Intellectual Property

Our experts in intellectual property law will protect your ideas and innovations

Top intellectual property law firm

Our IP team is at the forefront of technological change and understands the notion of ever-increasing competition; meaning you receive up-to-date services in line with the latest developments. Our experts in intellectual property law can advise you on the full range of IP matters. We offer advice on digital IP law and in the classical offline sector as well for the comprehensive protection of your IP rights portfolio. The team’s sectoral expertise spans a wide range of industries. Whether you are a multinational corporation or a smaller but highly specialised company, we act as a business partner to our clients in developing tailored legal solutions in contentious and non-contentious matters.

Key experts

All team members

“The team provides quick and pragmatic advice and is capable of dealing with highly complex IT and IP matters and is highly recommended for both national and international projects.”
– The Legal 500

“Clients describe the team as ‘very efficient with high competencies.’ Another client enthuses: “We rely on the great experience of the department and we would like to underline the specialisation of the team in the digital market.”
– Chambers Europe

What makes our team the best intellectual property law firm for you?

Our regional, integrated firm offers distinct advantages, spanning the full spectrum of legal services.

An established international law firm with 60+ years of experience in Austria and CEE/SEE
A fully integrated, single team of 340 locally-qualified lawyers in 13 countries and offices
Collaboration and innovation across multidisciplinary teams and offices
Excellent client satisfaction – responsive, client-oriented, and consistent
Experience with complex and cross-border matters covering the full spectrum of legal services
Knowledge and expertise to add value to deals across industries

Leading the legal field

Our lawyers are involved in key transactions and matters across the region, bringing their industry expertise and specialised business knowledge to add value to our clients’ work.

Provided regulatory advice for global media company

Handled 300+ trademarks for personal care company

Represented major video sharing platform in copyright law infringement case

Advised major shoe brand on IP rights portfolio management

Covering trademark law, copyright law, patents, unfair competition & intellectual property litigation

Success for major video platform

Our team represented YouTube in Austria and before the CJEU in a landmark case against copyright infringement claims brought up by Austrian private broadcaster Puls4 TV requesting that YouTube refrains from uploading and monetising videos from their television programmes.

Lawsuit rejected

The Austrian Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit based on the CJEU rulings on identical cases.

Patent infringement claim

We advised the European Central Bank with respect to national patent invalidity proceedings at the Austrian Patent Office as part of a cross-border patent litigation in various European jurisdictions. The Austrian Patent Office agreed with our arguments and declared the patent in the suit null and void. This decision was ultimately confirmed by the Austrian Supreme Patent and Trademark Senate.

Trade secret for life sciences company

Our team advised and represented a leading international manufacturer of medical devices in court proceedings on the alleged exploitation and appropriation of trade secrets through one of its competitors in Austria under the Unfair Competition Act.

Trademark protection application for major retailer

Our team advised OBI, the biggest DIY retailer in Austria, on a trademark protection application before the Austrian Patent Office for the colour ‘orange’.

What others say about us

“The team is easily approachable, quick in responding and provides sharp practical advice. The team has a good understanding of the company’s business and focus and is therefore able to provide valuable legal guidance.”
– The Legal 500

“A client praises the team’s pragmatism: ‘We are so pleased with the IP practice at Wolf Theiss because they give us no abstract recommendations, but always have the practical effects and implementations in mind.’ Another client confirms that the ‘lawyers not only have an analytical approach to legal issues but also have the capability to provide hands-on solutions which take into account the specific needs of our company and business field.’”
– Chambers Europe

“One client states: ‘The cooperation is very smooth; the team at Wolf Theiss knows what is important to us and their advice is therefore on point and practically effective.’”
– Chambers Europe

“The geographical scope (Austria and CEE) of this firm combined with a high level of quality lawyers makes this law firm our preferred partner.”
“A big advantage of Wolf Theiss is that this law firm delivers the same high level of service in all its locations, and we can therefore be sure that we get the same high quality from Wolf Theiss everywhere.”
– The Legal 500

Areas of specialisation

Trademarks

Trademarks are essential to keep your business stable and innovative. Our law firm, which has a strong practice in trademark and unfair competition, is used to handling ground-breaking cases relating to trademark, including specialised cases such as trademarks for colour and 3D trademarks. We offer you trademark portfolio management (including prosecution, clearance and monitoring services), protection and strategy, litigation before courts and patent offices, and anti-counterfeiting and M&A related to trademarks, all throughout the CEE/SEE region.

Patents

Wolf Theiss knows patents, inside and out. Our work as a patents law firm covers all aspects of patent law with a focus on litigation, but also includes acquisitions, licensing and transfers of patents as well as dispute resolution services, with a particular focus on infringement proceedings, preliminary injunctions and entitlement issues.

You can trust us for a sound opinion on patent validity and infringement and advice on employee inventions, pledge agreements on patents and utility models in M&A transactions.

Copyrights

Whether offline or online, your copyright is your copyright. We have experience in devising and advising on copyright protection in relation to copyright law for music, books, images, film and TV as well as computer software, online media, NFT and logo copyright law. If you come across a song or story that reminds you just a bit too much of your own work, we can advise you on copyright infringement proceedings, even in complex cross-border cases.

Unfair competition

Keeping your business competitive means ensuring a level playing field. We can advise you on matters such as misleading and comparative advertisements, fair and unfair competition, sole position advertisements, misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information and other unfair business practices. Our clients come from traditional sectors such as retail but also include life sciences and pharma, software companies and clients from new media.

Intellectual property litigation

You want to protect the creative output of your business at all costs. We can represent you in all types of intellectual property claims, including contract disputes and unfair business practices. Our law firm, which has a strong practice in international intellectual property law, also has particular expertise in handling all aspects of patent litigation.

If necessary, we don’t shy from more heated disputes over issues such as ownership rights and personal rights protection in the media. You benefit from our full range of dispute resolution services including arbitration and other alternatives.