Peter Savage Ltd

How we help our clients mitigate risk and build their business

Background

Peter Savage Ltd is one of the UK's largest suppliers of manhole covers, drain covers, access covers, surface boxes, gully gratings and associated drainage products. The company has been supplying the UK construction industry since 1976 and has become a true specialist in the design, manufacture and distribution of such product solutions.

Withers & Rogers had previously advised them on intellectual property matters and the company was becoming increasingly innovative.

The issue

On this occasion, they were looking to enter a sector of the market in which they were not yet involved, but felt that they could launch their own product in competition with those already in existence. There was the possibility of high volumes of sales, but previous IP education by Withers & Rogers ensured that they were vigilant about possible infringement of competitors' IP rights. They had reason to believe there were IP rights associated with a product currently being produced in the sector, and so asked us to investigate this before they invested time and money in designing a new product.

The solution

We initiated a search of patents and registered designs, which revealed one patent of concern. We were able to summarise the cover given in the patent, and advise the client what they should avoid including in the product so that they would not infringe the patent. They were then able to design their product around the existing patent.

The outcome

We were able to advise that their new product design would not infringe their competitor's patent. Therefore, they are now able to enter a sector of the market in which they were not previously involved, hopefully with the result of obtaining a significant market share, with the knowledge that there is no IP conflict.

What the client says

"We find the work that Withers & Rogers undertake to be invaluable, especially in our product development process, where we ensure that our ideas are indeed innovative. Additionally, we also find ourselves drawing on their engineering and intellectual property experience, and in essence often use Withers & Rogers as a design sounding board."

Paul J Smith, Sales and Marketing Director, Peter Savage Limited

"Withers & Rogers always give us a friendly, prompt and high quality service."

Sue Welch, Group Secretariat, Man Group Plc