Dr. Martin Schaeffer

Dr. jur. Martin Schaefer works primarily in the field of intellectual property, including copyright contract law. He is especially active in the fields of music, literature, visual arts, science, software, and games. Music industry matters and collective and individual administration of rights form a key part of his work. This includes, in particular, the law concerning collecting societies (e.g. in GEMA and ZPÜ matters) and agencies. He also frequently advises on matters involving provider liability, privacy law (data protection), electronic media law, and trademark law. Martin Schaefer advises and represents numerous companies and associations from the media and music industry on developing industrial property rights strategies. He represents his clients in court and before the arbitration panel for copyright matters. He also advises them on how to protect their interests in copyright policy, as well as on the development of pioneering projects related to intellectual property law. Martin Schaefer is a member of the advisory board of the German Music Archive at the German National Library, an elected member of the board of ALAI Germany and an elected member of GRUR’s Copyright Committee. He is co-chairman of the International Chapter of the Copyright Society, a lecturer at MIPLC and a senior trustee of the Karl Foerster Foundation. Martin Schaefer is also co-author of the copyright commentary “Fromm/Nordemann,” “Wandtke/Bullinger: Praxiskommentar zum Urheberrecht” and “Moser/Scheuermann: Handbuch der Musikwirtschaft”. He is also the author or co-author of various monographs and numerous articles, especially on copyright issues. The JUVE Handbuch Wirtschaftskanzleien 2021/22 (JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms 2021/22) lists him as a renowned attorney for copyright advice, showing his skill in both political and strategic issues. Dr. Martin Schaefer is also highlighted as a “leading attorney” for the legal field of intellectual property in the Kanzleimonitor 2021/22 and the trade magazine WirtschaftsWoche names him “TOP Anwalt 2021” (TOP attorney 2021) in the copyright law category in its current ranking.