Intellectual Property
Germany
Ideas and innovation are the creative potential of a successful business. This intellectual potential becomes a measurable enterprise value when expressed in property rights (e.g. patents, utility patents and copyright) or monetised through licences. Legally watertight advertising campaigns, press materials that are beyond reproach and careful media usage also make a quantifiable contribution to business success.
What others say about us
"CMS has one of the best IP teams in the business."
(Law firms in Germany)
"The team offers good know-how, experience, value for money and excellent client services."
(Chambers Guide)
"Clients say that 'nothing compares with' CMS's practice."
(Legal 500, 2013)
Experience and expertise whenever you need us
CMS assists both SMEs and international corporations to optimise their intellectual property rights and assert them effectively. More than 70 specialised IP lawyers provide tailored advice that is designed to achieve results. Thanks to their experience from practice, teaching and research, they are always familiar with the latest developments across all areas of intellectual property.
Unlike most other areas of law, intellectual property is repeatedly affected by new legislative proposals at a national and international level. Accordingly, our lawyers are widely represented in professional associations and expert committees that deal with these developments and provide expert comment.
Our expertise
- Design Law
- In-Court and Out-of-Court Representation
- Border Seizure
- Trademark Law
- Patent and Utility Patent Law
- Copyright
- Competition Law (Unfair Competition Act – UWG)
CMS – presence in Europe
In European countries outside Germany, the international CMS network provides CMS with access to specialists to advise on your claims out-of-court and enforce them in court. We take over the coordination of parallel infringement cases in various countries.
Key markets and industries
Our experienced team successfully advises companies from every sector, including:
- Automotive
- Entertainment
- TV
- Internet and new media
- Cosmetics industry
- Retail
- Engineering
- Medical technology
- Pharmaceuticals and food
- Sport
- Press and publishing
- Advertising and marketing
Choose area
Border Seizure
Border seizure is an effective and low-cost method of combating counterfeit goods and illegal parallel imports.
Competition Law (Unfair Competition Act – UWG)
CMS Germany provides legal advice on designing your advertising and developing new marketing concepts. We aim to work with you to find legally admissible solutions that do not restrict your creativity or business success.
Copyright
Copyright plays a key role in the exploitation of creative achievements, both offline and online. A current focus is the development of new business models on the Internet.
Design Law
Design adds value to products and makes them stand out from the crowd. As a cornerstone of your success in business, your design needs to be defended against possible counterfeiters.
In-Court and Out-of-Court Representation
CMS is one of Germany’s leading law firms when it comes to acquiring and defending intellectual property rights. We represent our clients before the courts in all aspects of these matters. Our experts conduct lawsuits right up to the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof – BGH) and before European courts.
Patent and Utility Patent Law
CMS Germany has an effective and experienced team of patent and utility patent specialists. Where issues are particularly complex, we work closely with our clients' own experts and with external patent attorneys.
Trademark Law
Trademarks are of major importance for a company’s value and competitive position. The lawyers at CMS Germany offer cost-effective management of your property rights portfolio based on your specific requirements. To do this, we use state-of-the-art software that is precision-tailored to our clients' needs.
