GRAEF Rechtsanwälte specializes in high-end legal advice on complex matters in the areas of media law and intellectual property. Our attorneys draw on many years of industry experience in various media sectors.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte is a spin-off from a large German media law firm and was founded by Ralph Oliver Graef.
Our task is to protect the intellectual property of our clients in the best possible way and to advise clients on the commercial exploitation of their intellectual property rights from the get-go. In the event of infringements, we enforce claims with the requisite toughness and certainty, without losing sight of the economic interests of our clients.
Our clients are leading German and international media companies, such as film producers, television stations, publishers, advertising agencies, publishers of computer games, online platform operators, and music labels. We also represent celebrities in protecting their privacy and publicity rights, as well as artists, including authors, actors, photographers, designers, and game developers, in protecting their creative work.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte provide legal expertise in the following areas:
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte is a spin-off from a large German media law firm and was founded by Ralph Oliver Graef.
Our task is to protect the intellectual property of our clients in the best possible way and to advise clients on the commercial exploitation of their intellectual property rights from the get-go. In the event of infringements, we enforce claims with the requisite toughness and certainty, without losing sight of the economic interests of our clients.
Our clients are leading German and international media companies, such as film producers, television stations, publishers, advertising agencies, publishers of computer games, online platform operators, and music labels. We also represent celebrities in protecting their privacy and publicity rights, as well as artists, including authors, actors, photographers, designers, and game developers, in protecting their creative work.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte provide legal expertise in the following areas:
Film and Television Law
We advise all parties involved in the production and distribution of a film on all legal issues by negotiating and drafting contracts in the film and television sector, from financing of the film to production and commercial exploitation of the film. Our clients include film production companies and television stations, rights brokers and rights agencies, as well as directors, actors, authors and service providers from the film industry.
Copyright Law
One of our specialities is on the representation of creators of copyrightable works of any kind, as well as media companies involved in the commercial exploitation of such works. We draft contracts on the commercial exploitation of books, screenplays, photographs, musical works, computer games, designs, films, stage plays, and graphic works, and we successfully protect the interests of our clients thanks to our many years of experience. In the event of copyright infringements, we enforce the rights of our clients with pinpoint accuracy and efficiency.
Publishing Law
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte advises national and international publishers on all questions of publishing law, as well as on the protection of trademarks and the licensing of merchandising products. We provide legal expertise on expanding the product portfolio by adding digital offers such as e-books or downloads.
Defamation Law (Libel & Slander)
We represent publishers as well as companies and private individuals whose rights have been infringed by the publication of texts or images in the media. Our daily work involves the enforcement and defense of claims for injunctive relief, retraction, damages and publication of opposing viewpoints in accordance with German defamation law.
Trademark Law
The protection, licensing and enforcement of trademarks, domain names and other business marks is an important practice area of our firm. We manage and monitor the trademark portfolio of media companies as well as sellers of brand-name products, preserving and promoting the commercial value of their trademarks. We offer special expertise in protecting clients from trademark infringements and so-called “domain name grabbing”.
Computer Games
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte represents numerous companies in the computer games industry, including publishers, developers, sound studios, marketing firms and other service providers.
Unfair Competition Law and Advertising Law
With competition on the rise, competitors closely monitor whether others are in compliance with unfair competition laws. We render opinions on advertising campaigns in terms of their compliance with unfair competition law, and we specialize in attacking as well as defending such campaigns.
Music Law
We represent music labels, composers, artists, managers as well as service providers from the music industry in negotiating and drafting contracts, such as artist agreements, track purchase agreements, and advertising agreements.
Internet Law
Media companies and artists trust our counsel on all legal issues arising in connection with the Internet, including domain names, liability on the Internet, drafting of general terms and conditions, terms and conditions of use, and legal notices that are fully in compliance with applicable law, online trading, as well as all content distribution agreements.
Design Law
We protect the design patents of our clients and discourage potential infringers from exploiting the intellectual property of our clients without their consent. We draft licensing agreements for the commercial exploitation of design ideas.
Theater Law
We negotiate and draft contracts between producers, actors, directors, performing artists, as well as service providers from the theater sector with the requisite understanding of the special nature of the theater and music world.