The German IP and unfair competition team advises international corporations in the industries of sports, fashion, luxury goods, office communications, IT, engineering, metallurgy, life sciences and pharmacy. For some clients, the team is the cornerstone of their intellectual property activities in Europe. In the field of data protection, the team advises especially foreign clients regarding requirements of the German and European data protection law.

Key service areas

The team advises and represents clients in connection with:

• Trademark / industrial design / patent / copyright litigation
• Trademark / design prosecution
• Anti-counterfeiting and criminal law
• Compliance
• Unfair competition
• Protection of business secrets
• Licensing
• Employee inventions
• Transaction-related intellectual property work
• Data protection

The team’s trademark and industrial design enforcement experience encompasses litigation in German and European courts, including domestic and cross-border ex-parte injunction proceedings. Our experts develop and manage efficient anti-counterfeiting programs for various Fortune 500 entities, including border seizure proceedings and related litigation.

In the area of trademark prosecution we possess substantial experience in all areas of German and international practice. We regularly deal with trademark portfolios of numerous corporate clients, and advise on trademark availability, procurement, and protection. We focus on world-wide trademark prosecution and enforcement strategies including trademark licensing agreements. Our highly committed lawyers handle trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the German Patent and Trademark Office and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market. We are knowledgeable on European Community law involving copyrights and intellectual property rights, as well as on general EC administrative and antitrust law.

Our approach

We understand our clients’ industries and needs and closely collaborate with our global IP team as well as with other specialized practice groups within Dentons in order to guarantee for the best possible and economically viable solutions. Practicality and efficiency based on our vast experience enable us to accommodate our clients’ demand in the area of IP and neighboring areas of law.

Insights

Digitalisation and the new German Act against Unfair Competition

May 16, 2022

EU: With effect from 28 May 2022, the new provisions of the Unfair Competition Act (UWG) will come into force. This will implement the requirements of Directive (EU) 2019/2161. While the existing structure of the German UWG will remain, new provisions will be added that primarily cover issues in connection with digitalisation. A novel concept in the framework of the UWG is that consumers will receive their own claim for damages based on the UWG.

IP rights at the interface of Artificial Intelligence and NFTs: The good, the bad, the smart

April 13, 2022

Germany: In 2021, Collins Dictionary named “NFT,” the abbreviation for non-fungible token, its word of the year. In 2017, the US-based Association of National Advertisers named AI (artificial intelligence) its marketing word of the year. As the recent rise of the use of both tools is evident, one may wonder whether they can operate together. In particular, the main question for IP rights holders and practitioners currently reads: Does AI illustrate a hurdle or rather a beneficial tool for IP protection in the realm of NFTs? 

The USIPO White Paper on Best Practices for Protecting Inventions Relating to Artificial Intelligence: A strong attempt to tailor the patentability of AI inventions in the US?

April 13, 2022

Germany: Earlier this year, the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) released its White Paper on Best Practices for Protecting Inventions Relating to Artificial Intelligence (White Paper). The extensive guidance discusses the patenting process concerning AI in the United States as well as in other jurisdictions and aims to aid practitioners and applicants in forming sound decisions.

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons advises climate-tech startup Magnotherm on financing round to launch mass production of the first sustainable refrigerator using magnetic cooling

April 11, 2023

Germany: Dentons has advised the German climate-tech startup Magnotherm on a €6.3 million financing round. Magnotherm intends to use the new capital to drive forward the series production of refrigerators that are cooled by magnetic power. The technology is to be used, among others, in sustainable refrigerated shelves in food retail.

Dentons advises Volkswagen software subsidiary CARIAD on acquisition of AI specialist, paragon semvox

December 13, 2022

Germany: Global law firm Dentons has advised CARIAD, the software company of the Volkswagen Group, on its acquisition of AI specialist, paragon semvox GmbH, a subsidiary of listed automotive supplier paragon. With the acquisition, CARIAD strengthens its competencies in the field of digital voice assistants based on artificial intelligence. 

Dentons advises Triodos Investment Management on investment in food start-up Stadtsalat

August 11, 2022

Global law firm Dentons has advised Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund, a private equity fund managed by Netherlands-based Triodos Investment Management, on its investment in Stadtsalat, a food start-up. The company intends to use the newly raised capital from the Series C financing round for further expansion in the German market as part of its growth strategy.

View all press releases for IP in Germany