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2021
The Hamburg Games Conference 2022 is in the starting blocks. After the great success of our online conference in 2021, we are planning a hybrid event for 2022 and are looking forward to many international participants in addition to the national participants.
In an interview with MAX, Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef (GRAEF Rechtsanwälte) classifies the legal aspects of the new ARD series "Legal Affairs," which takes us into the world of media lawyers, the shallows of the boulevard and popcorn press law.
Social responsibility in times of transformation
Lecture on "Hate Speech" by Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef on November 23, 2021 at 12:30 p.m.
GRAEF Attorneys at Law on the Right to Data in Industry 4.0
How competitive are Germany's cinema films in the international arena? How sustainable is national film funding? Dr. Carsten Brosda (Senator for Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg), Tabea Rößner (Member of the Bundestag, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and Martin Turowski (cinema operator and board member of Kinoverbund Schleswig-Holstein) were among the speakers at the CinemaxX Dammtor.
Dr. Christian Rauda, partner in the media law firm GRAEF Rechtsanwälte (Hamburg/Berlin) since 2008, was appointed honorary professor for computer game law and entrepreneurship in the games industry by the president of the Berlin University of Applied Sciences, effective October 1, 2021. The reason for his appointment was his outstanding academic achievements. Rauda has been publishing continuously in law since 1999 and is the author of 20 books and scripts with a total of over 100,000 copies sold. Already in 2013, the publishing house C.H. Beck published the first and to date the only comprehensive account of the German law of computer games. Rauda has also been active in academic teaching at various universities and colleges for over 15 years. As a specialist attorney for information technology law, specialist attorney for copyright and media law, and specialist attorney for intellectual property law, he focuses on advising games and IT companies.
Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef, Managing Partner of the law firm GRAEF Rechtsanwälte: "Our law firm has the claim to act also scientifically on the highest level by publishing books, essays and commentaries. The award of the honorary professorship to Christian Rauda is an outstanding example of this."
Contact: Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef
FOCUS Spezial 2021 recommends GRAEF Rechtsanwälte as a top law firm in the area of "Media and Press". Our firm was "disproportionately recommended by colleagues".
German article by Dr. Christian Rauda and Patrick Mitsching in MMR
Article by Dr. Christian Rauda in Gamesmarkt: "Copyright reform: compromise on adaptation".
Ralph Oliver Graef is named one of Germany's best lawyers in "Entertainment Law" for the eighth time by Handelsblatt and Best Lawyers.
Christian Rauda is named one of Germany's best lawyers in "Gaming Law" by Handelsblatt and Best Lawyers.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte is very happy to support Series Lab Hamburg, the project development, co-production and financing event organized by Creative Europe Desk MEDIA Hamburg. Creative Europe is the funding program for Europe’s audiovisual sector and the cultural and creative industries. Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef will be delivering the key note on “News from Brussels?! on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
The film "LOVEPARADE - The Negotiation", which we have been advising, wins the Grimme Award 2021. Congratulations to DOCDAYS Productions and Dominik Wessely (director).
We are thrilled that GRAEF Rechtsanwälte has once again been ranked Tier 1 in „press and media law“ and „trademark law“ in ‚The Best Business Law Firms in Germany 2021’ by brand eins magazine.
Journalist may continue to report on double plagiarism. FAZ journalist Dr. Jochen Zenthöfer wins important landmark ruling with GRAEF Rechtsanwälte on press coverage of scientific doctoral theses and habilitations.
Congratulations to Mimimi Games for the double win at the German Computer Game Awards (Best Game and Best Studio) and Quantumfrog for the Best Family Game award! And Supercrowd Entertainment won the special prize for the Indie Arena Booth. Congratulations to all winners!
The Wirecard scandal is filleted in a great and highly original way in the book "Bad Company" from Penguin Random House, a "must read". And, as to be expected, not everyone in charge and involved likes it. SPIEGEL documents this attack on the freedom of the press and publishing. Our task: to stand up for precisely this freedom of the press and publishing.
