Jan Ehlers
Tel.: +49-40-8222699-63
jehlers@g-s-legal.com
His work primarily includes the out-of-court and in-court enforcement of claims on behalf of national and international photographers, musicians and merchandising companies. His opponents usually include re-commerce retailers, well-known wholesale and retail companies as well as providers of streaming services both nationally and internationally.
He began to specialize in industrial property protection (IP/IT) while training and now has at his disposal long-standing experience in all “green area” sectors, specifically in trademark law, competition law as well as copyright and media law.
While a research assistant at Greifswald University, he contributed to work on the textbook ‘Unfair Competition’ by Prof. Dr. Axel Beater.
Jan Ehlers is a member of the German Association for Industrial Property and Copyright (GRUR) and the Hamburg Copyright and Media Lawyers’ Working Group.
From 1999: studied law at EMAU Greifswald, major: competition law, anti-trust law and intellectual property rights
2006: first state legal examination (distinction)
From 2006: traineeship, Hanseatic Higher Regional Court (OLG) of Hamburg
2008 second state legal examination
From 2009: research assistant of Prof. Dr. Axel Beater, Chair of Civil Law, Commercial Law and Media Law
End of 2016: successful completion of specialist lawyer training course in copyright and media law
March 2019: certified specialist lawyer for copyright- and media-law (Fachanwalt für Urheber- und Medienrecht)
German, English
Dr. Stefan Ellenberg
Tel.: +49-40-8222699-56
sellenberg@g-s-legal.com
Dr. Ellenberg started to specialize in the media industry during his trainee ship. He has completed internships and held stages in the legal departments of a number of different media companies and held the position of research assistant at a legal firm specializing in copyright law. Dr. Ellenberg began his career in 2008 as the Business & Legal Affairs Manager within the listed Edel AG Group.
Dr. Ellenberg represents national and international clients in copyright-, trademark- and personality rights-related affairs both in and out of court.
Dr. Ellenberg primarily advises his clients in connection with the protection and commercial exploitation of creative content and trademarks. This could involve the drafting/examining of a copyright assignment contract, author’s agreement or production services agreements or, equally, overall legal support in trademark and license theme development, including rights acquisition and subsequent utilization domestically and internationally. Thanks to his profound industry knowledge in the fields of music (labels), books, film and merchandising licenses, Dr. Ellenberg has become an expert at finding legally-sound and financially-optimized solutions for his clients.
In 2012 Dr. Ellenberg received his doctorate in law (Dr. jur.) from the University of Hamburg. He is a member of the German Association for Industrial Property and Copyright and the Hamburg Copyright and Media Lawyers’ Working Group.
December 2019: certified specialist lawyer for intellectual property rigths (Fachanwalt für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz)
German, English
Dr. Hans Martin Gutsch
Tel.: +49-40-8222699-76
hmgutsch@g-s-legal.com
His core focus is on providing clients from all sectors of the creative and entertainment industry with comprehensive consultation and guidance. He specializes in copyright, publishing and license law and represents a diverse range of individuals and companies active in this field, as well as parties from outwith the sector that want to acquire and use rights
He also has at his disposal long-standing experience in corporate law and assists his clients in all affairs related to this area of law, from setting up a company right through to its liquidation. His skills are especially sought after in corporate transactions where rights constitute a substantial proportion of the assets of the company to be sold.
His clients include numerous artists such as Saxon, Claptone, Revolverheld, Stanfour, Itchy and Julia Engelmann, authors like Markus Heitz, listed media companies like Edel AG (music, book) und die Splendid Medien AG (movies), as well as its subsidiaries, both national and international music labels like lay It Again Samoder Starwatch Entertainment and start-ups such as Foodboom.
Dr. Gutsch is curator of the Wacken Foundation and a member of the advisory board of Foodboom.
1983-1989: studied law at the University of Göttingen and the University of North Carolina
1993: doctorate in law (Dr. jur.) at the University of Passau
1995: second state legal examination
From 1995: Head of the Legal Department of records GmbH
From 1998: Member of the board of Edel AG
German, English
“Die Rechtsstellung der Postbank im nationalen und internationalen Bankenwettbewerb” (“The legal status of the postal bank service in national and international banking competition”), Studien zum Bank- und Börsenrecht, Nomos Verlag Baden-Baden 1993
“Tonpiraten, kopieren von Musik und Urheberrecht” (“Sound pirating, copying music and copyright”), in: Musik und Unterricht 68 (2002), S. 11 ff.
