Copyright Lawyer in Düsseldorf, Germany
German copyright law protects creative works and regulates who may reproduce, publish, adapt, distribute or license them. Attorney Oliver Langner advises in Düsseldorf on copyright infringement, cease-and-desist letters, image and photo rights, licence agreements, damages, software copyright and injunctive claims.
Copyright law: key matters at a glance
Protected works and rights chains
German copyright law covers a wide range of creative works. Whether protection exists and who can assert rights must be examined in the individual case. In commissioned work, photography, software, design or agency projects, the contractual chain of rights is often as important as the underlying authorship.
Copyright itself generally remains with the author, while rights of use can be granted. The scope of those rights may be limited by media, purpose, territory, duration or exclusivity.
Unauthorised use and cease-and-desist claims
If protected material is used without sufficient permission, the dispute may concern removal, injunctive relief, information, damages and reimbursement of eligible costs. The response depends on whether the recipient has received a cease-and-desist letter or the rights holder needs to enforce a claim.
Images, texts, software and online content often raise additional evidentiary questions: when the use occurred, where it was published, what licence would have been required and who controlled the relevant account or website.
Licensing creative content
Licence agreements should describe the permitted use precisely. Ambiguous clauses concerning exclusivity, adaptations, sublicensing, platforms, territories or term can create significant later disputes.
This page provides a general orientation to German copyright law and does not replace an assessment of the specific work, licence chain, use and procedural position.
