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.
Marken dienen der Unterscheidung von Waren und Dienstleistungen nach ihrer Herkunft. Besonders Bildmarken haben dabei eine starke Wiedererkennbarkeit – oft genügen wenige klare Linien oder eine prägnante Form, um eine Marke sofort zu identifizieren. Doch nicht jede grafische Gestaltung ist als Marke schutzfähig. Während einfache Bildmarken wie das berühmte doppelbögige „M“ von McDonald‘s von Haus aus unterscheidungskräftig sind und leicht auch in einer abweichenden Bildgestaltung wiedererkannt werden, wird abstrakten geometrischen Grundformen die Unterscheidungskraft abgesprochen und im Falle ihrer Eintragung nur ein sehr eingeschränkter Schutzumfang zugebilligt.
The big hype surrounding the trendy chocolate is probably over, but the legal repercussions are in full swing. The question of whether “Dubai Chocolate” must actually be produced in Dubai, continues to be the subject of controversial debate. Even the District Court of Cologne is divided.
In a landmark decision (judgment of October 4, 2024, C-438/23, ECLI:EU:C:2024:826), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (the Regulation) must be interpreted as meaning that Member States cannot generally prohibit the labelling of plant-based foods with terms commonly used for meat products, as long as no “legal name” has been established by the Member State concerned.
Dr. Michael Goldmann has been recognized as Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year at the Legal 500 Germany Awards, which were held for the second time on 21 February 2025.
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.
