Intangible Asset Valuation: Trademarks, Software, Domains and Know-how
Valuation reports signed by an expert registered in the Register of Experts of the South-East Sicily Chamber of Commerce (no.
For law firms and IP counsel
The technical expert your firm calls when the dispute concerns software, trademarks or source code.
Lawyers need a technician who can write for a judge or a trademark examiner, not only for other technicians. I draft expert reports and party-appointed opinions on descriptiveness and weak trademark roots, software originality and authorship, and intangible asset value, with the rigour built in a precedent-setting case.
Trademark oppositions and invalidity — UKIPO, USPTO/TTAB, EUIPO
Analysis of descriptiveness, weak roots and likelihood of confusion with the approach recognised in Shopify v EUIPO.
Software and code disputes
Expert report on originality, plagiarism, code authorship and contractual compliance of software deliveries.
Domains and online brands
Technical assessment of domains, digital brands and conflicts between domain names and registered marks, including UDRP.
Intangible asset valuation
Valuation of software, platforms and trademarks for contributions, transfers, due diligence and corporate disputes.
Technical Background & Expertise
Over twenty years of hands-on software development: from architecture to litigation.
The evidentiary strength of a software expert opinion comes from real-world code and development experience. An analyst programmer active since the early 2000s, combining systems mastery and OOP architectures with insight into tech regulations.
Advanced Programming & OOP Since Early 2000s
Over two decades as an analyst programmer. Advanced object-oriented programming (OOP), scalable web software architectures, and complex relational/document database design.
Operating Systems: Unix-like & Windows-based
Extensive hands-on systems knowledge across Unix-like environments (Linux, FreeBSD, process management, server stacks, low-level networking) and Windows-based enterprise platforms.
Payment Software & Smart Contracts
Vertical software expertise in digital payment software (gateways, financial transaction processing, fintech protocols) and cryptocurrency smart contracts on distributed ledgers.
Cybersecurity, Exploiting & Phishing Forensics
Vulnerability assessments, exploiting techniques, reverse engineering, and phishing investigation: essential for forensic reports in data breaches, intrusion, and cyber fraud.
Software & Legal Frameworks: IT, DE & EU
Clear understanding of how software architectures intersect with legal doctrines: copyright, trade secrets, software patents, and IP standards across Italian, German, and European law.
Case study & Landmark precedent
Shopify v EUIPO (Case T-222/21): the case on the root "SHOP".
In the dispute with Shopify over the "Shoppi" mark, I took care of the software and technical side: I prepared the technical documentation for the USPTO and worked out with instructing counsel, who argued it before the EUIPO, the position on the genericness of the root "SHOP", a term in common use across the industry.
In its judgment of 12 October 2022 (ECLI:EU:T:2022:633) the General Court of the European Union dismissed Shopify’s action, finding no likelihood of confusion between SHOPIFY and "Shoppi".
Official EU General Court Judgment
Judgment of the General Court in Case T-222/21 (ECLI:EU:T:2022:633). Inherent descriptiveness and weakness of the "SHOP" root confirmed across the European Union.
Read full judgment on curia.europa.eu →
Wiggin LLP Legal Commentary
Analysis by London IP firm Wiggin LLP (Trade Marks): assessment of the non-dominance of "SHOP" and how descriptiveness reduces the comparative weight of shared roots.
Read Wiggin LLP analysis →
German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA)
Opposition by Shopify Inc. against the German "shoppi" mark rejected by the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA no. 30 2022 223 812.1) on 2 July 2025.
View record on DPMAregister →
Litigation & Expert Practice Areas
Five specialized technical and forensic practice areas.
From IVS domain portfolio appraisals to forensic code similarity, UDRP disputes, and software contract breach litigation.
Domain Name Valuation & Expert Appraisal
Independent technical expert appraisals for premium domain names and category portfolios.
Domain Name Disputes, Cybersquatting & UDRP Proceedings
Party-appointed technical expert witness working alongside instructing legal counsel in domain dispute proceedings (WIPO UDRP, CAC, Nominet DRS) and civil court litigation concerning trademark infringement, typosquatting, and reverse domain hijacking.
Software Defects, Scope Failure & Supplier Breach
Party-appointed technical expert witness for businesses in dispute with software development agencies, system integrators, or SaaS vendors.
Source Code Theft, Unfair Competition & Software Plagiarism
Party-appointed technical expert witness and digital forensics investigation for corporate victims of unauthorized code exfiltration by former employees, contractors, or co-founders.
What you get
- Signed technical report or brief, ready for counsel to file, in IT / EN / DE
- Comparative analysis of descriptiveness and semantic weakness with legal precedents
- Technical report on software: architecture, repository audit, code authorship and originality
- Ongoing support to legal counsel: rebuttal notes, replies to court experts, and hearings
Frequently asked questions
Can you act as party expert in ongoing litigation?
Yes. After reading the file we agree scope and timing with the firm; the quote is lump-sum or hourly.
Do you work on EUIPO and TTAB matters in English?
Yes. The technical side of Shopify v EUIPO, which I prepared for counsel, was in English, and the US record runs through the TTAB; most IP reports are delivered in English.
How fast is the report delivered?
Standard IP audit: 7–10 working days. Litigation with procedural deadlines: aligned with the court calendar.
Describe the dispute
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