Law firm for copyright law

Protect Creative Individuals

Creative achievements deserve protection. In the digital age, enterprises are facing new challenges when it comes to protecting copyrighted works.

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We assist you in combating unfair imitations and unauthorized distribution of your works, while also providing support in maximizing the commercial exploitation of your creations.

Copyright protection also has its limits. We protect creators, licensees and other users and exploiters from unauthorized infringement if limits are exceeded.

We have in-depth industry knowledge and many years of experience, particularly in the business areas of furniture design, fashion, music and software.

Creative Advice

Benefit from your creative achievements and monetize your work. We specialize in handling complex legal relationships and diverse exploitation chains.

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We creatively draft contracts and create the best legal framework for the exploitation of copyright. We ensure that new business models are legally secure.

Our world is digital and so are we. We have the technical expertise and legal knowledge to help you get the most out of your projects, whether they involve digital content or other realization opportunities.

In contract negotiations with your business partners, we provide professionalism, strategic insight, assertiveness, and expertise.

Attack and Defense

Copyright enforcement requires a combination of attack and defense. We have the right tactics.

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Copyright litigation is our core competence. We strategically use all procedural possibilities to enforce your claims or defend your rights. Sometimes it is wiser to settle a dispute out of court. We recognize such cases and guide them to a solution that preserves your resources.

Whether it be a warning letter, interim injunction or court action: We work with our clients to determine the best strategy and implement it in a targeted manner.

More information on Dispute Resolution.

On the subject: From our IP blog

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AI law update from Germany: GEMA sues OpenAI before Munich court
by
Michael Wittlinger

German collecting society GEMA now seems to be going on the offensive against providers of generative AI systems. Following the presentation of a – in their opinion – fair licensing model for generative artificial intelligence at the end of September, an “AI Charter” as a suggestion and guideline for the responsible use of generative AI was presented at the beginning of November, and now a lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI at the Munich Regional Court.

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ECJ facilitates legal protection for works of applied art from third countries
by
Michael Wittlinger

In a landmark decision, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on 24 October 2024 that the Member States of the European Union are obliged to protect works of applied art, regardless of their country of origin or the nationality of their creators. “Works of applied art” are objects that serve a specific purpose but are also artistically designed. Examples include furniture such as chairs, shelves and lamps, but also – under strict conditions – fashion creations.

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Game over: Cheat software “Action Replay” does not infringe game publisher’s copyrights
by
Michael Wittlinger

The use of cheat or modding software has always been controversial in the world of video games. While many gamers see it as a way to make games easier or more exciting, developers and publishers often see it as a threat to their rights and the integrity of their products. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) had to consider the copyright component of this issue in a dispute between Sony and the UK company Datel over the use of cheat software called “Action Replay”, which allowed users to alter the course of a game to gain unintended advantages. Read our article to find out how the case was decided and what the implications are for software development practice.

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Landmark decision by the Hamburg Regional Court on the copyright admissibility of data scraping for training AI models
by
Michael Wittlinger

Artificial intelligence is rightly on everyone's lips as it promises to change our everyday lives forever. However, it also poses major challenges to the law, which has traditionally lagged behind technological developments, particularly in the areas of data protection and copyright.

Three reasons for choosing HARTE-BAVENDAMM

Proven excellence

Satisfied clients, numerous top-tier rankings, major professional publications, extensive litigation experience: intellectual property law is our core competence.

IP is our passion

We represent your interests with ingenuity and dedication. We protect your intellectual property and develop creative strategies. Complex cases are our strength.

Your unwavering advocates

As a reliable partner, we provide our clients with resolute, poised, and effective guidance. In challenging conflict scenarios, our team is well aware that cooler heads always prevail and excel at delivering valuable and advantageous solutions to our clients.