Information technology (IT) reaches into every aspect of how a business or organisation operates. In many cases, IT is business critical. So, ensuring that the IT systems used by your business or organisation are watertight will often be at the top of your list of priorities.
Hardware procurement and supply can be complex, particularly in today’s fast-moving IT environment. And, as software is a key element of all IT systems too, the purchase and licensing of off-the-shelf and bespoke software can form a major part of the IT budget of any business or organisation.
By their nature, outsourced systems and services often form a crucial part of the support systems of a business. The legal and contractual arrangements around an outsourcing of IT systems or services can be particularly fraught with difficulty, and getting this right from the outset is essential. Creating a framework to ensure a business receives the IT systems and services it needs, to the standard it requires, can often be the difference between business success and failure.
The legal challenges presented by the internet are unique. Because it is accessible in virtually every country in the world, the internet is a truly international medium. Web 2.0 also means that control over content rests more and more in the hands of users, and this brings its own issues and challenges.
Hill Dickinson’s IT and information governance team provides a comprehensive service to clients across a wide range of sectors. In areas such as software and hardware procurements, the outsourcing of IT systems and services, e-commerce and internet, domain name and website disputes and web-based defamation, we pride ourselves on being able to provide support to businesses or organisations throughout the life of their IT project or issues.
Our IT lawyers have expertise and experience in advising businesses of all sizes and in all sectors, charities, healthcare providers, educational establishments and government and local authorities.
Examples of recent work include:
- Assisting clients in the marine sector with the procurement of software and support and maintenance solutions
- Advising an on-line market research business on the acquisition of a mobile telephone-based business and database
- Advising a start up company on the development, licensing and operation of an internet kiosk business
- Advising various NHS Trusts on the procurement of software and support and maintenance services
Our IT lawyers regularly advise on other matters such as drafting, negotiating and reviewing software development agreements, licences, escrow arrangements and support and maintenance agreements; agreements for hardware purchase, support and maintenance and leasing (either for specific aspects of a computer system, or an entire turnkey arrangement); agreements for the outsourcing of IT systems and services; website hosting agreements, website design and development agreements, website disclaimers, terms and conditions and privacy policies and online trading.
Our IT lawyers regularly work with our commercial teams on:
- Public procurement
- Intellectual property
- Joint ventures involving IT
- Corporate and tax teams on mergers and acquisitions
- Private equity
- Corporate finance transactions, covering matters such as due diligence, protection of IPRs and competition
