Global online platform Amazon has made a first move into the legal services market with a new venture linking law firms with businesses seeking to obtain intellectual property rights.

Taking the guesswork out 

Amazon has announced the creation of IP Accelerator to support small and medium businesses in the US who want to protect their ideas. The offering connects businesses with a network of IP law firms that provide trademark registration services. When they use these firms to file trademark applications, Amazon will provide their brand with accelerated access to brand protection in its stores. Amazon says it has vetted the participating IP law firms for experience, expertise and customer service, and all have agreed to ‘competitive, pre-negotiated’ rates for standard services involved in obtaining a trademark registration. In addition to trademark applications, firms are positioned to assist with copyright registrations, design patents and broader IP protection strategies. Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon customer trust and partner support lead, said “Using IP Accelerator takes the guesswork out of the trademark filing process. These law firms know the ins-and-outs of IP and can save businesses both money, and time - a proper, well drafted trademark application can significantly reduce the time required to secure a trademark registration.”

Free with benefits

Mr Mehta explained, “Amazon does not charge businesses to use IP Accelerator, they only pay their law firm for the work performed at the pre-negotiated rates.” Amazon says it will provide these brands with accelerated access to brand protections in its stores, to better protect their brand months, or even years, before their trademark registration officially issues. Amazon says brands will benefit from automated brand protections which proactively block bad listings from Amazon’s stores, increased authority over product data in the store, and access to its Report a Violation tool, which searches for and reports bad listings that have made it past automated protections.