“Musik im Film” (“Music in Film”), in: Haupt, Stefan (Hrsg.), Urheberrecht für Filmschaffende. München 2008
“Multiple Rights Deals in Germany”, (gemeinsam mit Andreas Lichtenhahn) in: Bentley, Julian (Hrsg.), Multiple Rights Deals in the Music Industry, London 2009
“Lösung gesucht! – Zur gegenwärtigen Debatte um Antworten auf die urheberrechtlichen Herausforderungen durch das Internet” (“Solution required! – For the present debate around responses to copyright-related challenges online”), in: EWerK e.V. (Hrsg.), Festgabe für Hans-Peter Schwintowski, Baden-Baden, 2012, S. 75 ff
Hamburger Abendblatt 20./21. June 2015 download: “Liebling der Kreativen”
Kristina Massel
Tel.: +49-40-8222699-40
kmassel@g-s-legal.com
Kristina Massel has worked as an attorney at the legal practice Gutsch & Schlegel since 2012.
Her specialist field is copyright law. Her legal work primarily involves the comprehensive out-of-court and in-court representation of our national and international client base from the music and media industry in the event of infringements of their rights.
From 2000: studied law at the University of Rostock. Major: legal advice – attorney legal training
From 2009: traineeship at the Higher Regional Court (OLG) of Rostock
2011: second state legal examination
German, English
Thomas Schlegel
Tel.: +49-40-8222699-33
tschlegel@g-s-legal.com
Thomas Schlegel is a partner at the legal practice Gutsch & Schlegel, whose Hamburg office he has headed together with Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch since 2003.
He represents artists and artist groups both internationally and nationally. His clients include music giants of every genre, including Pink Floyd and David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Genesis and Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Matthias Reim, Mötley Crüe, In Flames, Albert Hammond, as well as the jazz-guitarist Al Di Meola and the soprano Olga Peretyatko.
Thomas Schlegel also assumes an advisory role for companies active nationally and internationally in the entertainment industry. These range, for instance, from the Hamburg label “ferryhouse” belonging to the portfolio of the media entrepreneur Frank Otto, the label “Starwatch” of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, the „Süddeutsche Zeitung“, right through to globally active merchandising companies like Global Merchandising Services Ltd. (Motörhead, Iron Maiden) oder Bravado („Rolling Stones“, „Guns’n’Roses, „Ramones“).
Thomas Schlegel has advised artists participating in several series of casting shows “Das Supertalent” and “X-Faktor” and negotiated their contracts with the production firms and record companies involved.
High-caliber, internationally renowned photographers such as Ross Halfin (London), Mick Rock, Bob Gruen (New York) and Neil Zlozower (Los Angeles) also feature among Schlegel’s client base.
From 1988: studied law at the University of Hamburg
From 1994: traineeship at the Higher Regional Court (OLG) of Hamburg
From 1997: In-house Lawyer / Head of the Legal Department of edel records GmbH and Executive Board Member
German, English
Christoph Schütz
Tel.: +49-40-8222699-41
cschuetz@g-s-legal.com
Christoph Schütz has been an executive attorney within the legal firm Gutsch & Schlegel since April 2008.
His work is primarily focused in the area of national litigation in copyright and trademark law. Here he regularly represents the interests of both national and international artists, merchandisers, record companies, music publishers and other clients from the creative industries.
He has contributed significantly in particular to the current case-law of the “big five” in the field of copyright law (i.e the regional courts of Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich) through the judicial proceedings led by him, both in the field of rights violations in decentralized networks (P2P filesharing) as well as non-licensed audio and audiovisual carriers (bootlegs). Special mention should also be made to the litigations he has led on behalf of various clients before the Regional Court Hamburg and the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court of Hamburg against filehosting company ‘Rapidshare’. Also of considerable importance in practical terms is the „Al Di Meola“ lawsuit led by him in courts of the first and second instances and in the course of an appeal in front of the Supreme Federal Court (BGH), whereby the Supreme Federal Court strengthened the rights of artists against media distributors considerably.
1989-1995: studied law at the University of Hamburg
1997: second state legal examination, admitted to the German bar
1997-2001: Attorney at Barklage Brickwedde Dahlmeier Roter
2002-2008: Attorney at Roggelin Witt Wülfing Dieckert
German, English, French
After the show at the Sporthalle Hamburg – Björn Gelotte, Anders Frìden and Thomas Schlegel are delighted with their long-standing relationship. More than a decade is worth to toast with the new In Flames Gin.
