Home / International CMS lawyers and legal consultants / Dr. Pietro Fringuelli

Dr. Pietro Fringuelli

Partner
Rechtsanwalt | Co-Head of the CMS Technology, Media & Communications Group

Portrait ofPietro Fringuelli

Dr. Pietro Fringuelli

Partner
Rechtsanwalt | Co-Head of the CMS Technology, Media & Communications Group

Contact
CMS Hasche Sigle
Kranhaus 1
Im Zollhafen 18
50678 Cologne
Germany
Languages German, English, Italian

Pietro Graf Fringuelli is partner at CMS and co-head of the CMS Technology, Media and Communications sector group. In this role, he leads a team of over 650 lawyers.

Described as "the most innovative and strategically thinking expert on the market" in the media sector (Client quote, The Legal 500, 2022), Pietro is particularly experienced in the structuring of digital business models, broadcasting law and online advertising issues for e-commerce and digital businesses. He has been especially active in advising on copyright issues arising from the acquisition and exploitation of IP rights via new technologies, such as streaming services.

Sought after for his deep experience in the field of gaming and esports, Pietro has been the Chairman of the Executive Board of the World ESports Association (WESA) since 2018. His clients include numerous game publishers and gaming platform operators, as well as more traditional sporting organisations such as the Bundesliga and German Basketball League.

Pietro and his team have won several awards for their capabilities in the field of media, including a 2017 FT Innovative Lawyer award for their work advising on the establishment of WESA.

He was previously a member of the Media Commission of the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia (LfM) and Associate Professor for media law at the IFS in Cologne.

Pietro joined CMS in 2001 and has been a partner since 2006.

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„Oft empfohlen“ für Medien

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„hervorragende Expertise, durchgehende u. kurzfristige Verfügbarkeit, schneller Turnaround auch in neuen u. unbekannten Rechtsgebieten wie z.B. Blockchain-Technologien“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed as leading individual

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed for Media Law and Copyright

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Listed for Intellectual Property

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Lawyer of the Year for Media Law and Copyright

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Leading Individual for Entertainment

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023

"Pietro Graf Fringuelli: the most innovative and strategically thinking expert on the market; way ahead of its competitors."

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

"Recommended" for Media

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020-2022 (GCLF)

"many years of experience, accomplished", competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)

Leading individual for Entertainment

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2021

"a top media lawyer", "very good content, good presence, client-oriented", clients

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2014 (GCLF)

"Clients are identifying Pietro Graf Fringuelli as ‘one of the best specialists‘ in the field of new media"

The Legal 500, 2010

"on digitalization matters he has the best knowledge" (clients)

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2009 (GCLF)

"really good, impressed me very much on the opposing side", competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2009 (GCLF)

"profound expertise in media law" (clients)

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2009 (GCLF)

"Pietro Graf Fringuelli: the undisputed number 1 in eSports in Europe; creative in the development of new structures and business models in eSports.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Leading individual for Entertainment

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Listed as Leading Individual

Chambers Europe, 2022

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2022

"Pietro Graf Fringuelli: the most innovative and strategically thinking expert on the market; way ahead of its competitors.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

„Oft empfohlen“ für Medien

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„hervorragende Expertise, durchgehende u. kurzfristige Verfügbarkeit, schneller Turnaround auch in neuen u. unbekannten Rechtsgebieten wie z.B. Blockchain-Technologien“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed as leading individual

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed for Media Law and Copyright

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Listed for Intellectual Property

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Lawyer of the Year for Media Law and Copyright

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers

Leading Individual for Entertainment

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023

"Pietro Graf Fringuelli: the most innovative and strategically thinking expert on the market; way ahead of its competitors."

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

"Recommended" for Media

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020-2022 (GCLF)

"many years of experience, accomplished", competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2021

Leading individual for Entertainment

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2021

"a top media lawyer", "very good content, good presence, client-oriented", clients

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2014 (GCLF)

"Clients are identifying Pietro Graf Fringuelli as ‘one of the best specialists‘ in the field of new media"

The Legal 500, 2010

"on digitalization matters he has the best knowledge" (clients)

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2009 (GCLF)

"really good, impressed me very much on the opposing side", competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2009 (GCLF)

"profound expertise in media law" (clients)

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2009 (GCLF)

„Sowohl Prof. Dr. Winfried Bullinger als auch Dr. Pietro Graf Fringuelli gehören zu den versiertesten Urheberrechtsexperten der Republik, auf deren Rat zahlreiche namhafte Mandanten zählen.“

Nomos, Kanzleien in Deutschland, 2013

„umtriebig, immer an den neuesten Themen dran“, Wettbewerber

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023

„Oft empfohlen“ für Technologie und Medien

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023

"Pietro Graf Fringuelli: the undisputed number 1 in eSports in Europe; creative in the development of new structures and business models in eSports.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Leading individual for Entertainment

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Listed as Leading Individual

Chambers Europe, 2022

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2022

"Pietro Graf Fringuelli: the most innovative and strategically thinking expert on the market; way ahead of its competitors.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Führender Name für Entertainment

