AI & Data / Germany & European Union
The right to access material is not always the right to train on it, reproduce it or publish a model’s output. We assess the intellectual-property and confidentiality issues across the AI development and deployment process.
Where we can help
Training and data acquisition
Reviews cover source licences, database rights, contractual restrictions and text-and-data-mining rules. Under German law, lawful access and an effective reservation of rights can matter. Personal-data requirements must be considered separately from copyright.
Outputs and ownership
We examine whether an output reproduces protected expression, infringes a trade mark or misuses a person’s image. Copyright protection for an output requires an assessment of human creative contribution; access to a generator does not guarantee exclusivity.
Protecting confidential assets
Prompt libraries, source code, customer datasets and model configurations can contain trade secrets. Access controls, confidentiality terms, training restrictions and incident procedures should support the legal protection claimed.
From assessment to implementation
We can produce a rights assessment for a dataset or product, negotiate licences and prepare evidence for infringement proceedings. For urgent publication risks, we assess takedown demands and interim relief without assuming that every similarity proves infringement.
Four practical examples
Illustrative scenarios, not reports of client mandates. The appropriate response depends on the facts and applicable law.
Publisher’s dataset
A developer proposes to scrape a specialist database. We review access conditions, rights reservations, database protection and possible licensing routes before ingestion.
Generated advertising
A campaign image closely resembles a protected character. We assess the specific expression and branding, then recommend clearance or replacement.
Code assistant
A software team receives code resembling an open-source component. We investigate provenance and licence obligations before distribution.
Confidential tender
An employee uploads a competitor-sensitive bid into a model service. We examine contractual reuse, deletion options, confidentiality measures and potential claims.
What to send us
Please describe the product or dispute, the countries involved, your role and any deadline. Relevant contracts, technical documentation, correspondence and a short chronology help us identify the next steps. Agree a secure transfer channel before sending sensitive records.
Discuss your next step
We can define the scope of a review, identify urgent measures and agree the work and fees before proceeding. A website enquiry alone does not establish a mandate.
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Legal framework and further reading: German Copyright Act. Content reviewed: 12 November 2026.