Intellectual & Industrial Property - Entertainment Law

COPYRIGHT – TRADEMARK/DESIGNS – PATENTS

Our firm is considered a top tier firm in Intellectual and Industrial property and TMT by all reputable legal guides such as Legal 500, Chambers, IAM Patent 1000, Media Law International, Managing IP, etc. The firm is also recognized among the overall Top 20 Law Firms in Greece by “Top Ranked Legal”, which especially recognized the firm in its areas of expertise, including IP (Top ranked), TMT, Patents, Dispute Resolution and White-Collar Crime.  Recent evaluations recognize our experience both in Greece and abroad in the law of copyrights, patents, trademarks, designs, models and other intellectual property rights both in consultancy and litigation.

Agis Metaxopoulos, founder of the practice, was a pioneer of IP rights protection in Greece and was also referred to by his peers as “The Dean” of IP lawyers for many years. In our 65 years of expertise the firm handled a vast variety of cases in many industry sectors, by representing key international and domestic clients.

Kriton Metaxopoulos, LLM graduate of London School of Economics (1986) soon after he joined the Firm, became a point of reference in IP Law and has been recognized by his peers as the leading IP lawyer in Greece  He built his international reputation by representing major US Film Studios, record companies  and MPAA (having also served as a BoD member of Warner Music for more than 20 years) as well as Greek and foreign clients in complex litigation matters of corporate and IP/Patent/Trademark laws. He also coordinated the defense of a Greek DVD factory before the German Supreme Court in a case of patent infringement. The 40 million euro dispute ended with a favorable for our clients’ decision, since the German Supreme Court rejected the plaintiff’s claims.

Kriton Metaxopoulos’ unique expertise and reputation led once again to his recognition as leading individual by both Chambers Europe and The Legal 500 EMEA in TMT and Dispute Resolution, by WTR 1000 as a leading Trademark Individual as well as by Managing IP, as Individual IP Star for Patent and Trademark. Irini Daroussou is also recognized as a leading expert in IP and TMT, along with our Trademark expert Marilena Nikolaraki and our TMT expert Asterios Syssilas. Kriton Metaxopoulos, Irini Daroussou and Asterios Syssilas are also ranked as leading experts by Best Lawyers.

Irini Daroussou, is the acting IP Partner of the Firm. Her reputation also exceeds local borders as she is internationally recognized for her impeccable knowledge of IP law and excellent analytical skills. According to a European research conducted by Euromoney Media Group, our firm’s partner Irini Daroussou is considered one of the best 5 women lawyers in copyright and the only Greek lawyer for Intellectual and Industrial Property.

The firm is the only Greek member of the International Lawyers Network (ILN) and of the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA), a global network of law firms with expertise in advertising and media law issues. In view of its GALA membership, foreign major corporations often assign to the firm to review their commercials and request “clearance” for advertising directed to the Greek market. The firm provides detailed contributions regarding the Greek legal framework to various International ILN and GALA Publications (Books and handouts) concerning:  Advertising Law, Privacy Law, Alcohol Advertising, Sweepstakes and Contests, Social Media, Green Marketing, Ambush Marketing, Plain Packaging and Covid developments on advertising and other areas of law.

Members of IP Department:

Kriton Metaxopoulos, Managing Partner
Irini Daroussou, Partner
Marilena Nikolaraki, Salaried Partner
Elena Nikolarea, Associate

COPYRIGHT

Representative Cases:

SOFTWARE PROTECTION
Our firm represents a major software company which incurred losses of millions of dollars due to illegal distribution of a pirated PC programme which is used in various manufacturing industries. Working closely with the police, the firm completed the difficult task of identifying and then having the leaders of this network arrested by the authorities. The same software company is represented by our firm in all copyright infringement claims against several companies in the Greek market.

ROYALTY FREE MUSIC – IN STORE BACKGROUND MUSIC – GREECE
One of the most renowned international providers of the so-called “non-copyright music” has entrusted, since 2014, to our firm the handling of all their IP related matters initially in Greece and since 2015 also in all European countries (such as Malta, Estonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania etc) and Mr. Kriton Metaxopoulos was appointed as their “Counsel for European IP matters”.

AUDIOVISUAL CENSORSHIP
The firm has also successfully represented US studios and Greek distribution companies in relation to distribution of the films Alexander and the Da Vinci Code on the Greek cinema market.

FILMING IN GREECE
Our firm advised a major US production company in relation to the filming in Greece of the famous US reality TV program broadcasted on US cable network.

AUTHORS – ARTISTS REPRESENTATION
We have represented world known Greek composers, authors and performers such as Maria Callas estate, Theo Aggelopoulos, Irini Pappa, Yannis Christou, Yannis Markopoulos, Nikos Koundoros and others.

COPYRIGHT AND COMPETITION COMMITEE
We represented 1.000 Greek Authors (lyricists, composers) in an antitrust case before the Greek Competition Committee in favor of AEPI, the Greek Collecting Society for Authors and Composers.

RADIO STATIONS – COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT SOCIETIES
The firm acted as legal consultant, strategic consultant and litigator for a number of radio stations in their dispute with Greek neighboring rights collective management o rganizations in relation to the payment of “equitable” remuneration for neighboring rights.

