Norway - Joint Ventures/LicensingNorway - Joint Ventures/Licensing
Joint ventures and licensing agreements are common in Norway. Joint ventures may not have a name of its own, and its existence cannot be raised as a defense against claims made by third parties. Joint ventures may not be registered and have no independent legal identity. Bookkeeping and audit requirements do not exist for joint ventures, except when specified in the joint venture agreement.
With regard to licensing agreements, it is not mandatory to record these in the official patent office (Styret for det Industrielle Rettsvern - https://www.patentstyret.no) in Norway. However, submitting a record may be recommended. A recorded licensee has the statutory right to be notified of any third parties filing cancellation actions, etc., and can thereby be more prepared to enforce his/her rights under the license agreement.
There are a number of local consulting firms that provide assistance in connection with license agreements adapted to the Norwegian market and in accordance with Norwegian intellectual property law. For a list of consulting firms, see the section below on Protecting Your Intellectual Property.