Hamburg Games Conference 2021 exceeds expectations and sets new standards for B2B online events.
Our expert Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef in Kicker on the salary cap in the NFL and a possible adoption of the salary cap in the Bundesliga.
Media Law International 2021 - Chapter Intro Germany by Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef
2020
The German version "Hey, Pippi Langstrumpf" is based on the original "Här kommer Pippi Långstrump" written by Astrid Lindgren.
We send you our best regards and hope to be back in person in Hollywood and Santa Monica in 2021.
Join Erich Pommer Institute for this workshop on digital distribution with our expert on film & television law, Ralph Oliver Graef.
Powered by GRAEF Rechtsanwälte, Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein
Our specialist Dr. Christian Rauda in a presentation at the Ministry Group. Go watch it.
Touching documentary and a truly impressive look behind the scenes of a mammoth court case by Docdays Productions and Antje Boehmert. Powered by GRAEF Rechtsanwälte
Virtual networking for the games industry in times of Corona: FIREABEND online powered by Nordmedia. Dr. Christian Rauda spoke on the topic of data protection and, among other things, on the exciting differences between mobile office and home office.
One of the big winners of the 70th German Film Awards, with 8 (!) prizes, is the drama "Systemsprenger" by our client Oma Inge Film. The LOLA in Gold was awarded, among others, for Best Feature Film. Congratulations for this outstanding success to all involved (Director/Screenplay: Nora Fingscheidt, Production: Kineo Filmproduktion, Weydemann Bros., Oma Inge Film).
We thank all speakers, our team and all guests for a great Hamburg Games Conference 2020 and look forward to continuing next year.
2019
Our job as lawyers is to protect freedom of expression. Read this story about Apple's unsuccessful attempt to obstruct the publication of a book that deals with its business practices and is at the same time very sympathetically written.
DIE ZEIT deals in a very reflective way with the injunction and destruction claims of Apple Inc. and Apple GmbH against the book "AppStore Confidential". An object lesson for the "Streisand effect".
Even a powerful company like Apple is not untouchable and must put up with reporting on its business practices within the framework of freedom of the press. Congratulations to our publisher, Murmann Verlag, for keeping a cool head and a clear edge.
We congratulate our client, T1TAN GmbH, on this outstanding success against Oliver Kahn.
Our games expert Dr. Christian Rauda was interviewed by the digital magazine HANSEVALLEY about the new games funding at the federal level and in Hamburg. We are happy about this important and overdue signal to the games scene.
Producer’s breakfast on the occasion of Filmfest Hamburg on the topic "Can the financial success of films be predicted?" - powered by GRAEF Rechtsanwälte and Filmförderung Hamburg-Schleswig Holstein. Thanks to Professor Dr. Hennig-Thurau for these exciting insights.
Always worth a trip for film producers. We are pleased to have been there again this year in a supporting role.
gamescom 2019 has started. At the European Summit of the Video Game Bar Association (VGBA), which takes place in Cologne as part of gamescom, numerous lawyers from all over Europe discuss the challenges of the games industry every year. Our expert for games law, Dr. Christian Rauda, is among them.
When it comes to financing and exploiting films, you have to rely on professionals. A good "distribution" is an important component of a successful exploitation chain. Our seminar on the distribution contract on November 12 in the "Survival of the Fittest" program of the Erich Pommer Institut.
Welcome to the world, you movie “Olchis”. What a long and crowning journey, we were happy to be by your side.
Once again GRAEF Rechtsanwälte hosted their annual Film Producer Lunch at Cannes Film Festival 2019. This years topic was: “The consequences of the EU copyright reform for the audiovisual sector in Europe”. We got a little bit distracted by the view though 😎Thank you to our co-hosts Wiggin LLP (Uk), Aturquoise (France), M&R Europe (Italy).
The neverending story about the merchandising and filming rights has come to its justified end. We are pleased to have played our part in this.
