Protection of works & related rights
We advise on the protection of works through copyright and related rights — from texts, software, and design through photography and music to databases. So that what you have created remains protected.
From the work to the
headline.
We advise creatives and artists as well as companies and private individuals on all questions of copyright law — from protecting their own works to the legally sound use of protected content. Our expertise also covers contract drafting and licensing as well as the enforcement or defense of claims arising from copyright infringements. Wherever works are published, we factor in media law — and, on request, support sensitive proceedings with litigation PR.
What we do.
Legally sound use & licenses
We ensure the legally sound use of protected works and draft or review terms of use and license agreements — with a clearly defined scope of the rights granted, compensation, and adaptation rights (§§ 31 ff. UrhG (German Copyright Act)).
Enforcement & defense
We pursue infringements and enforce your claims — and we defend against cease-and-desist warnings (Abmahnung) where demands are unjustified or excessive. Sober in assessment, consistent in enforcement.
Media law
Wherever works are published, copyright and media law intersect: press and speech law, personality and image rights, right of reply (Gegendarstellung), and injunctive relief. We support creatives, media outlets and affected individuals — whether they are publishing or affected by a publication.
Why copyright
A work comes into being the moment it is created — yet it still needs protection. We make sure that creativity also becomes an enforceable right.
Litigation PRLegal disputes are decided
Legal disputes are decided
in court — and in the
public eye.
Some disputes are fought not only in court, but also in the media and on social networks. Litigation PR is the accompanying communications strategy for such disputes: it aligns legal and communications objectives, protects the client's reputation, and ensures that your position remains clearly understood.
We combine legal strategy and communications from a single source — always within the limits of professional conduct rules and media law.
Frequent questions.
[ FAQ ]When is something protected by copyright?
Protection arises automatically upon creation of the work — no registration is required. The prerequisite is a certain Schöpfungshöhe (threshold of originality). In addition, there are related rights, for example for photographs, sound recordings, or databases.
May I use third-party content such as images, texts, or music?
Only with the necessary rights. Without a license or an applicable statutory exception, you face injunctive relief and damages, and the right of quotation is narrow. We clarify the chain of rights and ensure legally sound use.
What should I do about a copyright cease-and-desist warning?
Take the deadlines seriously, but do not pay or sign without review. This applies to all common case categories — file sharing via peer-to-peer networks, photos and images used without authorization, music, and copied texts. We examine the merits, standing to sue (Aktivlegitimation), and the amounts claimed, submit a modified cease-and-desist declaration (Unterlassungserklärung) where appropriate, and fend off excessive or unjustified demands.
Received a photo cease-and-desist warning — what should I expect?
Whether on a website, marketplace, or social media: For photos used without authorization, damages are usually demanded based on the Lizenzanalogie (license analogy — a hypothetical license fee), often with a surcharge where the author was not credited. We examine standing to sue, the value in dispute, and the amounts claimed, submit a modified cease-and-desist declaration where appropriate, and fend off excessive demands.
I used music in a reel or video and received a cease-and-desist warning — what applies?
The platforms' music libraries usually cover only private, non-commercial use — business and creator accounts need their own license, and even short excerpts are protected. We examine standing to sue and the amounts claimed, which are usually calculated under the license analogy, submit a modified cease-and-desist declaration where appropriate, and fend off excessive demands. Classic file-sharing warning letters over peer-to-peer networks play only a marginal role today — but we help with those too.
What does a good license agreement govern?
Above all, the scope of the rights granted: non-exclusive or exclusive, limited in time, territory, and subject matter, plus compensation as well as adaptation and sublicensing rights (§§ 31 ff. UrhG). Clear terms prevent later disputes.
What is litigation PR — and is it permissible?
Litigation PR is the communications strategy accompanying a legal dispute. It aligns legal and communications objectives and protects the client's reputation — always within the limits of professional conduct rules and media law.
Your work, your reputation,
your rights.
Contact persons · Copyright & media law
Phone+49 931 6639232Emailinfo@jun.legal