Successful

against infringement of

Trademarks.

Trademark infringements cause immense damage to trademark owners! Our team of experienced trademark attorneys will fight trademark infringements for you efficiently and consistently.

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Trademark infringement

Markenrechtsverletzungen können die Marktposition eines Unternehmens erheblich beeinträchtigen und zu hohen wirtschaftlichen Einbußen führen. Sie schädigen Inhaber von Markenrechten sowie Verbraucher, die in die Irre geführt werden können. Die rechtswidrige Nutzung verursacht erhebliche Schäden, z.B. in Form von Gewinn- und Umsatzeinbußen des Markeninhabers der. Dabei geht es nicht nur um Fälle von Produkt- und Markenpiraterie, sondern auch um Trittbrettfahrer, die durch die Nutzung von verwechslungsfähigen Marken sich an andere Marken zu Unrecht anlehnen und so von dieser unberechtigt mit profitieren. Um zu verhindern, dass sich andere einen unzulässigen Vorteil durch die Verletzung Ihrer Marke verschaffen, ist es ratsam, aktiv vorzugehen.

Markeninhaber können und sollten im Interesse der Aufrechterhaltung des eigenen Markenschutzes gegen rechtswidrige Eingriffe in die eigne Marke konsequent vorgehen. Das Gesetz bietet hier vielfältige Möglichkeiten die eigenen Markenrechte zu verteidigen. Dies beginnt bereits mit einer Markenüberwachung, um frühzeitig gegen zu ähnliche Marken durch Widersprüche vorgehen zu können.

Bei Markenrechtsverletzungen durch rechtsverletzende Produkte oder Dienstleistungen geht man dann meist mittels einer markenrechtlichen Abmahnung vor. Falls nötig, werden in der Folge Gerichte eingeschaltet, z.B. mittels einstweiliger Verfügung oder Klage. Bei Fällen von Markenpiraterie werden normalerweise umgehend gerichtliche Schritte um die Täter mit der Abmahnung nicht vorzuwarnen. Hier können auch Polizei und die Zollbehörden eingesetzt werden, um Fälschungen zu beschlagnahmen.

Cross-border cases

Infringers are often based abroad. However, they frequently also commit infringements in Germany, e.g. because they offer infringing goods for delivery to Germany or their advertising is (also) aimed at consumers or business customers in Germany. An exhibition at a German trade fair or transportation through Germany can also be a starting point in Germany for enforcing trademark claims before German courts.

Enforcement in Germany has many advantages, e.g. a claim for reimbursement of costs already for the cease and desist letter and comparatively fast and inexpensive court proceedings.

In the absence of a domestic connection or in the event of infringements in several countries, we have been working successfully with trademark attorneys worldwide for many years to enforce claims abroad.

Trademark claims

Claims under trademark law can be asserted by the trademark owner or (with the consent of the trademark owner) also by licensees. In principle, the trademark owner is entitled to the following claims in the event of a trademark infringement:

Injunctive relief:
Injunctive relief serves to effectively prevent further acts of infringement. The infringer must refrain from any future use of the trademark (or signs that could be confused with it). This claim is fulfilled out of court by submitting a cease-and-desist declaration with a penalty clause.
Removal claim:
The removal claim serves to eliminate existing infringements of rights or their consequences. The infringer must ensure that the infringement is remedied, e.g. by removing infringing advertising or recalling and destroying infringing goods.
Claim for damages:
With the claim for damages, the trademark owner can assert their damages due to the trademark infringement. The damages can be calculated in various ways, e.g. loss of profit, a reasonable license fee or the infringer’s profit. The damages for an average trademark by way of license analogy are usually between 1-5% of net sales.
Information and accounting claims:
The right to information and accounting serves to determine and quantify damages and provide information about suppliers and customers who may have committed infringements. The infringer must provide detailed information on the type, scope, duration, turnover and profit resulting from the infringement and render accounts. The infringer is obliged to provide supporting documents such as invoices, delivery bills and orders so that the information can be verified.
Destruction and recall claims:
The infringer must ensure that no further trademark infringements take place and must therefore recall and destroy the products and advertising materials from the distribution channels if this is necessary to stop the trademark infringement.
Kostenerstattung der Abmahnung:
Der Kostenerstattungsanspruch dient der Entlastung des Markeninhabers, der gegen einen Verletzer seiner Rechte vorgeht, indem er im Falle einer berechtigten Abmahnungdie damit verbundenen Kosten (z.B. Anwaltskosten, Testkaufkosten) vom Verletzer erstattet verlangen kann.

How we enforce trademark claims

We check whether and to what extent the infringer is violating trademark rights. We investigate possible further infringements and document the infringements. We then develop targeted strategies to take swift and effective action against the infringement. We also consider whether customs and criminal law measures may be appropriate. Our law firm offers you a range of services specially tailored to the prosecution of trademark infringements:

Examination and analysis:
We carefully examine whether and to what extent your trademark is being infringed and whether the opponent has possible laws of his own that could prevent prosecution.
Strategic advice:
We advise you on the best possible and most economically sensible strategy to take action against the trademark infringement.
Documentation and preservation of evidence:
We document the identified violations in a court of law as a basis for successful legal enforcement.
Preparation and dispatch of cease and desist letters:
As a rule, we first issue a cease and desist letter under trademark law, in which we request the infringer to cease and desist from infringing the trademark rights. The cease and desist letter regularly asserts claims for injunctive relief, information, damages, destruction and recall and reimbursement of the cease and desist letter costs. The trademark cease and desist letter serves as a first step towards out-of-court clarification and enables the cease and desist letter recipient to avoid court proceedings by submitting a cease and desist letter with a penalty clause and fulfilling the other claims.
Initiation of legal action:
If the cease and desist letter is not responded to adequately or in cases of counterfeiting, we will quickly initiate legal action – be it through an injunction or a lawsuit – in order to consistently enforce your trademark claims.
Enforcement of claims for injunctive relief:
If an opponent repeatedly infringes, even though he has already undertaken to cease and desist or has been ordered to do so, we will enforce claims for contractual penalties or administrative remedies on your behalf in order to stop the infringement once and for all.

Our expertise – your advantage

Our law firm has many years of experience in the prosecution of trademark infringements, both against infringers based in Germany and abroad. Our specialized attorneys combine sound legal expertise with practice-oriented strategies to successfully pursue even complex infringement cases with a holistic approach. You benefit from:

Legal expertise:
Regular training and an intensive exchange within our professional network ensure that we are always informed about the latest developments in trademark law.
Experience before courts nationwide:
We have successfully represented our clients before EU trademark and trade mark courts for many years and also work with customs authorities. We therefore have a wealth of experience of court practice and the approach of authorities.
International network:
We have a strong international network and work with law firms worldwide to successfully enforce our clients’ laws, even in cases of cross-border or purely foreign-related infringements.
Individual support:
We provide you with individual support and develop customized solutions that are precisely tailored to your needs and specific requirements.
Success-oriented action:
Our aim is to enforce your claims quickly and sustainably and to stop trademark infringements consistently and definitively.