Come and join us for this years European Media Lawyers Conference in Berlin powered by GRAEF Rechtsanwälte. A full-day of interactive discussion on comparative issues in privacy law, personality rights etc
This e:training will guide you through the different key agreements and will help you to navigate this complex area! Gain theoretical knowledge and hands-on tools.
2018
At the German Developer Award for Computer Games 2018 in Cologne it rained prizes for our clients again. Congratulations, Daedalic Entertainment, Mimimi Productions UG, Paintbucket Games UG and Mixtvision Digital!
In the matter of Oliver Kahn vs. T1TAN GmbH, the exciting question before the LG Munich this week was what happens when a nickname that has been attributed to one by the media for past achievements is opposed by a registered Union trademark. If we have understood correctly, Oliver Kahn believes he is still the only titan to be associated with soccer for all time, despite his career ending in 2008. We don't see it that way. Titans come and go. For centuries.
Is Oliver Kahn a titan? And if so, is he THE titan? On Tuesday, Kahn's nickname will be heard before the Munich Regional Court. Then we will prove for our client, the company T1TAN, among other things, why Kahn was never "the Titan" but at most "one among many Titans" and that only ever in descriptive form, namely as "Goalkeeper Titan" or "Goal Titan". There is nothing for Oliver Kahn to monopolize. Jura at its best.
American Film Market 2018: You’ve got to love the energy of this place. Paying visits to Hulu, Amazon Studios and Netflix - amazing how they have changed the film industry.
The future!publish 2019 will take place on January 24/25, 2019 in Berlin. GRAEF Rechtsanwälte will be there. Our specialist Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef will give the 2019 annual update on the law of e-books and electronic publishing.
Primetime on October 22, 2018 on ARD: One of the current projects of our film team. The drama about the ALDI Brothers. Very worth seeing.
Producer Breakfast on the occasion of the Filmfest Hamburg powered by GRAEF Rechtsanwälte in cooperation with Filmförderung Hamburg-Schleswig Holstein and Team Medien der Commerzbank AG: "The new collective agreements for film and TV professionals and actors - a practical test: What applies? What's still to come?"
Interesting landmark case about the lyrics of the well-known Pippi Longstocking song written by Astrid Lindgren. In the original Swedish it is called "Här kommer Pippi Långstrump" and in German "Hey, Pippi Longstocking". Pretty close to the original? That's what Astrid Lindgren's heirs think, and so do we. That's why we're now fighting for Pippi Longstocking at the Hamburg Regional Court.
What an energy, what a success story games are, what a demand from the customer. We are very happy to be part of the games industry.
Our expert Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef elaborating on the topic „How copyright law may block news coverage“ together with Dr. Jan Tolkmitt (Landgericht Hamburg) and Adam Cannon (The Sun, London).
For the seventh time, the Founders' Compass Law, initiated by us, took place at Bucerius Law School. Great students and motivated founders spent an exciting day with us on the topics of media law, corporate law, tax law and employment law. Due to the great demand, the Founders' Compass Law will take place again in 2019. We are delighted with the excellent response.
Review in the magazine Filmecho on the "Producers' Breakfast" which GRAEF Rechtsanwälte organized together with Filmförderung Hamburg-Schleswig-Holstein and the Media Team of Commerzbank.
Simone Lingens strengthens GRAEF in the area of press law (Photo: Alfred Steffen)
We are happy about a very successful Producers’ Breakfast yesterday together with Filmförderung Hamburg-Schleswig Holstein and the Commerzbank Media Team. The place was packed and the audience was enthusiastic.
Neues Projekt unseres Filmteams. Nach Anne Frank, Uli Hoeneß und Beate Zschäpe nun die Aldi Brüder im Fokus. Biopics haben Konjunktur.
The Higher Regional Court of Munich (Case No. 29 U 885/17) has ruled in proceedings brought by the Zentrale zur Bekämpfung unlauteren Wettbewerbs (Central Office for Combating Unfair Competition) against "The world of Neuschwansteiner Holding" from Bavaria that the use of the trademark "Neuschwansteiner" for a beer that is not brewed at Neuschwanstein Castle does not constitute a misleading commercial act within the meaning of Section 5 (1) Sentence 2 No. 1 UWG and Section 3a UWG, Article 7 (1) lit. a of Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 ).
