects, we can assist you in protecting their various component parts, notably by:

• Filing industrial designs in order to protect the design of the connected object;

• Filing a trademark relating to the name of the connected device in the countries where it is to be sold;

• Issuing recommendations on protecting the source codes of the embedded software which enables the device to be “connected”; and

• Protecting the databases used by the connected device via proof of ownership of the copyright and the “sui-generis” right on the databases.

Furthermore, connected devices often process a large amount of personal data. We can assist you in complying with the applicable data privacy laws and regulations.

Drawing up and negotiating contracts relating to the use of connected devices

We can also assist you in defining the conditions under which users can use your connected devices by drafting general terms and conditions of use and/or sale.

Counterfeiting of connected devices

Finally, in the event that third parties have counterfeited or, at the very least, very closely imitated the design, trademark, etc. of your connected devices, we will defend you effectively by initiating proceedings for infringement and/or unfair and/or parasitic competition. We have extensive experience in this type of proceedings.