IP in the coalition agreement: anything to be concerned about?
This article provides an overview of the IP topics covered in the new coalition agreement.
While the word "innovation" was mentioned 76 times in the Traffic-Light Government's 2021 Coalition Agreement, the new coalition agreement in 2025 only mentions the word 49 times. While the Traffic-Light Coalition Agreement talked about a "decade of innovation", there is now talk of an "innovation boost". But does the word choice also mean that the new coalition government is devoting less attention to the issue? The new coalition agreement is still innovation-friendly and announces a national IP strategy. This blog article provides an initial overview of some of the topics addressed in the coalition agreement relating to industrial property rights, copyright and life sciences.
Research and innovation
The coalition agreement talks about an "innovation boost for the economy". Bureaucracy is to be reduced and procedures digitalised and bundled into a "one-stop shop" platform for the benefit of start-ups. The new coalition government has particularly great ambitions for artificial intelligence (AI), proclaiming the goal of establishing Germany as an "AI nation". Massive investments and innovation-friendly regulation for industrial AI are promised. A "High-Tech Agenda for Germany" has also been announced as well as the organisation of innovation ecosystems and research fields that are open to technology.
Pharma and biotech
The black-red coalition government also wants to make a difference in the field of pharma and biotech: Germany is set to become the "world's most innovative chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology location". The coalition government is against a total ban on groups of substances and in favour of balanced EU regulation with a risk-based approach in the area of chemicals policy and an improvement in the framework conditions for the development and production of medicinal products, active ingredients and medical devices as well as for the more successful transfer of innovations, which are mostly of academic origin, into new business models, including for the healthcare sector. This will require a simpler regulatory environment. The coalition agreement intends for it to be possible to establish spin-offs within 24 hours. Other legislative activities announced include a research data law, a law on scientific animal testing, "modern" regulation of cell and gene therapies in research and an amendment to the German Freedom of Science Act (WissFG). The coalition agreement announces the goal of further developing the internal market as the "engine of our economic strength" and mentions medical products and pharmaceuticals as some of the most important topics in this context.
The coalition agreement categorises biotechnology as a key industry. The new coalition holds out the prospect of funding for the development of new active ingredients and therapies through life science, molecular biology and pharmaceutical research as well as regulatory relief. A national biobank is to be created as the basis for preventive, precision and personalised medicine.
Following the introduction by the Traffic-Light Coalition Government of the German Act on the Legalisation of Cannabis (CanG) in the previous legislative period, the new coalition government has announced its intention to evaluate this law this coming autumn without any fixed ideas about what the results should be.
Culture and media
In the coalition agreement, the new coalition government attaches great importance to art and diverse culture for the provision of services of general economic interest and equal living conditions. It is committed to artistic freedom without content-related specifications by the state. Germany is to become a "beacon for free art and culture in the world". The coalition agreement emphasises that no projects with anti-Semitic, racist and other inhumane objectives will be funded. Germany is to be strengthened as a film location by way of a reform of film funding and further developing the German Film Subsidies Act (FFG).
There have been repeated disagreements in the recent past about financial remuneration for creative professionals, particularly with regard to AI and AI training. The coalition agreement also emphasises that AI has great potential for art and culture. In the area of copyright law, the intention is therefore to ensure a fair balance of interests between creators, industry and users. Appropriate remuneration is therefore being required for authors whose works are used for the training of generative AI. The coalition government has announced a plan to develop a "Culture & AI" strategy.
Finally, the new coalition government has a focus on large platforms, including in the digital music market, in this context. Streaming platforms are to be required to give creators an appropriate share in the revenue. As a legislative measure, an inalienable right to a proper fee review (Abrechnungsprüfung) has been announced.
Media and freedom of expression
In the coalition agreement, the new coalition government is also committed to strengthening media diversity and safeguarding freedom of expression. It is committed to pluralistic public service broadcasting and to fair regulatory and refinancing conditions for private media. The introduction of a "levy for online platforms that use media content" is to be examined. At the same time, the coalition is clearly against new advertising restrictions and in favour of further developing unfair competition law. It also aims to enter into a dialogue with publishers and facilitate cooperation between private media companies. The new coalition government regards disinformation and fake news as a serious threat to democracy and is calling for action by non-governmental media regulators against information manipulation as well as "hate and agitation" while at the same time safeguarding freedom of expression on the basis of clear legal requirements and a ban on bots and fake accounts.