ANTIPIRACY IN THE INTERNET
We also assist a major Greek company which is the copyright holder of foreign tv series on Antipiracy issues, drafting penal complaints for copyright infringements via the internet.

DUBBING SERVICES
We advised a world-leading film production company, WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT, regarding issues of intellectual property rights and collective management under Greek Copyright Law, regarding Dubbing Services.

EQUITABLE REMUNERATION – MUSIC RIGHTS
We represent a group of foreign and Greek music publishers and sub-publishers in relation to their right to receive an equitable remuneration from the Greek Collecting Society for Neighbouring Rights of Music Producers for the TV and Radio broadcasting of their works.

GREEK MUSIC LIBRARIES – COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT SOCIETIES
We also represent the unofficial Union/Alliance of Greek music publishers and sub-publishers /music content providers (hereinafter Music Libraries), in their dispute regarding in-store music against the Greek Collective Management Organization for Neighboring Rights in Music “GEA”. Our basic legal defence is that Greek law only introduces a presumption of representation in favour of CMOs but not a mandatory assignment of the equitable remuneration rights (article 49 of Greek Law 2121/1993) to the CMO. CMOs can only represent performers and producers that have assigned to it the right to collect the equitable remuneration on their behalf. Our position was recently upheld by a decision of the First Instance Court of Athens.

MANAGEMENT OF COPYRIGTHS – ATHENS CONCERT HALL
Our firm continues to represent the heirs of Jani Christou, one of the most important (classic) composers of the 20th century in Europe.
In the context of this representation, we have reached a settlement agreement with a well-known record company which has released CDs containing some previously not published works of Jani Christou.
We have also represented the heirs in relation to the preservation of the works of Jani Christou by the Greek Cultural Organization. We have also negotiated with the Athens Concert Hall (Megaro Mousikis) and also the Athens Conservatoire, for the conclusion of a sophisticated contract for the collection, presentation, digitalization and preservation of the Jani Christou Archives for cultural purposes.
We also advised our clients in relation to the conclusion of an agreement with Athens State Orchestra for the performance of a concert in honor of the music composer.

MARIA CALLAS LIVE RECORDINGS
We represent since 1999 the Italian company and its successors which was the first to legitimately release worldwide legendary live recordings of the famous Soprano Maria Callas, with the consent and written approval of the Maria Callas Estate. All these recordings were released by Diva Srl in CDs worldwide before 2000. Through a carefully drawn strategy and court disputes that have lasted for some years, our client was recognised by the competent Courts of Milan as the legitimate producer and owner of the neighbouring rights over these live recordings of Maria Callas.
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/02/international/european-copyrights-expiring-on-recordings-from-1950s.html

LEADING GREEK PUBLISHER – COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
We represent for many years a major Greek Publishing House “Psichogios Publications” (e.g. publisher of many well-known Greek and foreign authors as well as the publisher of the Greek version of the Harry Potter and the Hunger Games book series, among many others) in relation to all legal matters pertaining mostly to Intellectual and Industrial Property law, as well as regarding Personal Data Protection issues.
Our client, to which we have been providing legal support and advice on a variety of legal issues for many years, is a major and one of the most well-known Greek publishing houses. In addition, in the important copyright dispute which we handle against another known Greek publishing house, we have already achieved to obtain favorable interim Court decisions.

SOFTWARE PROTECTION
Our client is a world leader in the software creation market and the author and producer, among others, of a software program which is believed to be the most recognized and advanced program worldwide for three-dimensional designs. We represent the client in all cases of infringement of their copyrights in Greece.

AWARD WINNING FILM– FILM COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
Our firm (Kriton Metaxopoulos, Irini Daroussou) represents a producer of audiovisual and musical works, in a long-lasting dispute regarding the exploitation rights of an historical and very popular Greek film, called “Rebetiko”. The case is now pending for a decision before the Court of Appeals following a legal battle for more than 10 years and a favorable Supreme Court decision on legal grounds. The Court of Appeal issued in 2023 its final decision and rejected the claim against our client.

DOMAIN NAME – COPYRIGHT
Our client, a major rent-a-car company, is the owner of several EUTMs that were infringed by a Greek legal entity. The infringer used our client’s registered trademark as a company name and distinctive title, and also as a domain name. We managed to have the infringer change its company name and distinctive title and also transfer the domain name to our client.

DOMAIN NAME – PROTECTION
Our client has tried to register the domain name SHOPIFY.GR but found it was unavailable, as it was already registered by some other person, not related to our client. We have filed a complaint before the Hellenic post and telecommunications commission asking that the domain name SHOPIFY.GR is transferred to our client. A favourable decision for our client has already been issued.