2017
At the German Developer Award Summit in Cologne today, our expert on data protection law, Dr. Christian Rauda, looks at what companies should implement in the 169 days remaining until the General Data Protection Regulation comes into force.
Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef in an interview with Basic Thinking on the topic of photo rights and image theft in social networks.
Ralph Oliver Graef interviewed by future!publish.berlin on the challenges facing the book industry in 2018
New edition of our producers' breakfast with Filmförderung Hamburg and Commerzbank's Media Team. Thank you for a full house and very good speakers.
Women in Film and Television Germany (WIFT) Panel beim Filmfest Hamburg zum Thema Chancengleichheit powered by GRAEF Rechtsanwälte. Mit dabei unter anderem Maria Köpf, Geschäftsführerin Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Jana Schiedek, Staatsrätin für Kultur und Medien der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg, und Katja Eichinger.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte at Frankfurt Bookfair 2017. We had very interesting and intense one-to-one coachings during our Ask the Expert session on "The Law of E-Books and Electronic Publishing". Thank you to everyone at the Business Club and Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH.
Creative Europe mit GRAEF Rechtsanwälte zum Thema "Behind the Scenes: Entwicklung und Finanzierung von europäischen Dramaserien"
gamescom 2017, the world's largest trade show for interactive consumer electronics, especially video and computer games. German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel plays Farming Simulator, one of the most successful PC games. We congratulate our client Giants Software, which developed the game.
In its latest ruling, the European Court of Justice has clarified the case law on streaming on the Internet. Media lawyer Ralph Oliver Graef explains whether there is now finally legal certainty and what impact the ruling will have on advertisers.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte auf dem Bewerbertag Recht in Hamburg am 28. Juni 2017. Treffen Sie Anwälte unserer Kanzlei und informieren Sie sich über die Arbeitsbedingungen und Herausforderungen einer der führenden Medienrechtskanzleien Deutschlands.
In its latest ruling, the European Court of Justice has clarified the case law on streaming on the Internet. Media lawyer Ralph Oliver Graef explains whether there is now finally legal certainty and what impact the ruling will have on advertisers.
On June 16, Dr. Christian Rauda (GRAEF Rechtsanwälte) will speak at New Work Future about the challenges compliance regulations hold in the context of new forms of work and collaboration.
Our intern Shari Heger and Dr Ralph Oliver Graef about an internship in our law firm in the special edition "Anwaltsblatt Karriere".
Cannes Film Festival 2017 is going strong and we were hosting again this years "Film Law & Financing Law" event at Plage Le Goeland on Monday, May 22. International film producers, sales agents, bonds and financiers were enjoying country updates from UK, Italy, France and Germany Wiggin LLP (UK), M&R Europe (Italy), Turquoise (France) and GRAEF Rechtsanwälte (Germany) while having lunch at Cannes beachside.
Foundation, growth, exit - and sometimes crises. We advise media startups and tech startups. Every day and with pleasure.
"With his monograph 'The Law of E-books and Electronic Publishing,' Ralph Oliver Graef fills a gap that has been felt painfully for years: There has simply been no work to date that has dealt comprehensively and knowledgeably with the multifaceted issues of electronic publishing. Graef is very familiar with the problem, he is considered one of the most experienced lawyers when it comes to the exploitation of rights 'around the book'... The book is a great success. Anyone who deals with e-books professionally will put it on their shelf."s Buch‘ geht… Das Buch ist ein großer Wurf. Wer beruflich mit E-Books zu tun hat, wird es sich ins Regal stellen.“
The Stealth Rights Assault: In what would become the day’s most serious sequence, the panel laid out for the audience the sharp dangers rising on so many sides in terms of licensing intellectual property. Exploring this widening crisis were Copyright Clearance Center’s Michael Healy, Holtzbrinck’s Joerg Pfuhl, Allrights Online’s Chris Kluiters, and attorney Ralph Oliver Graef.