The Legal 500 Deutschland, 2022

Memberships & Roles

  • German Institution of Arbitration (DIS)
  • Media Commission of the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia (LfM)
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Publications

  • Grenzenlos einheitlich?, Sponsors Magazin Mai 2014
  • Club-TV: Vereine setzen Springer unter Druck – Stadionwelt, 27.05.2013, Interview (http://www.stadionwelt.de/sw_stadien/index.php?head=Club-TV-Vereine-setzen-Springer-unter-Druck&folder=sites&site=news_detail&news_id=8863)
  • Brand Content: Die Marke als Medienereignis, November 2013
  • Einstweilige Verfügung gegen YouTube – GEMA wählt das falsche Verfahren, Legal Tribune Online, 27.08.2010
  • Das Ende von Peer to Peer? Wie man als Rechteinhaber den (Werbe-) Hahn zudreht, Sponsors Magazin, 2009
  • Klar ist, dass nichts klar ist – Kommentar zu den Auswirkungen der Murphy Entscheidung des EUGH auf die Lizensierungspraxis, Sponsors 2008
  • Auswirkungen der Rechtsprechung zum internetbasierten Videorekorder auf das Webhosting, CR 2008, 791
  • USA: No Infringement of the Copyright Act by Using Network PVR, CR INT, 2008
  • Klagen gegen Youtube – Interview, Focus Magazin, 14.05.2007
  • Recht und Gesetz im Web, Bundesligamagazin 2006
  • "Virtuelle Videorecorder (PVRs) im rechtlichen Abseits?" (gemeinsam mit Florian Dietrich), Update Technology 2006
  • IPTV Schattenspiele - Internet Fernsehen im rechtlichen Graubereich, c`t 2006
  • Mediale Zukunft des Sports - Aufspaltung von Rechten, Deutsche Sport Marketing 2006
  • Rechtliche Unklarheiten bei Video-on-Demand, Videowoche - Blickpunkt Film 2004
  • InternetTV - Filmurheberrecht im Internet, Peter Lang-Verlag 2004
  • Es gibt keine Internetrechte, NetEntertainment - Blickpunkt Film 2000
  • InternetTV - Rechtliche Fragestellung über Fernsehen im Internet, ZIM 2000
  • Electronic Commerce - Formerfordernisse beim Vertragsschluss im Internet, CR 2000
  • Der Millennium Bug: Die Y2K-Gesetze in den USA, CR 1999, p. 683
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Lectures list

(Selection)

