Dr. Stefan Abel
Attorney-at-law (Germany), Partner
Profile
Dr. Stefan Abel, litigator and counsel, represents nationally and internationally active companies in all matters of trademark, design and copyright law, unfair competition matters, domain name disputes and licensing and distribution matters, out of court and in court. A particular focus of his practice concerns the development of counterfeit protection where registered intellectual property rights are not applicable. Stefan Abel’s clients include a well-known manufacturer of leather goods and major clients in the luxury goods and sports sector. He continuously represents since 15 years some of his most renowned clients in all matters concerning their intellectual property in Germany. Stefan Abel regularly serves as Panelist with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva, in domain name disputes and has repeatedly lectured at the Center for Intellectual Property Studies Institute (CEIPI), Strasbourg.
Languages:
German, English, French
references
- Legal500 EMEA - Recommended Lawyer 2024
- "Competent and practical", "open to target-oriented solutions", competitor - JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms 2023/2024 - Trade mark and competition law
- "Professional, collegial and open for goal-oriented solutions", Competitor - JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020/2021
- "Stefan Abel's ability to handle all correspondence in German, English and also French is extremely helpful." - Legal 500 Germany 2020/2021
- “Stefan Abel is very competent, efficient and cost-conscious ” - Legal 500 EMEA 2021
Further references
Key Areas
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Trademarks
Trademarks
Trademarks communicate the image of your products and are the voice of product marketing. Their value can quickly exceed the material value of a company. We support you in establishing and expanding your trademark portfolio, in monitoring it and in defending it vigorously. KLAKA helps with everything that makes up the "life" of a brand.
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Designs
Designs
The protection of products and product parts by registered and unregistered designs has been of increasing importance for many years. It is an effective instrument against counterfeits. This applies to national designs as well as to designs protected within the EU, to the acquisition of design protection as well as to the enforcement of design rights, out of court and before the courts.
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Unfair competition
Unfair competition
The global market is characterised by free trade. The rules of this international economic exchange are expressed in unfair competition law. Comparative or misleading advertising, product imitation, the headhunting of personnel or price dumping may result in unfair competition proceedings. This affects all sectors, from the automotive industry to financial services, from retailers to the internet trade, or from the pharmaceuticals industry to the increasingly deregulated energy supply market.
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Selective distribution and parallel import
Selective distribution and parallel import
According to German case law and the case law of the European Union, selective distribution systems for high quality and luxury products are generally admissible. A selective distribution system allows, under certain conditions, the prevention of the distribution of original products on the grey market and in the discounter and low-price environment. The basis for this is trademark and competition law. We advise on the contractual design of selective distribution systems and enforce your rights against unauthorized distributors.
More about Selective distribution systems and parallel import -
Domain names and IT
Domain names and IT
We register, manage and defend your domain names in UDRP proceedings and in court. We also defend your brand and company trademarks against identical domain names and against abusive domain applications and uses. We can here not only rely on our distinctive expertise in trademark law, but also on the experience and know-how of an arbitrator of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in UDRP proceedings who has been acting for many years.
Career
| 2013 | Joined KLAKA, Partner since 2015 | |
| 2002 - 2012 | Lawyer and (as from 2006) partner of a German-French patent and law firm | |
| 1998 | Admitted to the Bar | |
| 1996 | Awarded "Dr. iur." (PhD degree in law) with a doctorate on international contract law | |
| 1993 - 1996 | Research assistant at the Chair for German Law, Conflict of Laws and Comparative Law, Lausanne; research activities in the field of conflict of laws and comparative law at the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, Lausanne | |
| 1989 - 1993 | Studies at the Universitites of Heidelberg and Konstanz |
Memberships
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German Association for Industrial Property Law and Copyright Law (GRUR)
Expert committee for antitrust law
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Association des Praticiens du Droit des Marques et des Modèles (APRAM)
Expert committee for Designs and Models
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
publications
- Dr. Stefan Abel: Kommentar zu EuGH Coty Germany / Parfümerie Akzente, Urteil vom 6.12.2017, Ausschluss von Handelsplattformen in selektiven Vertriebssystemen, Betriebs-Berater 2017, 3025
- Dr. Stefan Abel: Trademark Protection in Germany: the bar for apps is set higher, World Intellectual Property Review, 13. Oktober 2016
- Dr. Stefan Abel: Composite EU trademarks: protection of non-distinctive elements, World Intellectual Property Review, 14. April 2016
Further publications
Conferences
- Lookalikes and Unfair Competition
International Trademark Association (INTA) – Annual Meeting 2020 – Table Topics
Moderator: Dr. Stefan Abel
Date: November 20, 2020
Place: Videoconference
Further Conferences
Dr. Stefan Abel
Attorney-at-law (Germany), Partner