Partner

Dr Dirk Spacek, LL.M.

Co-Head of the practice groups TMC and IP

Languages

German
English
French
Spanish

Social media

Dirk Spacek is partner and Co-Head of the practice groups TMC and IP. He deals with a particular focus on business models arising in the new media-, internet- and technology-sector, data commercialization projects, data privacy/cybersecurity (Swiss & GDPR) matters and intellectual property. Dirk is also part of the Commercial practice group and deals with a wide range of corporate & commercial business transactions in the technology sector (e.g. Licensing, R&D Collaborations and Mergers & Acquisitions pertaining to technology).

Dirk Spacek assists entrepreneurs, startups and well-established companies, VCs or corporate clients on the commercialization/procurement of technology/IP and the protection of their intellectual property. He conducts advisory, transactional as well as contentious work and is a recognized legal expert/mediator of ITDR (Institution for IT and Data Dispute Resolution). Dirk is also involved in a vast number of cybersecurity and computer crime legal matters. He specialized early with the first Swiss dissertation in intellectual property law on the protection and licensing of TV Entertainment Formats. In 2009, he was admitted to the Swiss bar and then gained many years of experience in large, prestigious law firms and as an in-house counsel during multiple in-house secondments. Dirk is recognized as a leading expert by Chambers, Legal 500, Best Lawyers and Who is Who Legal.

Dirk Spacek regularly publishes on current issues in the TMC, Data Privacy, IP and Commercial field. He is a member of ITechLaw Association where he is regularly present on an international level as well as in other local, Swiss intellectual property and IT-law-associations.

Awards & Recognitions

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Dirk Spacek's commitment is outstanding. His in-depth expertise and many years of experience, combined with his extraordinary network, allow him to be extremely effective.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Data privacy and data protection, 2025
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Dirk Spacek is commercial, responsive and provides excellent service.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, Data privacy and data protection, 2025
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Dirk Spacek has great knowledge and expertise in the field of technology and IP. He is very responsive and gets things done.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, TMT, 2025
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Dirk Spacek is a very experienced and talented lawyer who is highly committed to our interests. He brings a great deal of sensitivity and comprehensively settles our legal requirements.

Chambers & Partners, Europe, TMT, Switzerland, 2025
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Dirk Spacek has in-depth expertise, is reliable and provides solution-oriented advice.

Chambers & Partners, Europe, TMT, Switzerland, 2025
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Dirk Spacek was a lifesaver on the deal. He was very responsive and gave very practical advice.

Chambers & Partners, Europe, TMT, Switzerland, 2025
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Dirk Spacek is an outstanding professional with a great understanding of our commercial and technical implementation needs in larger projects and implications of data-driven business models under privacy regulations. His team has great expertise in IT, IP and privacy matters.

The Legal 500, Switzerland, TMT, 2024
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Dirk Spacek earns plaudits for his "formidable knowledge and utterly outstanding quality of legal service". One source adds, "His responses are quick yet meticulous."

Who's Who Legal, Data, Switzerland, 2022
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Dirk Spacek is highlighted as “a very smart guy” who showcases “significant experience and know-how in the e-games and IT industry.”

Who's Who Legal, Data, Switzerland, 2021
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"Dirk Spacek is always very proactive following our work and the newest trends in the blockchain and crypto industry."

The Legal 500, Data privacy and data protection, Switzerland, 2021
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"We came to appreciate Dirk Spacek as a very efficient, agile, entrepreneurial and very much responsible partner. He has an incisive approach to litigation with an outstanding ability to deal with commercial disputes."

The Legal 500, TMT, Switzerland, 2021

Relevant experience

Negotiation of multi-jurisdictional, global BPO outsourcing for a major international corporation, and splitting of the same set of agreements as part of subsequent restructuring with a total contract value of 200 million Euro.
Litigating several IT- and software-copyright disputes, in particular for a large pension fund service provider in Switzerland.
Negotiation of several large IT system integration contracts for a digital payment services provider (API technology).
Handling a compatibility patent legal proceeding in the medical technology sector before the Zurich Commercial Court.
Execution and coordination of nationwide copyright and trademark anti-piracy measures and legal proceedings for a foreign home electronics corporation.
Advising on copyright and telecommunications law for a foreign broadcaster on internet-based re-transmission of radio programmes in Switzerland (streaming).
Advising a global motor corporation on legally compliant implementation of SIM card-based infotainment offers in vehicles (M2M technology).
Support of data protection compliance programmes in the context of the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Publications

