Our Fee Structure as Copyright Lawyers

As specialized copyright lawyers, our fee structure is designed to reflect the complexity and effort required for legal services while maintaining transparency for our clients. Our billing methods are tailored to different legal needs, ranging from hourly billing to fixed fees and, in rare cases, statutory fees under the Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz (RVG, German Lawyers’ Compensation Act).

1. Primary Billing Method: Hourly Fees (Aufwandsbezogene Abrechnung)

In most cases, we charge based on effort and time invested in a matter. Our standard hourly rates range between €250 and €350 per hour, depending on:

• The complexity of the case (e.g., high-stakes copyright litigation vs. contract review).
• The seniority and expertise of the lawyer handling the matter.
• The urgency and time sensitivity of the issue.

Example:
A client seeking a copyright infringement assessment regarding unauthorized software distribution would be billed per hour, with time tracked for research, legal evaluation, and client communication.

2. Fixed Fees for Recurring or Defined Projects (Pauschalhonorare)

For certain legal matters, we offer fixed-fee arrangements to provide cost predictability. These can be structured as:

2.1 Monthly Retainers (Monatliche Pauschalen)

• Ideal for business clients, publishers, or production companies requiring ongoing copyright support.
• Covers regular consultations, contract drafting, and compliance monitoring.
• Ensures priority handling and cost control for the client.

Example:
A streaming platform seeking continuous legal oversight on licensing agreements and takedown notices may opt for a monthly retainer of €1,500–€5,000, depending on workload.

2.2 Project-Based Fixed Fees (Projektbezogene Honorare)

• Applied to specific legal tasks with well-defined scopes, such as copyright registrations, contract drafting, or risk assessments.
• Provides cost certainty for clients with a clear legal objective.

Example:
Drafting an international copyright licensing agreement may be offered as a flat fee between €3,000 and €15,000, depending on complexity.

3. Rare Cases: Statutory Fees Under RVG (Selten nach RVG)

Although we primarily work on an hourly or fixed-fee basis, there are limited cases where we may bill under the RVG (Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz):

• Court cases where statutory fees are mandated.
• Clients with legal expense insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung) covering copyright disputes.
• Cases involving small claims or clear-cut legal procedures.

However, RVG-based fees are often not reflective of the actual effort required in complex copyright matters. Thus, we typically negotiate fee agreements outside the RVG framework.

Example:
For a small copyright infringement case, where the dispute value is €10,000, the statutory attorney’s fee under RVG might be €1,500, whereas a time-based fee could be higher due to required legal research and negotiations.

4. Customized Fee Arrangements for High-Value or Strategic Cases

For high-value litigation or international copyright disputes, we may structure hybrid fee models, such as:

• Success-based components (partial hourly fee plus performance-based compensation).
• Blended rates (a mix of hourly fees and a capped fee limit).

These arrangements are negotiated individually, ensuring fair compensation while aligning with client interests.

5. Conclusion

Our fee structure is flexible and transparent, prioritizing fairness and efficiency.

• Hourly billing (€250–€350/h) is standard for most cases.
• Fixed fees apply to well-defined tasks or ongoing legal support.
• RVG-based billing is rare and used primarily for procedural matters.
• Customized models may be available for complex or high-value cases.

We always ensure clients receive clear cost estimates and transparent billing, allowing them to make informed decisions about their legal budget.