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Specialist Guide to the

Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

The most significant trend this year on the legislative side in Denmark has for sure been the implementation of the last - but largest - part of the EU Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive into the Danish Copyright Act.

The implementation process was unusually speedy and gave rise to a lot of discussions among the stakeholders and the Ministry of Culture, but ended with a new Act coming into force in June this year.

Due to the fast implementation process, the Ministry of Culture has already stated that a new revision of the Copyright Act with adjustment will be proposed in the coming months.

The discussions in the implementation process before Summer and the ongoing discussions in respect of the coming revision of the CopyrightAct had, and will have, a specific focus on text and data mining, as well as artificial intelligence.

The same must indeed be said about business trends and developments in the past year. It is all about AI.

There has been a tremendous amount of legal work within all kinds of legal aspects of AI - of course also with a specific focus on the rights aspect of the input to the training of Large Language Models such as ChatGBT.

It has been, and still, is a main focus for media clients within all parts of media segments.

TIER 1

Kromann Reumert is a prestigious practice known for its extensive coverage of media and entertainment sectors. The firm is appointed by clients from television, radio, sports, publishing, online media and film. The team advises on the media’s right to protect sources. The team also advised on an arbitration case against the Danish Association of Football Clubs.

Media law specialist Lassen Ricard acts for broadcasters and entertainment companies in a multitude of cases. The team advises television and radio operators on distribution and retransmission of content, copyright and marketing. Lawyers have extensive experience in cases involving digital copyright and acquisition by television stations of rights to linear and on-demand use, including third-party exploitation of rights. The team also advises on legislative frameworks.

TIER 2

Bech-Bruun’s media focus includes music games, marketing and publishing. The media and entertainment practice has a particular emphasis on commercial matters and competition issues. Lawyers in the IP, media and entertainment team advise on film, television advertisements, sport and sponsor agreements as well as press law.

Gorrissen Federspiel has established a specialised cross practice group focussed on media, entertainment and telecommunications. The firm is rising in prominence with instruction from across the audio-visual segment.The media team advises on regulation, competition, disputes and corporate transactions. In representative work the firm assisted Bauer Media Group with the acquisition of SBS Discovery’s commercial radio stations. According to one client, the team has “a unique combination of the highest level of competencies in competition law, economics and procurement of media rights, both in terms of contracting and legal issues”.

With an emphasis on gambling, Moalem Weitemeyer routinely acts for foreign providers of online gaming. The media division also specialises in entertainment and sports. The firm’s client portfolio includes artists, writers, athletes and sponsors. Lawyers also advise on dispute resolution and intellectual property, including image rights.

TIER 3

Bird & Bird specialises in digital publication and digital content rights. The firm is also appointed by clients in cases of defamation, privacy and freedom of speech regarding commercial statements. The media team works with clients from the audio-visual, marketing and online sectors. Clients describe the team as “always very efficient, fast and accurate in their work”. One client highlights lawyers as having “deep and far reaching understanding of the media sector and having been so close to the industry, is very commercially minded and knowledgeable on the sector.”

The media team at Bruun & Hjejle has broad experience representing media companies and individuals in defamation and privacy cases. Lawyers work closely with the data protection group. The team also advises on intellectual property in the context of mergers and acquisitions. The team advises multiple television networks in cases involving investment, mergers and litigation.

Nielsen Nørager focusses on entertainment. Lawyers advise on agreements for production, financing of films and on disputes relating to film rights. The team has considerable experience acting for clients from the radio, television and telecommunications sectors. The team also specialises in competition law.

NJORD Law Firm is building a leading position as local media expert with a global portfolio that includes entertainment and sports clients. Thr team assisted HBO in Denmark and Norway on media matters. The team also advised one of the world’s largest media groups on an ongoing basis on personal data protection legislation, compliance and transfer of data to third parties under the Safe Harbour regime. Lawyers also have a particular focus on copyright across the Nordic countries.

TIER 4

Horten specialises in online distribution advice. Lawyers work with media and entertainment clients on matters including classic publishing agreements, record contracts and television production agreements. The firm’s media team advises on complex cases relating to the new distribution forms of music, film and television on all platforms.