Since Music Got Digital – What’s the Role of a Record Label Today?, IAEL, November 2025
Umgang mit Workation – eine Übersicht, WEKA Business Media, April 2025
Artificial Intelligence and Data Feeding: How can I commercialize "data" for AI-licensing?, CMS Publication, July 2024
Die europäische Datenstrategie und deren Auswirkungen auf die Schweizer Unternehmen, Co-author Julia Nitschke, WEKA Business Media, June 2024
Artificial Intelligence in the field of litigation & arbitration: What impact will it have?, CMS Publication, June 2024
Supervisory authorities are increasingly focusing on AI in the financial sector, Co-author Vaïk Müller, CMS Publication, June 2024
Artificial Intelligence and its potential impact for the advertising industry, CMS Publication, June 2024
Das Datenschutzgesetz gilt nicht für den B2B-Bereich - stimmt das?, WEKA Business Media, May 2024
Cyberattacken: Praxisbeispiele und datenschutzrechtliche Abwägungen, WEKA Business Media, March 2024
Electronic charging stations on the rise in Switzerland: New legal implications, Co-author: Julia Nitschke, CMS Publication, March 2024
The EU Artificial Intelligence Act is almost ready to go!, CMS Publication, March 2024
Datenschutzkonforme Durchführung von KI-Projekten, Co-author Julia Nitschke, WEKA Business Media, February 2024
Data Protection and cybersecurity laws in Switzerland, CMS Expert Guide: Data Law Navigator, November 2023
5G regulation and law in Switzerland, CMS Expert Guide, May 2023
Revison of the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection: The countdown for Swiss Companies Run, CMS Publication, May 2023
Domains and Domain Names 2022 (Switzerland), Lexology Getting the Deal Through, March 2022
Patents 2021 (Switzerland), Lexology Getting the Deal Through, May 2021
Cyber Security & Risk Management 2021, INDEPTH FEATURE, April 2021
Switzerland launches revision of Federal Act on Patents, Law-Now article, February 2021
The Media and Entertainment Law Review | 2nd Edition | Switzerland Chapter, January 2021
Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner declares Swiss-US Privacy Shield invalid and follows the findings in the CJEU-Case C-311/18, Law-Now article, September 2020
Digital Signage und neue Formen digitaler Werbung, June 2020
Patents 2020 (Switzerland), Lexology Getting the Deal Through, May 2020
Digital Media Business in Switzerland and the enactment of the revised Swiss Federal Copyright Act, Law-Now article, 11 March 2020
Domains and Domain Names 2020 (Switzerland), Lexology Getting the Deal Through, March 2020
Swiss Patent News: Four court rulings reshape Switzerland's legal patent landscape for the coming year, 24 January 2020
The Media and Entertainment Law Review | 1st Edition | Switzerland Chapter, December 2019
What is the state of 5G deployment in Switzerland? - CMS Expert Guide to 5G, October 2019
Multimedia & trademarks – old or new rules for the digital world? - The Trademark Lawyer, August 2019
Copyright 2019 (Switzerland), Lexology Getting the Deal Through, July 2019
The Legal 500 & The In-House Lawyer Comparative Legal Guide Switzerland: Intellectual Property (3rd edition), July 2019
Swiss Patent News: Spiral watch springs for mechanical watches - Law-Now article, 28 June 2019
Wer sich alles gefallen lässt, verwässert in der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung - Interview for Fokus - Top Wirtschaftsstandort Schweiz, Smart Media, June 2019
Big Data und künstzliche Intelligenz - Chancen und Herausforderungen für Versicherer - Datenschutzrechtliche Rahmenbedingungen, CMS Insurance Breakfast, Au Premier, 29 May 2019
Switzerland set to pass a revision of its federal copyright act - Law-Now article (together with Sergej Schenker), 20 May 2019
M&A-Transaktionen im Lichte des neuen Datenschutzrechts - Fallstricke und Handlungsempfehlungen, CMS M&A Breakfast 2019, Hotel Widder, 4 April 2019
Data Protection and IT – Most important principles for enterprises, in: Andri Obrist (editor), WEKA, edition 01, March 2019, Data Protection for Swiss Companies and Institutions, 7-9
