Sonnenberg Harrison

Our two new colleagues Dominik Franz and Oscar Klier.

Latest court case testing the boundaries of #copyright law when use for training #artificialintelligence models. This time #NewsCorp publications suing #PerlexityAI. Unlike #OpenAI, Perplexity has not (yet) signed a licensing agreement to enable use of copyrighted material. https://lnkd.in/drYPsr6P

The Hamburg (lower) Regional Court recently ruled on a landmark #artificialintelligence case involving LAION e.V., a non-profit using copyrighted images for AI training. The court dismissed a photographer's claim that his work was reproduced without permission, deciding the use of the dataset was justified under scientific research exceptions in German #copyright law. This decision highlights that non-commercial datasets, used for training of AI models, may legally use copyrighted materials, raising questions about the balance between innovation and creator rights. This is the first (known) case in the European Union on using copyrighted materials and provides some guidance on what is acceptable. As AI evolves, this case sets signposts but leaves open future legal battles. The decision can still be appealed. Further details here: https://lnkd.in/ebMHig_U

Day 2 at GPEF2024 ☀️ A really interesting presentation on Intellectual Property by Robert Harrison from Sonnenberg Harrison, a member of the PhotonHub Europe Consortium, during Day 2 of the Global Photonics Economic Forum in Malaga, Spain. Optica

The "Future of Computing – Made in NRW" conference, held on July 2, 2024, at the Forschungszentrum Jülich Research Centre highlighted North Rhine-Westphalia's (NRW) advances in neuromorphic, high-performance, modular supercomputing, edge, and quantum computing. Organised by Cluster NanoMikroWerkstoffePhotonik.NRW, Attendees, including our colleague Robert Harrison, from science, industry, and politics discussed these technologies' roles in driving digital innovation forward. The German state’s focus on key technologies like nanotechnology, microsystems, and photonics enhances global competitiveness and resource efficiency across sectors, will support future economic resilience.   In addition to meeting several clients, Rob was promoting the European Union’s QU-TEST & QU-PILOT projects. EU-based companies can now apply for support under the current open calls to use pilot lines and test quantum devices. Further details can be found on the home pages of the projects.

Music #copyright litigation now starting as labels challenge #artificialintelligence #startups. The world's largest music labels, including Sony, Universal, and Warner, are suing AI startups Suno and Udio for alleged infringement of their music rights. The music labels claim these AI services exploit artists' recordings to generate similar works without permission and are seeking $150,000 *per work* in damages. The lawsuit underscores the ongoing conflict between AI technology and copyright laws. The music labels emphasize the threat to human artistry and the music ecosystem. But, Suno's CEO argues the AI generates new content and criticizes the music industry for not engaging in good faith discussions. The Chairman of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) pointed out that the music industry was already collaborating with some AI developers and that the claims that it's fair to copy an artist's work actually set back the promise of genuinely innovative AI. https://lnkd.in/dankeEcq

Welcome to our June issue! We’re thrilled to bring you a diverse range of updates, insights, and what's on the horizon for us. Here's a sneak peek at what you'll find inside: 🌟 Spotlight: IP and the European Soccer Championships Dive into the intricacies of intellectual property at the UEFA EURO 2024 and see how IP plays a crucial role in this iconic event. 🌟 New Service: Border Seizure Measures Learn how to stop counterfeit products at the border and protect your intellectual property. 🌟 Blog: Romania joins the UPC Discover how Romania's entry into the European Unified Patent System impacts your IP strategy. 🌟 Service in Focus: Quantum Technology Uncover the complexities of patenting quantum innovations and why detailed documentation is essential. 💼 Meet the Team: Dr. Philipp Bauer Get to know Dr. Philipp Bauer, our expert in mechanical engineering and patent law. 👉 Available Positions Join our international team! We're hiring for roles in Munich and Paris. Curious to know more? Click to read the full articles

Today is International Women in Engineering Day #inwed24 in which we celebrate the achievements of women in engineering. We're proud that we have been able to support a number of female-led companies in the past few years to protect and exploit their #intellectualproperty. And we're working to increase the number of women in the #patent profession, by reaching out and recruiting young engineers, scientists and administration professionals.

This is a genuine #Euro2024 #soccer ball showing the registered #trademark. A few years ago, we organised a seizure of thousands of counterfeit footballs arriving by sea at the German border. Working with the brand owners and the German customs authorities, several containers were seized in #Bremerhaven before the footballs were put onto the European market. Such border seizure measures are incredibly effective and easily put into place, More details on our website at this link: https://lnkd.in/deAV_wjg

Our annual client party was a great success with superb weather on our roof terrace in downtown Munich.