Software law and IT

Legal questions relating to all aspects of trademarks, competition and copyright protection play a significant role in the areas of information technology and the internet. The know-how we have acquired over the years in the classical IP disciplines is complemented by our high expertise in connection with new technologies. We advise and represent our clients in the following areas, among others:

• Software and hardware: We provide assistance in the drafting of licensing agreements and delivery contacts. 
• Domain names: We give advice on the registration of domains and assist in the development and management of domain portfolios. 
• Internet enforcement

We enforce rights in trademark names with respect to unauthorized third parties both in infringement proceedings and in all relevant arbitration proceedings. These in particular include the following: 

a) The most frequent ADR proceedings for domain names is the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). These UDRP proceedings are used in many second-level domain names under the generic top-level domain names (gTLDs) such as: ".aero", ".asia", ".biz", ".cat", ".com", ".coop", ".info", ".jobs", ".mobi", ".museum", ".name", ".net", ".org", ".pro", ".tel" and "travel".  The URDP is also prescribed as the ADR proceedings for all new top-level domain names (new gTLDs). 
WIPO's UDRP proceedings do not, however, only apply to generic domains; they also apply to a further 72 ccTLDs. 

b) There are a number of further ARD proceedings in addition to the UDRP which have been introduced by allocation bodies and other institutions for the respective ccTLDs, including

• the usTLD Dispute Resolution Policy (usDRP) for domain names under the US ccTLD ".us"; 
• the IN Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (INDRP) for domain registrations under the Indian ccTLD ".in", 
• the Dispute Resolution Service Policy for .uk (DRS Policy) for domains under the British ccTLD ".uk"; and 

The regulation (EC) No. 874/2004 "laying down public policy rules concerning the implementation and functions of the Top Level Domain ".eu" and the principles governing registration for domain names under the European ccTLD ".eu". 
We carry out these proceedings ourselves or through our network. 

c) We can provide for the top-level domains (new gTLDs):

• Legal Rights Objections
• Proceedings under the Uniform Rapid Suspension System (URS)
• Filing your trademarks in the Trademark Clearing House

d) We offer DMCA Notifications for Content Monitoring. Online platforms such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Yahoo, eBay, etc. are not responsible for infringements on their platforms, but must respond if they have been made aware of the infringement in the form of a DMCA Notification. This notification has to be given while observing specific formalities, which we will be pleased to do for you. 

e) We can also offer the services of our network, which has proven its value over many decades, for proceedings against ccTLDs not covered by the WIPO UDRP procedure.