(photo: Uta Peters, Atelier UP)
It was a great and rare opportunity to see our client David Gilmour on 27.9.24 at the ‘Circo Massimo’ in Rome for his first show of the current tour. It is also always a pleasure to meet his manager Paul Loasby on such occasions (Thomas Schlegel & Paul Loasby).
(photo: Uta Peters, Atelier UP)
The new album “Luck And Strange” by our client David Gilmour reaches number 1 in the German album charts – the first time he has achieved this with his 5th studio album at the age of 78. Remarkable. Congratulations David Gilmour!
The weather was not cooperating – so no round of golf. But the concert of our client Alice Cooper in the Stadtpark was once again great. Thomas Schlegel was there, of course.
(Photo: private)
Moving to new premises was a good reason for Beat Dealer Records to have an office opening party.
From left to right Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch, Tim Willgeroth, Thorsten Görner und Thomas Schlegel.
Photo Uta Peters, Atelier UP
The first album in 9 years (!) by our client David Gilmour is called “Luck and Strange” and will be released on September 6, 2024. What a nice surprise. Good luck, David!
The first single “The Piper’s Call” is available to stream from today.
Our client Mark Knopfler reaches No. 1 in the German album charts with the album “One Deep River” – congratulations on the fourth No. 1 in a row!
New album released, chart entry at number 4, yesterday a brilliant performance at the Große Freiheit. After the gig, Daniel Wirtz met with his lawyer Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch.
An important signal, also from Hamburg, as in many other cities. In any case, we at Gutsch & Schlegel have given our employees the possibility to take part. #NoAfD #NoNazis
Under the motto “Beats. Deals. Drinks.” Hamburg’s Beat Dealer Records invited during the Reeperbahnfestival. A short shareholder’s meeting was attended by:
Photo: Tim Willgeroth, Thomas Schlegel, Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch and Thorsten Görner.
Thomas Schlegel met his client Al Di Meola after his virtuoso concert in Bremen. Magnificent as always!
photo: private
Gutsch & Schlegel have successfully stopped the illegal use of a music title by the AfD local politician Yvonne Venticinque-Effenberger of the AfD District Association Waldeck-Frankenberg. The direct candidate of the District Association had posted a promotional video on her Facebook page as part of her election campaign for the right-wing extremist AfD for the Hessian state elections 2023 with the title “Für die Liebe (Akustic Version)” by the singer-songwriter duo “Berge“. However, this was done without obtaining the necessary consent from the exclusive rights holder, our client FerryHouse. In doing so, she not only violated Facebook’s “Music Guidelines”, but also the copyright law. The opponent has signed a cease-and-desist declaration and paid the legal costs.
The law firm Gutsch & Schlegel will donate the RVG fee paid by Ms Venticinque-Effenberger to „CORRECTIV – Recherchen für die Gesellschaft“.
Prior to the once again magnificent concert of Deep Purple at the Stadtpark, Thomas Schlegel met the singer of the band, Ian Gillan.
Always nice to chat with the international clients on site in Hamburg.
Photo: Timo Jäger
Congratulations to our clients “In Flames“, who have just entered the Official German Charts at number 1 with their new album “Foregone“. Well done guys!
Swedenpower in Hamburg – the In Flames were in town. They thrilled their fans – and their longtime lawyer Thomas Schlegel.
Our client George Dubose, famous photographer and great guy, is going to do a signing and photo exhibit with the author, Ben Merlis, who wrote “Goin’ Off – The Story of the Juice Crew and Cold Chillin’ Records”. If you want a signed copy of Ben’s book and George’s great “The Big Book of Hip-Hop Photography” go to Underpressure (Hamburg) on 15 December 2022. Buyers of either book could take an A2 photoprint of one of the Cold Chillin’ artists who appeared in Ben’s book for free.
Also Hangout (Dortmund) on 16 December 2022 and Kuchenplatte (Cologne) on 18 December 2022. Don’t miss…
Pink Floyd are releasing a new single in support of the people of Ukraine today. “Hey Hey Rise Up“ is the first new original music that our cliens have recorded together as a band since 1994’s “The Division Bell“. All proceeds will go towards Ukrainian humanitarian relief. Great stuff !
Another big success for us against Meta/Facebook in the matter of unofficial Facebook profiles. Due to the very clear indications during the hearing of the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court, Meta/Facebook has withdrawn its appeal against the judgement of the Hamburg Regional Court.
