Lawyer specializing in copyright law
Frankfurt am Main
I protect your creative works and defend your rights in Frankfurt am Main.
Copyright law in Frankfurt am Main – Why creative professionals need special protection
Frankfurt am Main, with approximately 756,000 inhabitants, is the fifth-largest city in Germany and the center of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main metropolitan region, which has around 5.9 million people. As an international financial center and a major media, advertising, and creative hub, Frankfurt unites innovative agencies, photographers, graphic designers, software developers, musicians, and content creators under one roof.
In this creative and economically dynamic environment, protecting your copyrighted works is crucial. Copyright law is a highly specialized field. Therefore, it is all the more important that you understand your rights regarding the protection of your works, as well as how to defend against unjustified claims of rights.
As a copyright lawyer, I support creatives, companies and private individuals in Frankfurt am Main with all copyright-related issues.
Your advantages with lawyer Anne-Kathrin Renz
Tailor-made advice
Never trust a mass-market approach to legal matters that doesn't address your case individually, because you certainly won't receive optimal advice.
Only with tailored advice and representation can the best possible results be achieved for you, which is why I focus on individual advice for my clients in my law firm.
Effective Expertise
Are you looking for results-oriented legal advice that will represent you quickly and effectively?
Then you've come to the right place at Renz Recht. I specialize in intellectual property law and IT law.
Competent. Transparent. Precise.
Strong successes
Do you want to operate successfully in the market in the long term? Choose legal advice that will provide you with dedicated and in-depth professional support in positioning your company for long-term sustainability and future security.
Let's be passionate about your cause and celebrate great successes together.
My consulting focus areas in copyright law
File sharing warnings in Frankfurt am Main
Have you received a cease and desist letter, a payment order, or a lawsuit for file sharing? Here's how to react correctly.
File sharing: What is it?
File sharing refers to activities on internet file-sharing networks where copyrighted files, such as audio files, videos, images, but also programs, books or other text documents, are distributed and exchanged.
Warning letter: What am I accused of?
The recipients of the copyright infringement notices are accused of distributing (i.e., uploading) copyrighted works via file-sharing software. It is further claimed that the copyright holder has incurred fictitious damages, which they are now supposed to pay. In addition, they are being asked to pay legal fees. The copyright holder claims these are necessary to enforce their rights.
How can I defend myself against a copyright infringement warning?
In file sharing matters, it always depends on the specific circumstances of the individual case.
In cease-and-desist cases, the terms "perpetrator" and "indirect liability" are always used. The perpetrator is the person who directly committed the copyright infringement. The indirect liability is that of someone who did not offer the data for download themselves, but enabled others to do so, for example, by violating their duty to provide information.
The infringer has a financial advantage: They are not liable for the damages claim, but are liable for legal and investigation costs. The infringer must also submit a cease-and-desist declaration.
„"The account holder is always the troublemaker!"“
Wrong! The internet connection owner is never automatically liable as an infringer. The connection owner is primarily the person from whom the copyright holder obtained the data. Therefore, the connection owner receives the cease-and-desist letter. However, the infringer is only liable if they have violated their obligations.
Whether a breach of duty has been committed depends on the individual circumstances. There is a wide range of case law on the following categories of cases:
- Adult family members access the Internet connection
- Minors access the Internet connection
- The account holder lives in a shared apartment (WG)
- Guests and visitors access the Internet connection
- The Wi-Fi was hacked.
- Tenants access the internet connection
- The subscriber operates a hotel or holiday apartment
- The subscriber operates an Internet café
Have you received a cease and desist letter for file sharing in Frankfurt am Main? Contact me immediately. The initial consultation is free.
Help with photo theft – protection for photographers in Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main is a major hub for the creative industries. Many photographers, designers, and content creators work here and showcase their work online. In the age of social media, no photographer can survive without advertising and presenting their work on the internet. Unfortunately, viewers of these beautifully designed portfolios and websites often perceive them as an invitation to exploit the content for their own purposes.
Photos are downloaded and used without a license or permission for websites, advertising personal products, or simply to enhance one's online presence. The fact that photographers earn their living by licensing photos is unfortunately overlooked.
Your rights in detail:
1. Injunction
If you discover that your photo is being used without permission, you can take legal action. You can first assert a cease-and-desist claim against the infringer. This can be enforced by issuing a warning letter, which will incur a fee. If no cease-and-desist declaration is issued, the claim can be enforced in court. This can also be done through summary proceedings.
2. Claim for damages
According to Section 97 (2) of the German Copyright Act (UrhG), the author is entitled to claim damages. There are various methods for calculating the amount. For example, the infringer's profits, lost profits, or a fictitious license may be claimed.
