fashion, design & lifestyle

Protecting individual designs and distinctive trademarks is essential to preserving their commercial value. Schoenherr advises on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights and product authenticity. Beyond brand protection through registered trademarks, our expertise covers:

• Registered and unregistered design protection (EU and national)
• Strategic design filing and portfolio management
• Trademark protection for product shapes, packaging and get-up
• Design and brand audits – identifying gaps in existing IP portfolios
• Licensing and commercialisation of design rights 

For further information, see trademark & design management.

Counterfeiting and product imitation undermine brand value, market share and consumer trust. Schoenherr protects your interests through targeted enforcement strategies across online and offline channels.

From classic lookalikes to AI-enabled imitation, Schoenherr helps you tackle unfair competition in all its forms. We advise on and pursue legal action against, as well as defend against claims involving:

From how fashion is sold and experienced to how it is made and marketed, the industry raises complex legal questions. Schoenherr provides integrated, sector-specific legal advice to help you navigate these challenges.

Content creator marketing has become central to the industry, but the digital landscape brings significant legal challenges, from advertising compliance to the unauthorised use of content and brand assets. Schoenherr advises brands, agencies, platforms, content creators and digital entrepreneurs on the legal complexities of digital marketing.

Turning creative assets into commercial opportunities requires agreements that protect brands, define relationships and support long-term growth. Schoenherr drafts, negotiates and defends the full range of commercial agreements in the luxury, design & lifestyle sector.

When intellectual property rights are challenged or commercial disputes arise, swift and effective legal action can be critical. Schoenherr represents you before national and EU institutions and courts in all manner of IP, unfair competition and commercial disputes.

Schoenherr is running large-scale, ongoing piracy enforcement for internationally leading luxury products companies on the Austrian market, combining registered trademark and design rights with copyright and unfair competition law.

Schoenherr coordinated a cross-border anti-counterfeiting programme for internationally active branded goods companies, tackling counterfeit and manipulated-label products across CEE, Turkey and Northern Africa through customs detentions, cease-and-desist actions and criminal complaints.

Schoenherr is representing an internationally renowned collectible toy and lifestyle brand in the enforcement of rights across its best-known collections, including trademark, copyright and unfair competition claims, preliminary injunctions and seizure of counterfeit products.

Schoenherr has represented international clients operating in the fashion and interior design industry in several pan-EU design infringement proceedings, including preliminary injunction proceedings before the Austrian Supreme Court based on registered EU designs.