We therefore do not have to tolerate the Gutsch & Schlegel profile pages that Facebook had created without our consent and are entitled to the injunction. It is interesting to note that even the term “unofficial” is probably not sufficient to exclude misleading information about the creator of the profile pages.
For background information, see the 18/02/2020 news.
Thanks to Dr. Stefan Ellenberg and Christoph Schütz for their great work.
Our Ukraine Charity Project together with the artist Uta Peters, “Art for Peace”, is finished. We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Volker Limmroth from Cologne for the highest bid of EUR 1.250,-. We will increase the donation amount by the same sum.
The artist Uta Peters has created a work on the Ukraine war that expresses the horror and its madness. We would like to auction the painting (“Light and Shadow” 2022, 70 x 50 cm, acrylic on canvas) together with her and donate the entire proceeds to Aktion Deutschland Hilft. Interested parties can email their bids in Euros to ukraine@g-s-legal.com. All bids received by 11 March 2022 (12pm) will be considered. The starting bid is EUR 750,-.
The purchaser will be named after receipt of payment. Gutsch & Schlegel guarantees that 100 % of the amount received will go to the donation organisation. We hope for lively participation.
Uta Peters: “On the right hand side of the work the Ukraine is shown as an independent, democratic, flourishing country with traditions and folklore. On the left, however, we see nothing but fear, death, blood, mourning and destruction. Stop Putin, stop the war! Peace for Ukraine, peace for the world!”
Final and highest bid: EUR 1.250,- by Prof. Dr. Volker Limmroth, Cologne. Many thanks !
Mick Rock, one of the most legendary rock photographers of all time, has passed away at the age of 72. Not only do we lose an extremely valued client, but the world loses an iconic artist.
Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus aka Elvis Costello turns 67 today – congratulations. The formidable “Spanish Model” will be released in early September !
Congratulations to Alice Cooper and EarMusic, both long time clients of our law firm, for entering at #1 of the official German Album-Charts with “Detroit Stories” .
And once again a brilliant advertising appearance by our client Iggy Pop, this time in equally brilliant clips from the Gucci “Cruise 2020 Campaign“. Top!
For its client Yoko Ono Lennon, widow of John Lennon, the law firm Gutsch & Schlegel has put an end to the illegal use of one of the most famous pictures of John Lennon by the “author” and YouTube activist Heiko Schrang. The latter had used the photo in dozens of YouTube videos etc. and in this context spread his abstruse conspiracy theories, but in particular also pursued his own economic interests by offering his shirts, caps and books. Schrang has now signed a cease-and-desist declaration subject to a contractual penalty and has to bear the costs. The law firm Gutsch & Schlegel will donate the RVG fee paid by Schrang to „CORRECTIV – Recherchen für die Gesellschaft“.
After quite long time of Corona related silence finally some news: our client Silent Beat Records today releases “Blue Poles (Number 11)“, the first single from Robert Eksons upcoming debut EP „Little Vanities & Great Masterpieces“.
In its ruling of 13 February 2020, case no. 312 O 372/18, the Regional Court of Hamburg decided that our unofficial Facebook law firm profile and the unofficial Facebook page of Thomas Schlegel must be deleted. According to Facebook, unofficial profiles/pages are profiles/pages that Facebook generates automatically if there are no official profiles/pages but Facebook recognizes corresponding user interest in them based on search queries. After we had unsuccessfully requested Facebook to delete the profiles/pages several times out of court, the Regional Court of Hamburg initially issued a corresponding temporary injunction at our request. The Regional Court of Hamburg has now confirmed this order in the main proceedings. The court found that the partnership’s right to carry on the business which it established (company and property rights) was infringed as well as an encroachment on the general right of personality of Thomas Schlegel. The Regional Court of Hamburg also stated
“Since Facebook is not a search service or a business directory, but primarily a social network which is controversial in the public, among other things because of the handling of user data, a law firm, for whose activities confidentiality, seriousness and protection of client data are essential, has a considerable interest in not being associated with such a network against it’s will by existing or potential clients.”
More than 30 years since Hans-Martin Gutsch heard them for the first time and they are still on tour, more successful than ever: Die Feisten, Schmidts Tivoli sold out for two consecutive nights since months. A great show, thanks Rainer and Zeh!
Discussed the round of golf on Sunday. Alice Cooper and Thomas Schlegel in Hamburg, Barclay Card Arena.
Opening the New Horizons Festival on the main stage: TMW and Beat Dealer Records.
