JUVE Handbook 2020/21
Media: contract and copyright law – In the book publishing business and, by now also in the film industry, the Hamburg media law firm is regarded as a trusted source of legal advice. In addition to standard reviews of manuscripts, its clients rely on the firm for a wide range of media-related issues. Contract advice on film adaptations of books is a particular niche of the firm. Legal advice on licensing and copyright issues is also in regular demand and often goes hand in hand with trademark advice at Graef Rechtsanwälte: At the intersection of copyright law and trademark law, StoryDocks and Tigermedia relied on the media law boutique in a lawsuit involving design patent issues before the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA). The firm also regularly represents clients in court. The Michael Ende community of heirs placed its trust in the firm in a legal dispute over film and merchandising rights. To meet the rising demand for its services, the firm added an experienced litigator to its team. The firm is also increasingly tapping the gaming industry by advising the Electronic Sports League and Phoenix Games.
Strengths: Vast experience with TV & film productions, script reviews.
Often recommended: Dr. Ralph Graef (“dynamic & proactive,” competitor).
Specialties: Advising film and TV companies, publishers and the gaming industry. Copyright law, licenses. Advising artists and rightsholders on copyright law, also in litigation matters. The firm also advises on press law.
Client matters: Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, advice on copyrights; production company, advice on international co-production of series project. Kordes & Kordes Film, e.g., advice on film law for “The School of Magical Animals”; StoryDocks and Tigermedia, advice on all issues of licensing, copyrights and litigation; Nordmedia, advice on media law; Michael Ende community of heirs, representation before German Supreme Court in matter involving filming and merchandising rights to the book “The Neverending Story”; U.S. film studio, advice on two film projects; Ulysses Film, advice on German-British co-production of the book “Amazing Maurice”; ESL Gaming, advice on media law; HafenCity Hamburg, advice on media and data protection law.
Press law and freedom of speech – The Hamburg firm has established itself as a trusted source of legal advice on press law and freedom of speech. Thanks to its expertise in press law book reviews, the firm occupies a special niche. International publishers also rely on its expertise. For example, the firm performed press law book reviews of “Nazis and Nobles” for Oxford University Press. Long-standing clients, such as Random House, also frequently retain the firm in litigation matters. To meet this demand, the firm added an experienced litigator to its team in early 2020, who also advises clients at the intersection with media law, one of the firm’s strengths. Handling crisis communications for political players, such as the Free Democratic Party (FDP), has been an established part of the firm’s practice for decades, but remains the exception as the firm’s primary focus is publishing and film law.
Specialties: Advising publishers and interested parties.
Client matters: Ongoing press law book reviews: Oxford University Press, e.g., “Nazis and Nobles”, Cambridge University Press; Random House, e.g., Schumacher biography; AVE Publishing, Brave New Work, advice on “Kleine Germanen” and press law advice on documentary film; Online Marketing Rockstars, advice on investigative media information portal; European Film Academy, advice on press law; The World of Neuschwansteiner, ongoing legal advice, e.g., on corporate privacy and publicity rights; ongoing advice: Verlagsgruppe Oetinger, Free Democratic Party (FDP), Junge Union Deutschlands, Alsterspree Verlag.”
