“Media: contract and copyright law - In the book publishing and 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. For example, the firm advised Ulysses Filmproduktion on the co-production of "Amazing Maurice." Complementing the firm's in-depth copyright and licensing know-how is its trademark and litigation expertise, including in the gaming industry, where the firm most recently advised Daedalic Entertainment on licensing issues for the games by Ken Follett and Lord of the Rings.

Strengths: Vast experience with TV and film productions, script reviews.

Often recommended: Dr. Christian Rauda ("accomplished media lawyer who truly provides legal advice from a single source," client; "legal, brilliant and yet fast and pragmatic," competitor), Dr. Ralph Graef ("shrewd tactician, very well connected in the media," client).

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: Quadrat Capital, media law advice for startup investments; a&o buero filmproduktion, film law advice regarding VW and Audi diesel scandal; the Astrid Lindgren Company, advice on all issues of international copyright law. DOCDAYS Productions, advice on film and financing law, e.g., for the documentaries Projekt Charite, Projekt Corona; Tigermedia, advice on all issues of licensing, copyright law and litigation. Daedalic Entertainment, advice on licensing of rights for games by Ken Follett, among others; ESL Gaming, advice on media law and data privacy rights; advice on all issues of media law in the gaming context: GIANTS Software, Paintbucket Games, Phoenix Games, BeamNG.

Press law and freedom of speech: The Hamburg law firm is known, above all, for press law reviews of books and film scripts. The firm is also associated for rough cut reviews on a regular basis, most recently for the book 'Bad Company' and the Charite documentary by its client Docdays Productions. Another mainstay of the firm is legal counsel for stakeholders, which clients have described as "tactically skilful". A natural cosmetics manufacturer also relies on the firm's expertise in a dispute with Recherchenetzwerk Deutschland and Hannoversche Neue Presse. The manufacturer also uses the firm's services in data protection and media law matters, proof of how closely related these practice areas are.

Specialties: Advising publishers and interested parties

Client matters: Argon Verlag AVE, ongoing advice on script reviews, and advice on co-productions, e.g., for Aldi-Brüder, Project Lehman Brothers, Angela Merkel; ongoing press law book reviews: Oxford University Press, e.g., "Nazis and Nobles"; Murmann Publishers, "Inside the App Store"; Random House, e.g., "Bad Company"; Patrizia Immobilien vs. various newspapers re news reports; ongoing legal counsel: Free Democratic Party (FDP), Oetinger Publishing Group, Global Poverty, major city in Northern Germany, natural cosmetics brand, including data protection law, financial investor.”

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GRAEF Rechtsanwälte ranked in Media Law International

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“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. Christian Rauda ("a real brand & professionally a great wizard," client), 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.”

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