RUSSIAN DOCK YARD – ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS
Our client’s predecessor, purchased a historical monument in Poros (Troizina), and more particularly the “Russian Dock Yard” in order to renovate it and exploit it both as a hotel and a museum. He nevertheless was accused for copyright infringement. We represented the client before the Supreme Court, requesting the annulment of the appeal’s court decision in all its chapters as being legally defective and contrary to Greek law. The Supreme Court ruled that the decision of the Appeals Court was erroneous since it infringed the rules concerning a fair trial, and as a result, the case was referred back for further examination before the Appeals Court. By virtue of its decision issued in December 2018, the Appeals Court finally rejected the lawsuit of Mrs. M., having accepted our main argumentation that the parts of the postgraduate thesis of the plaintiff used by Mr. DS do not constitute “original copyrighted work” since they included data and technical information (measurements of the surface of the monument etc.) which do not fall under the protective provisions of Greek Copyright Law.

PRIVATE COPY LEVY – CHINESE LEADER OF IT EQUIPMENT
Our law firm was entrusted by the Chinese hi-tech leader Corporation to represent its Greek branch against the claims of the local Collecting Societies in relation to private copy levy over smartphones.

NETFLIX SERIES – PRODUCTION IN GREECE
We have provided legal services on a major production company producing a program for Netflix called “Inside The World’s Toughest Prisons”.

WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING COMPANY – COPYRIGHTS PROTECTION
Our client, a leading worldwide publisher of collectibles, magazines, etc., has concluded licence agreements with the world’s most famous football (soccer) clubs in order to publish stickers and other collectibles incorporating the football clubs’ trademarks, emblems and other distinctive signs. Recent cases which had been brought against various infringers following legal actions of our law firm, are currently pending before the Greek Penal Courts.

COPYRIGHT – REALITY SHOWS – GREECE
We represented an independent production company established in UK which filmed a reality TV show in a Greek island. Our firm provided a wide range of legal consulting services to the client while the reality show was filmed.

TRADEMARKS – DESIGNS

We have vast experience in TM and Patents and we provide our support in trademark law to a vast number of foreign and domestic clients for filing TM’s and Patents in Greece and the E.U. We represent clients in the pharmaceutical industry, food industry, tobacco industry, sports, clothing and apparel, advertising agencies, broadcasting and publishing companies etc.

Representative cases:

FILING OF TMs
We represent many foreign corporate clients, holders of Community Designs, in cases of infringement on behalf of Greek entities.

PUBLISHING COMPANY – TM COPYRIGHTS PROTECTION
For the past years, we have been representing in Greece a major multi-national publishing group of companies. More specifically, we have been handling cases of anti-piracy, aiming to protect our client’s rights and interests by attacking pirates putting on the Greek market products of the same category/nature as the ones produced by our client, but without any license whatsoever.

PROTECTION OF EU TMs
We recently represented manufacturing and trading Italian and British companies in their disputes with infringers who released in the Greek market products illegally incorporating the Community Designs of our clients.

WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING COMPANY – COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
Our client, a leading worldwide publisher of collectibles, magazines, etc., has concluded licence agreements with the world’s most famous football (soccer) clubs in order to publish stickers and other collectibles incorporating the football clubs’ trademarks, emblems and other distinctive signs.

FASHION TV– TV CHANNEL – TM INFRINGEMENT
A leading specialty TV channel broadcasting programs related to fashion, design, art, etc all over the world (including Greece) has trusted us to handle a complex trademark infringement litigation.

INTERNET PIRACY
Our client, a Greek company actively involved- among other things- in the licensing of foreign television series has entrusted us to handle the illegal uploading of its series to Pirate bay and other file sharing websites . We successfully represented the client and the case received wide publicity.

TRADEMARK LITIGATION
We represented a Greek legal entity which operates in the field of coffee, chocolate and nut delicacies in a dispute against a famous brand owner in the same field. Our clients’ trademark registration has been opposed by the well-known Group of companies CARPO, operating in the same field in Greece and in the UK (Carpo Holdings UK LTD).

PATENTS

Representative cases:

GENERIC PHARMACEUTICAL
We have advised a leading international generic pharmaceutical company during the marketing of a generic anticancer pharmaceutical product in Greece.

GENERIC DRUGS
A major pharmaceutical company has asked us to provide legal opinion in respect of the possible circulation in the Greek market of a competing generic drug.

PATENTS – INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO COMPANY
We represent a multinational cigarette and tobacco company, which is the largest publicly traded tobacco company in the world, in protecting its industrial property rights in Greece against another major multinational cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company, as part of their global dispute related to next-generation “heat-non-burn” tobacco products/devices, which are considered key to the tobacco industry worldwide.

“A” BIOPHARMACEUTICALS
Our law firm represented a major American multinational biopharmaceutical company in protecting its industrial property rights (patents and additional exclusivity rights), against Greek and foreign companies seeking to market generic versions of our client’s products in Greece.

PHARMACEUTICAL PATENTS – GENERIC DRUGS
Our clients, members of a renowned Global Leading Pharmaceutical Group of Companies, instructed us to handle the “Greek part” of a pharmaceutical patent dispute pending in many European countries and related to an important bio-similar pharmaceutical product.

DVD PATENT DISPUTE
Our firm successfully represented Digital Press Hellas, a major DVD replicator, in its dispute with Philips over DVD production patent royalties. The dispute involved Court proceedings in Germany and in Greece. In both jurisdictions the claims against Digital Press Hellas were rejected by Supreme Court decisions on legal grounds.