Dr. Christian Rauda "The good name decides", in: Markenartikel No. 4/2017 (www.markenartikel-magazin.de)
4th Producers ‘ Breakfast with our partners, Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and Commerzbank AG, on the topic of "Amazon, Netflix & Co. - Production Location Germany". Exciting questions around Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVoD), Transactional Video-on-Demand (TVoD), film levy for video service providers, German Motion Picture Fund.
Hamburg Games Conference 2017, powered by GRAEF Rechtsanwälte, was once again a great success. This year, the focus was on the topic of "Storytelling". One thing is clear: The interconnectedness of the audiovisual industries of film and games is on the rise and "stories" speak to us differently than bare facts; they surprise and touch us, are fun and stay in our memories. They are therefore a powerful tool for the games and media industry.
In the MOPO article on the Hamburg Games Conference, Wolf Lang (Threaks GmbH) and Dr. Christian Rauda (GRAEF Rechtsanwälte) look at the trends in the computer games industry.
Interview with Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef, representing the heirs of Astrid Lindgren, Saltkråkan AB, on the legal situation surrounding the use of the term Villa Kunterbunt.
Congratulations to our clients, Docdays Productions, for winning the GRIMME Award for the film "Ebola: Surviving the Virus". The "images of grief and pain are never voyeuristic, but embedded in a stringent, dignified description of a social nightmare," according to the jury's laudation. Keep up the good work, Docdays Productions, Antje Boehmert and Carl Gierstorfer!
No license fees for the use of the name Villa Kunterbunt by kindergartens and non-profit organizations.
This year, the Federal Constitutional Court will have to deal with the question of how online archives handle the names of resocialized offenders. GRAEF Rechtsanwälte with a forecast.
2016
9 of the 17 awards at the German Developer Award went to clients of ours. Congratulations, we are very proud of you!
Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef will be attending on November 17, 2016, the Annual Conference on European Copyright Law 2016, hosted by the Academy of European Law, and will be giving a keynote speech on "The EU legal framework for E-Books and similar digital works".
The "Gründerkompass Recht" (Founders' Compass Law) we co-organized on issues of corporate law, IP law, tax law and employment law was once again a great success. We are looking forward to the continuation in 2017 together with Bucerius Law School.
Congratulations to our client Gentle Troll Entertainment for the German eBook Award in the category Children and Youth for the app "The Glasses". The jury praised: "Narrator, music, animations and sound effects are coherent and make this app a great storytelling game fun for kids and parents."
Our copyright specialist Ralph Oliver Graef writes about fanfiction and the Harry Potter Case: Who owns the story? What about transmedia uses? What happens if someone takes the story or the characters or both of them to enrich the story and keep it growing over time? Go check it out.
Unser Seminar "Rechtssichere Prüfung von Drehbüchern" in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Erich Pommer Institut für Medienrecht am 1. November 2016 in Berlin. Case Studies aktueller Verfilmungen (Uli Hoeneß - Der Patriarch, Beate Zschäpe – Letzte Ausfahrt Gera, Die Entführung des Theo Albrecht). Last call!
We congratulate our clients, publisher Joachim Unseld and Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt (FVA), on winning the German Book Prize together with author Bodo Kirchhoff for his book "Widerfahrnis". "A loyalty and fidelity that has now been rewarded".
We congratulate the founders of InnoGames on the investment of the Swedish Modern Times Group. Our games expert Dr. Christian Rauda advised the deal in the area of trademark, media and IT law.
Dr. Christian Rauda explains in the Xethix Discourse why data protection is also in the interest of content providers.
Our summer party in Sankt Peter Ording. Sun, beach and beach buggy kiting. Thanks to the whole team for a sensational weekend.
"The power of data", we discussed this with other experts at gamescom in Cologne. Do we control the technology or does the technology control us?
