Guernsey’s dynamic suite of company and intellectual property legislation allows practitioners access to the most comprehensive range of products.
World first image rights legislation was established at the end of 2012; the Guernsey Foundation was introduced in early 2013; and the Guernsey Limited Liability Partnership was introduced in May 2014.
Company Registry Products & Services
Combining the advantages of a legislation written for the current and future commercial environment with online technology, Guernsey’s 24/7 company registry can compete globally, while at the same time being small enough to offer the highest levels of personal customer service.
Staff at the Registry are responsible for the registration and ongoing administration of the following products and services:
Limited Companies
With a modern Company Law (The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008) and a cutting edge Company Registry, Guernsey is a leading jurisdiction for company formation.
Limited Liability Partnerships
The Limited Liability Partnerships (Guernsey) Law, 2013 came into force in May 2014. The introduction of LLPs offers a new structure for financial services and gives industry an edge in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Foundations
The Foundations (Guernsey) Law, 2012 was introduced in January 2013. Foundations can be used in similar circumstances to traditional family trusts, but are familiar to clients and intermediaries with a civil law background. The foundation holds the assets for purposes set out in its constitutive documents and is administered according to contractual rather than fiduciary principles.
Limited Partnerships
Limited Partnerships are a useful vehicle for investors in that they grant the benefit of limited liability but do not impose the rigid structure of a company. Limited Partnerships in Guernsey are governed by the Limited Partnerships (Guernsey) Law, 1995.
In addition to the products mentioned above, the Registry also maintains a register of Recognised Auditors. All market traded companies, (those listed on an EU regulated stock exchange) must be audited by a recognised auditor, unless exempt from audit. This regime was introduced in order to achieve a recognition of equivalence under the European Union’s Statutory Audit Directive (2006/43/EC).
Intellectual Property Products
The name and brand of your business is a valuable asset, therefore anyone setting up a business should consider the value of the Intellectual Property (IP) in that business and look at protecting it in the most appropriate way. In addition, consideration should be given to patent and design right registrations along with copyright issues – depending on the nature of your business.
Guernsey provides a suite of IP products and services under ‘The Intellectual Property (Enabling Provisions) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2004. Staff at the Guernsey Registry Intellectual Property Office (IPO) provide a registration service for the application and ongoing administration of these rights at competitive fee rates.
The following products and services are administered, under the relevant Bailiwick of Guernsey Intellectual Property Law and associated Ordinances:
Trade Marks
Registering your trademark gives you the exclusive right in Guernsey to use your mark, (for the goods and services specified in the application) for 10 years, after which it may be renewed.
Patents
Patents allow the inventor of a product, process or material to benefit from their investment in its invention. In order to apply for the registration of a patent in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the patent must be first registered in an approved overseas jurisdiction.
Design Rights
Design rights protect the way a product looks. Please note that if the design has a technical function or the appearance of the product comes naturally as a result of the function that it performs, then a design right may not be suitable.