Photo: Private
Silver Lining Music signs British heavy metal legend Diamond Head. Celebrating are (from left to right): Rasmus Andersen, Brian Tatler (both Diamond Head), Adam Parsons (manager Diamond Head), Rod Kukla (Silver Lining Music), Karl Wilcox, Andrew “Abbz” Abberley, Dean Ashton (both Diamon Head), Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch (Gutsch & Schlegel, lawyer Silver Lining Music), Serena Furlan (Silver Lining Music)
Our client James Newell Osterberg, better known as Iggy Pop, is featured in the opening movie “The Dead Don’t Die” of Jim Jarmusch at the Cannes Film Festival. Very versatile, Mr. Pop…
(photo: still movie-trailer)
They rock the cooking scene: at the booth of our client FoodBoom:
Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch, FoodBoom founders Sebastian Heinz and Hannes Arendholz, Tilman Winterling
(Photo: Olaf Deharde)
Out now: the first bottle of beat dealer beer, the result of a cooperation of our client Beat Dealer Records with Hamburg Landgang brewery.
(picture: Robert Ekson)
Visiting the client. We are very impressed by the extent of craftsmanship and quality. Thank you for the factory tour!
ltr: Elena Livigni (Steinway & Sons), Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch and Thomas Schlegel
(photo: Uta Peters, Atelier UP)
Christmas party Gutsch & Schlegel at Schwarzlichtviertel, Hamburg. Merry Christmas and a successful and peaceful 2019 !
(photo: private)
Thomas Schlegel, Thomas Jensen (Wacken Impressario), Adam Parsons (Manager Saxon, Europe, Uriah Heep) and Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch.
(Photo: private)
(Photo: private)
Foreigner played a great show in Hamburg on 20 May. Prior to the show Thomas Schlegel met founding member Mick Jones and his manager Stewart Young. A sunny evening at the Stadtpark Hamburg in nice atmosphere. Thank you Mick and Stewart for your hospitaliy.
(Photo: Privat)
We met the first time in 2005, discussed their first contract offer and how to make it as a band in the music business. Now, after 13 singles, four studio albums (all top ten, by the way), one MTV Unplugged, innumerable concerts and a club tour, that was sold out in 30 (!) minutes Revolverheld release their fifth studio album „Zimmer mit Blick“ (Room With A View). What can we say…? Just keep it up!
(Photo: Benedikt Schnermann)
Once a year the Wacken Foundation holds its annual meeting to review the past year. The Wacken Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the support of hard rock and Heavy Metal music. Together with Thorsten Brötzmann, Doro, Enno Heymann und Jörg Düsedau Hans Martin Gutsch (3rd from left) is one of the trustees of the foundation.
(photo: Maren Maxeiner)
Yesterday Michael Schulte competed in the national German final of the Eurovision Song Contest with his song “You Let Me Walk Alone” and won the competition. Congratulations to him and his label VERY US. And good luck for Lisbon!
Christmas party Gutsch & Schlegel at Grill-Kontor Hamburg. Merry Christmas and a happy new year!
(photo: private)
Thomas Schlegel and Alice Cooper prior to the great show at the Tempodrom, Berlin on 23/11/2017.
(photo: private)
First single “Grüner wird’s nicht” by Julia Engelmann: more than 400.000 clicks in 4 weeks!
(02.11.2017)
The new terrific live-album “Live at Pompeii” of our client David Gilmour entered at #2 of the German sales charts. Congratulations !
(17.10.2017)
Thomas Schlegel with Andreas Kiel (Kiel Publishing) at the reception of the IMUC (Interessenverband Musikmanager & Consultants) during the Reeperbahn Festival on 20 September 2017.
(Foto: Jörg Böhm)
Thomas Schlegel with Albert Hammond after his show at the Laeiszhalle, Hamburg on 02/09/2017.
(photo: private)
Foodboom Advisory Board Meeting 20/06/2017, v.l.n.r.: Prof. Holger Jung (JungvMatt), Sebastian Heinz (Foodboom), Rolf Coppenrath (Coppenrath Invest), Dr. Hans-Martin Gutsch, Hannes Arendholz (Foodboom), Dr. Peter Dill (Deutsche See), Anne Coppenrath (Life! Verlag)
Screening “Free To Rock” in Hamburg with Nick Binkley und Doug Yeager.
04.06.2017 (Foto: Privat)
Thomas Schlegel with Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) at the pre-opening of „The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains“ at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
11/05/2017 (Foto: Privat)
The article dated 20./21 June 2015 download: Liebling der Kreativen