Copyright 2018 – Chapter Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, 10. August 2018, 66-71
Personalisierte Medien und Unterhaltung, Diskussionsbeitrag in sic! Zeitschrift für Immaterialgüter-, Informations- und Wettbewerbsrecht, Bern, 7+8/2018, 377, 1-18
Fintech-News: Updated FINMA-rules on video and online-identification (Fintech-News: Aktualisierte FINMA-Regeln zur Video- und Online-Identifizierung), in www.lexology.com, 16. Februar 2018
Digital Influencer Marketing – Worldwide Legal Developments and Switzerland, Newsletter 119, Oktober 2017
Copyright 2017: Section Switzerland, in: Getting the Deal Through, 1. August 2017, 78-83
When are printer cartridges exhausted? A Swiss view on Impression Products vs. Lexmark International (Wann sind Druckerpatronen erschöpft? Eine Schweizer Betrachtung von Impression Products vs. Lexmark International) in: www.lexology.com, 24. Juli 2017
Produktkompatibilität – Systemschutz durch Immaterialgüterrechte?, in: Mirina Grosz/Seraina Grünewald (Hrsg.), Recht und Wandel, Festschrift für Rolf H. Weber, Zürich, Basel, Genf 2016, 181-225
Online-Crowdfunding in Switzerland, in: International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (Hrsg.), IAEL-Yearbook 2016: The Monetization of the Global Music Business – from Creators to Major Industry, Holborn, London 2016, 262-280
Expert insight into Entertainment Law (Interview), in: Lawyer Monthly, 74/2016, 66-67
HTML5-Webdesign – Bald neue Rechtsfragen in der Schweiz? (Dirk Spacek) in: IT Magazine 03, Zürich 2014
Immaterialgüterrecht Schweiz (Jürg Simon/Dirk Spacek/Adrian Wyss), in: Alexander Vögele (Hrsg.), Geistiges Eigentum – Intellectual Property, München 2014, 1249 – 1263
M-WATCH vs. MOWATCH (fig.) - Trademark disputes among manufacturers and distributors: How the use requirement can play its jokes, (Dirk Spacek) in: www.lexology.com, 7. November 2013
BGE 119 II 51 – Cable News Networks Inc. (CNN) v. Société anonyme du Grand Casino Kommentar Bundesgerichtsentscheid BGE 119 II 51 in: Ivo Zuberbühler/Peter Münch/Matthias Schweizer/Marc Schwenninger (Hrsg.), Immaterialgüterrecht in kommentierten Leitentscheiden, Zürich 2015, 371 – 380
Online-Crowdfunding – Unterhaltungsindustrie und Start-up-Unternehmen im Umbruch? (Dirk Spacek), sic! 3, Berne 2013
Das Google Book Settlement (Dirk Spacek), in: sic!, Bern 2010, 196-208
Regional and comparative Law, Section Switzerland (Florian S. Jörg/Dirk Spacek), in: The International Lawyer, Summer 2008, Volume 42, Number 2, 1010 – 1014
Genossenschaftsrecht (Florian S. Jörg [in Zusammenarbeit mit Dirk Spacek]), in: Entwicklungen im Gesellschaftsrecht III, Peter V. Kunz/Florian S. Jörg/Oliver Arter (Hrsg.), Bern 2008, 213 – 292
Der Schutz innovativer Konzepte im Medienwettbewerb (Frank Lobigs/Gabriele Siegert/Rolf H. Weber/Dirk Spacek), Baden-Baden (Deutschland) 2006, 1-167
Schutz von TV-Formaten, eine rechtliche und ökonomische Betrachtung (Dirk Spacek), Dissertation Universität Zürich, Zentrum für Informations- und Kommunikationsrecht, Universität Zürich, Band 29, Zürich 2005, 1 – 276
Mehr Schutz für TV-Formate? (Frank Lobigs/Gabriele Siegert/Rolf H. Weber/Dirk Spacek), in Medien&Kommunikation, Hamburg (Deutschland) 2005, 93 – 119
Ausländische Werbefenster und Heimatschutz (Rolf H. Weber/Dirk Spacek), in: Medienheft Dossier, 21-28 Mai, Zürich 2004, 24-29
Mobilkommunikation im technischen, betriebswirtschaftlichen und rechtlichen Wandel (Dirk Spacek), Tagungsbericht des Schweizer Forums für Kommunikationsrecht am 9. März, 2004, in: sic!, Bern 2004, 457 – 460
Rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen für Forensic Computing (Rolf H. Weber/Dirk Spacek), in: Fachgruppe Security der Schweizer Informatikgesellschaft (Hrsg.), Forensic Computing, Zürich 2003, 19-65
Rechtsfragen rund um Suchmaschinen (Rolf H. Weber [in Zusammenarbeit mit Dirk Spacek]), Zentrum für Informations- und Kommunikationsrecht der Universität Zürich, Band 24, Zürich 2003, 1-173

