HARTE-BAVENDAMM offers specialized legal services in intellectual property and unfair competition law, catering to innovative enterprises not just within Germany, but across the globe.
At Home in Hamburg, Globally Committed
Operating from our office in a borough in the heart of the City of Hamburg known as “HafenCity”, we maintain a global outlook and vigilantly oversee the broader context. As economic activities transcend national boundaries, legal considerations follow suit.
OLG Bamberg, judgment of 29 July 2026 – 3 UKl 13/25 e | The Third Civil Senate of the OLG Bamberg continues to develop its Digital Services Act case law. For the first time, it specifies how far providers must disclose the weighting of their recommendation system parameters; at the same time, it prohibits login requirements as a precondition for reporting illegal content. We summarise the decision and provide guidance for practice.
The General Court also dismisses OpenAI’s action: No EU trademark protection for the word mark “OPENAI”—at least for now.
LG München I, judgment of 31.07.2026 – 42 O 763/25. In its second landmark judgment on the relationship between copyright and AI training, the Munich Regional Court (LG München I) has found the operator of the AI music generator Suno liable for infringement of copyright in six popular musical works. Notably, the 42nd Civil Chamber has, for the first time in a German judgment, applied the US fair use doctrine to AI training – and rejected it. We summarise the decision and set it in context.
In its judgment of 9 July 2026 (C-788/24), the ECJ followed the Opinion of Advocate General Rantos in the legal dispute concerning the online publication of “The Diary of Anne Frank”. At its core, the case centred on the question of whether geoblocking measures constitute effective technological protection measures against copyright infringements, even if they can be circumvented by VPN services. The Court has now answered this question with a clear ‘yes’.
From the inception of a business idea, through its development and commercialisation, we offer strategic legal advice on IP law with respect to securing and enforcing intellectual property rights and the execution of development, licensing and distribution agreements.
Awards & Recognitions
For years, HARTE-BAVENDAMM has consistently been acknowledged as a premier German law firm specializing in trademark and unfair competition law, earning acclaim in numerous esteemed rankings such as Chambers, WTR 1000, The Legal 500, IP Stars and JUVE Handbuch.
