die Urheberrechtler – horak. Rechtsanwälte · Fachanwälte · Patentanwälte
Copyright lawyers in Germany – for creators, rights holders and international businesses
We are German copyright lawyers advising on German copyright law, licensing in Germany, copyright infringement in Germany and enforcement in the EU. Our team includes specialist lawyers for copyright and media law (Fachanwalt) and works from ten offices across Germany – in English and eight further languages.
Copyright lawyer Germany
German copyright law in practice: twelve typical matters
Copyright questions rarely stop at national borders. The following examples illustrate the kind of work we do every day for clients in Germany and abroad. They are typical scenarios, not case reports, and every matter turns on its own facts.
US film studio vs. unlicensed streaming
A US studio discovers its new release on a streaming site targeting German users. We secure evidence, send a cease-and-desist letter and apply for a preliminary injunction before a German court.
French publisher licensing translation rights
A Paris publisher grants German-language rights to a novel. We draft the translation and publishing licence, including the translator’s statutory claim to equitable remuneration.
Dutch design brand vs. copycat furniture
A chair from the Netherlands is copied and sold by a German online retailer. We assess protection as a work of applied art after the EU case law and enforce injunction and information claims.
AI start-up: training data compliance
A start-up builds a model on web data. We review the text and data mining exception, opt-out handling, licences and the copyright duties under the EU AI Act.
Photographer: image theft online
A photographer finds her images on company websites without a licence or credit. We claim injunctive relief, damages calculated by analogy to a licence fee and an attribution surcharge where appropriate.
Music catalogue acquisition due diligence
An investor acquires a German music publishing catalogue. We verify chain of title, collecting society registrations, term of rights and contractual risks.
Software licence audit
A vendor announces an audit of a German customer. We analyse the licence terms, the scope of use and the rules on computer programs in Sections 69a et seq. of the German Copyright Act.
Game publisher: localisation
An Asian game publisher localises a title for the German market. We structure translator, voice actor and music agreements so that all rights needed for worldwide exploitation are covered.
Architect’s rights in building alterations
An owner plans to alter a listed office building. We weigh the architect’s moral right against distortion against the owner’s interests – for either side.
Museum image rights
A museum digitises its collection. We clarify which reproductions of public domain works are free to use, which photographs enjoy protection and how to license the online collection.
Influencer content buy-out
A brand wants to reuse creator videos in paid campaigns across Europe. We draft buy-out clauses covering media, territories, term and the creator’s image rights.
Cross-border preliminary injunction
Counterfeit merchandise is offered from another EU member state. We assess jurisdiction under the Brussels Ia Regulation and coordinate urgent measures in Germany and abroad.
Why us
Why instruct German copyright lawyers who focus on copyright
- Focus on copyright and media law. Michael Horak and Julia Ziegeler are certified specialist lawyers for copyright and media law (Fachanwalt für Urheber- und Medienrecht). Most of our lawyers are certified specialists or have completed the specialist lawyer training (Fachanwaltslehrgang) in copyright and media law.
- From advice to court. Clearance, contracts, licensing, cease-and-desist letters, preliminary injunctions, main proceedings and arbitration – in one team.
- International by default. Advice in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese and Korean; cooperation offices in Vienna, Zurich, London, Taiwan and Paris and a worldwide network; representation before the DPMA, EUIPO, EPO and WIPO.
- Transparent costs. We tell you the expected costs before you instruct us.
Learn more about German copyright law, our services, the industries we work for and our lawyers.
Offices
Ten offices across Germany
Our head office is in Hanover. We also have offices in Berlin, Bielefeld, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main (Eschborn), Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart. For international clients this means one point of contact for the whole of Germany and short distances to the courts that hear copyright cases. See all office addresses →
Talk to a copyright lawyer in Germany
Tell us about your matter in English or another of our languages. Call +49 511 35 73 56-0, email info@dieurheberrechtler.de or visit our English-language site copylawyers.com.
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