Memberships & Roles

International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), Co-Chair Interactive Media and Entertainment Law Committee.
Licensing Executive Society (LES).
Institute for Intellectual Property Law (INGRES).
German Society for Information Technology Law (DGRI).
Swiss ICT-Association.
International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL).
Swiss and Zurich Bar Association.

Awards & Rankings

Best Lawyers | Telecommunications Law, Switzerland, 2026 | Lawyer of the Year
IP STARS | Transactions Star, Switzerland, 2025
The Legal 500 | TMT, Switzerland, 2025 | Leading Partner
Lexology | Data, Switzerland, 2025 | Thought Leader
Lexology | Data Privacy & Protection, 2025 | Recommended
Leaders League | Intellectual Property – Trademark prosecution, Switzerland 2024 | Highly Recommended
Leaders League | Intellectual Property – Trademark litigation, Switzerland 2024 | Recommended
Leaders League | Innovation, technology & telecoms – IT & outsourcing, Switzerland 2024 | Highly recommended
Leaders League | Innovation, technology & telecoms – Data Protection, Switzerland 2024 | Highly recommended
Leaders League | Innovation, technology & telecoms – TMT, Switzerland 2024 | Highly recommended

Lectures list

Das revidierte Datenschutzgesetz unter besonderem Blick zu HR und neuen Technologien, Public Labor Law Conference 2021 of the University of St. Gallen, Grand Casino Lucerne, 9 December 2021
Agile IT-Contracting und Legal Management, "Flexible Winner" oder "Master of Disaster"?, Swiss ICT/Verband, Agile Breakfast Bern, 31 March 2021
Blockchain in the Media- and Entertainment Industry, Fit or Mismatch? ITech-Association-Webinar, 16. November 2018
DSGVO – Gefahr für Patent- und Markenrechtskanzleien? Referat Sommeranlass, Verband Schweizer Patentanwälte, Vevey (VD), 24. August 2018
Personalisierte Medien und Unterhaltung, Referat zur 11. Tagung zum Datenschutz – Jüngste Entwicklungen, LakeSide Zürichhorn, 25. Januar 2018
Big Data – Neue rechtliche Herausforderungen? Referat an der ICMFITS-Tagung, HWZ Zürich, Zürich 17. September 2015
"Forgetting or remembering" – Wohin steuert die Schweizer Kommunikationsbranche nach Google - Spain (EuGH-Rs. C-131/12)?, Referat an der Fachgruppe IT des ZAV bei Walder Wyss AG, Zürich, 20. Januar 2015 sowie Podiumsdiskussionsleitung mit Prof. Rolf H. Weber (Prof. Universität Zürich), Patrick Dehmer (General Counsel Swisscom Schweiz AG) und Barbara Lehman (Regulatory Expert, SFDRS Schweiz)
Urheberrecht für Museen, Einführung und praktische Fallstudien (Dirk Spacek), Präsentation an der Konferenz der Swiss and International Association of Museums (VMS/ICOM) zu "Museen und Recht" an der ETHZ, 6. Mai, 20

Education

Master of Laws (LL.M.) with focus „Corporate Media, Communications & Technology Policy (IP/IT)“ at Columbia University in New York (USA) (2012)
Swiss Bar Admission Zürich (2009)
PhD/Doctorate in intellectual property and media licensing law, Dr.iur., University of Zurich (2005)
J.D. (lic.iur.), University of Zurich (2002)

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property Commercial Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dispute Resolution

sectors

TMC – Technology, Media & Communications Infrastructure & Projects

Insights

Global Reach