Book review "Recht der E-Books und des Electronic Publishing" by Professor Dr. Jan Bernd Nordemann in MMR
Congratulations to our client Roccat for receiving the German Founders Award 2016
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte auf dem Bewerbertag Recht in Hamburg am 22. Juni 2016. Treffen Sie Anwälte unserer Kanzlei und informieren Sie sich über die Arbeitsbedingungen und Herausforderungen einer der führenden Medienrechtskanzleien.
For the fifth time, the Bucerius Law School Entrepreneurship Initiative is organizing the Bucerius Startup Compass Law together with the law firm GRAEF Rechtsanwälte.On June 1, 2016, this half-day workshop will highlight the legal challenges that startups face in the various phases of their market entry. Tickets are free of charge! Simply register at www.gruenderkompassrecht.de.
Cannes Film Festival 2016 has begun and we are happy to host again this years "Film Law & Financing Law" event at Plage Le Goeland on Sunday, May 15th.
Country updates from UK, Italy, France and Germany will be given by Wiggin LLP (UK), M&R Europe (Italy), turquoise (France) and GRAEF Rechtsanwälte (Germany).
The VG Wort ruling is causing considerable discussion in the book industry. Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef and Christoph Keese (Axel Springer SE) recommend the introduction of a European ancillary copyright at the Publishers' Forum in Berlin.
The sale of e-books and enhanced e-books is booming worldwide. The legal issues that arise are diverse and complex. Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef has published the first comprehensive guide to the law of e-books with Beck Verlag and, as an expert in this field, answers questions about publishing law, e-commerce, data protection law, tax law, and copyright, trademark, and competition law, among other things.
Exciting discussion on the BGH's VG Wort ruling at the Publishers' Forum in Berlin with Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte with the keynote at the event "Brand Integration in Film, TV and Web" by media.net Berlin, together with Sony Pictures Releasing, ProSiebenSat.1Media and UFA LAB.
A test for the rule of law, but a test that the rule of law will pass.
Our client Klonk wins the award for best game design. Congratulations!
The Hamburg Games Conference 2016 discussed new distribution channels and future technologies.
As part of a succession plan, the investment company Nord Holding has acquired Fritz Hiltl Hosenfabrik. The seller was the community of heirs of the former shareholder Hedwig Hiltl. For the Nord Holding transaction, the brothers brought in Schramm Meyer Kuhnke and Graef, additional boutiques that had been founded in recent years as spin-offs from larger units.
A marathon project at the finish line. Great film, great lead actress, great producers. Our thanks especially to the Anne Frank Fonds, Walid Nakschbandi and the co-poductor Universal Pictures.
Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef will give the keynote speech on the legal admissibility of product placement at the event "Brand Integration in Film, TV and Internet" on April 15, 2016.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte give a lecture on current legal issues concerning e-books at future!publish in Berlin.
GRAEF Rechtsanwälte is supporting the Beate Zschäpe TV docudrama "Letzte Ausfahrt Gera" in terms of film law and press law.
2015
What the Pippi Longstocking ruling by the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) means for trademark owners and the merchandising industry
In his regular media law column for manager magazin, Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef deals this time with the topic of "Hate Speech" and its limits of permissibility.
We look forward to further cooperation with the Erich Pommer Institut. In the continuing education program for the media industry, on October 12, 2015, Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef, together with the managing director of Ulysses Filmproduktion GmbH, will give a lecture on the topic of "The animated film - legal and economic particularities".
Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef im Interview zu Rechtsfragen rund um die Nutzung von Social Media: "Kann mein Arbeitgeber mir Social Media-Aktivitäten verbieten?"
Dr. Ralph Oliver Graef interviewed on legal issues surrounding copyright on the Internet: "How do I avoid digital copyright infringement?"
2014
On February 27, 2014, the annual Hamburg Games Conference took place for the fifth time in the auditorium of Bucerius Law School. It is organized by game:city Hamburg and the media law firm GRAEF Rechtsanwälte.
2013
2012
2011