3. Right to information
In addition, the author is entitled to information from the infringer. This information is generally used to determine the amount of damages. The amount of damages is calculated depending on how often, over what period of time, and for what types of use a photo was used.
4. Who pays the lawyer?
In principle, the infringer is obligated to compensate the author for damages. This also includes the costs incurred by the author in pursuing his rights, namely the costs of issuing cease and desist letters.
Are you a photographer, designer, or content creator in Frankfurt am Main and your work has been used unlawfully? I can help you enforce your rights.
Copyright contract law: license and usage agreements
The person who creates a work cannot, of course, transfer their copyright, as the creator always remains the author. So how does that person receive appropriate compensation? Ideally, through a contractual agreement that, for example, regulates the rights of use to the work and the corresponding remuneration.
As a rule, the contract must contain a number of important elements and be drafted in such a way that there is as little room as possible for different interpretations by the contracting parties.
Important components are:
- Regulations on the scope of the transfer of rights
- Specification of the types of use
- Specification of restrictions of a content-related, spatial and temporal nature
- Regulations on the amount of remuneration
- Clarification of liability issues
Copyright law in Frankfurt am Main – industries I serve
The creative industries in Frankfurt am Main are diverse. My expertise in copyright law covers all economically relevant sectors:
- Photographers and photo agencies: Protection against photo theft, enforcement of license claims
- Graphic designers and agencies: Protection of designs, logos, illustrations
- Software developers and IT companies: Code protection, software solutions
- Content creator and influencer: Protection of videos, texts, and social media content
- Musicians and artists: Protection of musical works and compositions
- Publishers and media companies: Protection of texts and publications
- Advertising agencies: Protection of campaigns, creative concepts
- E-commerce companies: Defense against cease-and-desist letters for image use
About lawyer Anne-Kathrin Renz
As a lawyer specializing in intellectual property and IT law, I understand the importance of considering each case individually, rather than the increasing prevalence of mass-produced cases. Particularly in copyright law, a detailed case analysis is crucial for success.
Early in my career, I realized how important the protection of creative works is for economic success and developed a deep fascination for copyright law.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that a good piece of work is enough. However, legal protection is essential to benefit from it in the long term. It is my passion to help you connect your work with your personality and passion and protect it so that it will be successful for years to come.
My qualifications:
- Working as a consultant and as a litigator
- Extensive consulting experience in the field of new media
- Work in IT law, IT contract law
- Focus on eCommerce and Intellectual Property
- Certified data protection officer
- Long-standing experience as a lecturer in the field of IT law and intellectual property law
- Foreign languages: English, French
- Member of the GRUR
- Member of the IP-Coster-Network
The law firm Renz Recht has its main office in Saarbrücken and a branch office in Frankfurt am Main. From there, clients throughout Germany and beyond are advised.
Frequently Asked Questions – Copyright
What is the difference between liability as a perpetrator and liability as a disturber in file sharing?
The perpetrator is the person who directly committed the copyright infringement. An accessory is someone who enabled the infringement, for example, by neglecting their duty to provide instruction. An accessory is not liable for damages, but is liable for legal and investigative costs.
How quickly do I have to respond to a warning letter?
Copyright infringement notices usually contain very short deadlines. Contact me immediately – under no circumstances should you sign anything hastily! The initial consultation is free.
As a photographer, can I track my own images if they are used unlawfully?
Yes, you have rights to an injunction, damages, and disclosure. The costs of legal action are generally borne by the infringer. I will provide you with professional support in this matter.
How much does copyright advice cost?
The costs depend on the individual case and the amount in dispute. I would be happy to provide you with a transparent quote after a free initial consultation.
As the internet connection owner, am I always liable for file-sharing violations?
No! The internet connection owner is never automatically liable. It depends on the specific circumstances, such as whether there was a breach of the duty to inform other users.
Can I transfer usage rights to my works?
Copyright itself cannot be transferred – you always remain the copyright holder. However, you can grant usage rights contractually and demand compensation for them.
What should I do if I receive a cease and desist letter regarding a photo I purchased from an image database?
First, check your license agreement. Sometimes there's no copyright infringement, sometimes the terms of service have been violated. I'll analyze your case and develop the optimal defense strategy.
Copyright lawyer in Frankfurt am Main – Your partner for the protection of creative works
Frankfurt am Main is a major hub for the creative industries, characterized by high dynamism and international competition. Those who want to succeed here need more than just good ideas – they need legal certainty and a partner who consistently represents their interests.
As your copyright lawyer, I offer you individual advice, sound expertise and the unconditional will to protect your works and enforce your rights.
Let's work together for your success.
Request legal advice now!
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