Litigation can be necessary to prevent or remedy the misappropriation of a company’s most prized assets — its intellectual property (IP) rights. A company’s IP can include its products, technology, software, data and know how, and can be protected in several ways, including by copyright, patent, trademark, trade dress and trade secret. Prompt and credible assertion of IP rights is just as important as the investment in and development of these assets. Conversely, responding to others’ assertion of IP rights efficiently and with appropriate defenses or business solutions can prevent ruinous loss.