  • "Auf die Medienrevolution reagieren – so sehen Ausschreibungen künftig aus", Köln, Sponsors Media Summit, 12.05.2015
  • "Was müssen Unternehmen bei der Einführung neuer Bewegtbildangebote beachten?", Hamburg, NewTV Forum, 10.02.2015
  • "Mobile im digitalen Marketing Mix", Köln, Mobilbranche, Kranhaus, 17.09.2013
  • "Mobile Entertainment", Berlin, MobilistenTalk, Basecamp, 23.05.2013
  • "Was geht, was nicht? Was rechtlich beim Club-TV in Deutschland möglich ist", Düsseldorf, SpoBis, 18.02.2013
  • "Mobile Trends", Berlin, MobilistenTalk – Basecamp, 13.02.2013
  • "Digitale Geschäftsmodelle im Medienbereich", Internationale Filmschule, Köln, 17.01.2013
  • "Urheberrecht im digitalen Zeitalter, Internationale Filmschule", Köln, 17.12.2012
  • "Aktuelle digitale Geschäftsmodelle", Frankfurt, Finance Roundtable, 27.11.2012
  • "Social Media & E-Gaming, Sponsors Clubmanager Forum", Düsseldorf, 05. November 2012
  • "SmartTV – neue digitale Distributionsmodelle und rechtliche Implikationen", Sponsors Media Summit, Düsseldorf, 24. Mai 2012
  • "Amortizing TV content", Universität zu Köln, 04. Mai 2012
  • "IPTV, netPVR", EPG & Co, Workshop für Kabelnetzbetreiber, Köln, 21. März 2012
  • "Recht. Agentur.Digital" Legal Workshop für Werbeagenturen, Hamburg, Februar 2012
  • "Auswirkungen des Falls „Karen Muphy auf die Lizensierungspraxis der Ligen"", Sponsors SpoBis, Düsseldorf, 13. Februar 2012
  • "Ist der Sport zu exklusiv? - Grenzen der Vermarktung medialer Rechte", Medienforum NRW, 20.06.2011
  • "IPTV, VOD und Social Media", Internationale Filmschule Köln, 30. Januar 2012
  • "Branded Entertainment", Medienakademie - Berthelsmann Repräsentanz, Berlin, 24. Januar 2012
  • "IPTV - Aktuelle Entwicklungen des Urheberrechts im Bereich der Digitalisierung des Fernsehen", Köln, VATM, 07. Dezember 2011
  • "Social Media – neue Marketingstrategien" – Werkstattgespräch mit den Marketingvorständen von Audi, Targo Bank u.a., Hamburg 25. August 2011
  • "Rahmenbedingungen digitaler Geschäftsmodelle im Bereich IPTV und VOD", Universität zu Köln, 13. Mai 2011
  • "Neue Entwicklung im Urheberrecht und ihre Auswirkungen auf die Free-TV-Rechte", München, Fernsehsender, 02.06.2009
  • "ARD and ZDF: On the verge of being ousted from advertising?", Medienforum, 5 May 2008
  • "User generated content, Sponsors" – Commerzbank-Arena, 24 September 2007
  • "DVD, VOD, PODCAST & CO – Authors' rights", Landeszentrale für politische Bildung NRW, Filmforum Köln, 7 September 2007
  • "YouTube or Sue Tube – Legal aspects relating to user-generated content, IPTV and virtual PVR", Deutsche TV Plattform, Munich, 4 May 2007
  • "Virtual PVR – Legal aspects relating to video recorders", TV Outlook 2007, Munich, 1 December 2006
  • "IPTV – Legal aspects of the dispute DFL – Telekom", Frankfurt – Commerzbank Arena 13 September 2006
  • "Interactive content and convergence", European Commission, Brussels, 3 July 2006
  • "New strategies in awarding rights", Public Broadcaster, Munich, 29 April 2006
  • "PVR Outlook: Virtual PVR and other related legal aspects", Siemens, tbb\*, 2 December 2005
  • "Merging media in the sports business: InternetTV and MobilTV", sportfive and CMS, 18 November 2005
  • "Merging Media: Effects of new technologies on licensing practices", MBA, 28 September 2005
  • "New media = new rights?", IP Congress CMS Hasche Sigle, 21 May 2005
  • "Copyright issues of TV-Digitalisation", Mediengruppe Berlin, 17 January 2005
  • "PVR Symposion - Legal aspects", Bayrische Landeszentrale für neue Medien, Siemens, 8 December 2004
  • "Changes in copyright law – Economic consequences ? The bill on the "second basket" of copyright laws", NRV in cooperation with i.E., 22 October 2004
  • "DVB-T, InternetTV – new marketing concepts and the legal framework", German Broadcasters, 13 October 2004
  • "Mobile Entertainment - new methods, new rights?", Medienforum Berlin-Brandenburg, 27 August 2004
  • "Digital Entertainment – Who is allowed to do what? Legal aspects of using content in digital media", Cologne Conference - Medienforum NRW, 21 June 2004
  • "Mobile Entertainment – legal basis", BMCO (Broadcast Mobile Convergence), 21 April 2004
  • "Video-on-demand – legal issues in practice", Bayrische Landeszentrale für neue Medien and Media Business Academy (MBA), 4 March 2004
  • "Mobile entertainment – legal basis/ copyright law", MBA, 15 October 2003;
  • "Video-on-Demand – legal basis", Bayrische Landeszentrale für neue Medien und MBA, 6 March 2003
  • "Current copyright situation with respect to DVD", d-motion 2002, 6 December 2002
  • "Copyright and new media", Telekommunikation, 4 December 2002
  • "Legal framework conditions for online business", Exponet, 20 November 2002
  • "New copyright legislation", Management Circle, 15 November 2002
  • "Pirate copies and Video-on-Demand", MMP, 10 July 2002 Film financing, VFFVmedia, 18 January 2002
  • "Licenses and copyright issues - TV and publishing industry in the light of digitalisation", Executive Round Table Media, WestLB, 30/31 January 2002
  • "InternetTV – Licensing law", Adolf-Grimme-Akademie, May 2001
  • "TV meets Internet – Licensing law", VFFVmedia, December 2000InternetTV—Film copyright on the Internet, Medienbüro Berlin-Brandenburg, August 2000
  • "Video-on-Demand and copyright", VFFVmedia, March 2000

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Education

  • PhD; topic: "Internet TV – Film Copyright on the Internet“
  • Law studies at the Universities of Florence and Cologne
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Expertise

Feed

28/11/2023
International Digital Regulation Hub
Following the EU Commission plan “A Europe fit for the digital age”, we have witnessed a lot of digital regulations in the EU including DMA and DSA, AI Act, Data Act and there is still more to come. Whilst presenting companies with a tumultuous landscape to navigate, the legal obligations imposed also present opportunities to develop their business in a new digital framework safeguarding responsible business practices, fair competition and personal data. The CMS Digital Regulation Hub is home to our Digital Regulation Tracker Tool, providing an overview of the key regulatory instruments for area of law, sectors and business activities which are critical for decision makers as they adapt to the increasingly digital landscape. In addition to this unique tool, we explore the impact this tsunami of regulation is having for businesses across a variety of industries and how GCs can ride the waves to stay ahead of the curve. Our latest re­port il­lus­trates the key findings across Platforms, Content providers, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Energy & Infrastructure, Banking & Finance and Automotive industries. To discuss how to cope with the challenges of Digital Regulations and to explore the opportunities for your business, please contact one of our International experts.
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