# Prof. Dr. Christian Osterrieth

Christian Osterrieth has worked as an attorney since 1984. Since 1986 he has practiced exclusively in the field of national, European and international intellectual property law (technology law, trademark law and unfair competition law) and specializes in patent and trademark litigation as well as licensing.

Christian represents major and global clients in many technology driven industries, including electronics, automotive, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. His work is particularly focused on the development and implementation of litigation strategies in multinational patent litigation.

Following his second State Exam, Christian studied French and international intellectual property law at the Universities of Constancy and of Paris II (Université de Droit, d’Economie et des Sciences Sociales).

He is the author and co-author of various books and articles on intellectual property law and is a frequent speaker at international conferences relating to patent law, trademark law and licensing. In addition, Christian is honorary professor for patent law at the University of Constance and guest professor at the Universities of Strasbourg (CEIPI), France and Haifa, Israel.

From 2002 to 2004 he was President of the LES Licensing Executives Society in Germany and has acted as Vice-President of LES International (LESI) from 2012 to 2014. He is a member of the patent committee of GRUR, the German Intellectual Property Association, chairman of the IP Committee of the German Bar Association and a member of the patent committee of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)*.*



### Representative matters

- Advising a major **German car manufacturer** on numerous aspects of patent law and unfair competition law
- Advising a **global market leader in medical diagnostics and medical devices** during extensive patent law and trade secrets litigation
- Advising a **global pharmaceutical company** on questions of patent law
- Advising a major German car manufacturer in relation to several patent law issues
- Representing a **large German home appliances company** in numerous patent litigation cases and advising on several issues of patent law
- Representing one of the **world’s leading packaging suppliers** in a large patent litigation case with one of its major competitors





### Professional affiliations

- German Bar Association, Chairman of the IP Committee
- Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), member of the Patent Committee
- German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR)
- Licensing Executives Society (LES)
- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- Association des Praticiens du Droit des Marques et des Modèles (APRAM)
- International Association for the Advancement of Teaching and Research in Intellectual Property (ATRIP)
- European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW)
- Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
- The Intellectual Property Lawyers’ Organisation (TIPLO)
- Association of Intellectual Property Experts (VPP)





### Publications

- Osterrieth, Patentrecht, Lehrbuch, 7. Aufl. 2025
- Osterrieth, Formularkommentar Lizenzverträge, 5. Aufl. 2026
- Osterrieth, in: Benkard, EPÜ Kommentar Art.66-68, 70, 4. Aufl. 2023
- Osterrieth/Schönig, in: Fezer, UWG – Kommentar, Bd. 1 Spezialthema S1 (allgemeine Marktbehinderung), 3. Aufl. 2016
- Osterrieth, in: Handbuch des Fachanwalts für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz, Einführung Patentrecht, 5. Aufl. 2015
- Osterrieth, Kriterien der Angemessenheit des Ausgleichs nach § 139 I 4 PatG, GRUR 2022, 299
- Osterrieth, Der Fachmann im Patentrecht, GRUR 2021, 310
- Osterrieth, Die Bedeutung der Rechtssicherheit im Patentrecht, in: Festschrift zum 70. Geburtstag von Werner F. Ebke, 2021, S. 761
- Osterrieth, Gleiches Recht für Alle? Zur Frage der Gleichheit und Gleichbehandlung von Erfindungen, in: Festschrift aus Anlass des 125-jährigen Bestehens des Patentanwaltsberufs, 2025, S. 315
- Osterrieth, Erfinder und Fachmann im Verletzungsverfahren – ein Zusammenwirken zulasten der Rechtssicherheit für Dritte?, in: Festschrift für Thomas Kühnen, 2024, S. 783
- Osterrieth, Technischer Fortschritt – eine Herausforderung für das Patentrecht? GRUR 2018, 985
- Osterrieth, Der Verhältnismäßigkeitsgrundsatz im Patentrecht, in: 80 Jahre Patentgerichtsbarkeit in Düsseldorf, Festschrift, 2016, S. 415
- Osterrieth, Die Aufbrauchsfrist im Patentrecht, in: Festschrift für Karl-Heinz Fezer, 2016, S. 1035
- Osterrieth, Patent Enforcement in Germany, in: Patent Enforcement Worldwide, Writings in Honour of Dieter Stauder, 3. Aufl. 2015, S. 111
- Osterrieth, Vom Innovationssprung zum inkrementellen Fortschritt, Was bleibt von der „erfinderischen Tätigkeit“? in: Leible/Ohly/Zech, Wissen – Märkte – Eigentum, 2010, S. 69
- Osterrieth, Patent-Trolls in Europa – braucht das Patentrecht neue Grenzen? GRUR 2009, 540
- Osterrieth/Haft, Grenzüberschreitende Patentverletzungsverfahren in Europa, in: Festschrift 50 Jahre VPP, 2005, S.372
- Osterrieth, Die Schutzfähigkeit von Geschirr – und Waschmitteltabs nach der Rechtsprechung des EuGH, European Law Report, 2004, 251
- Osterrieth, Der Nachahmungsschutz beim nicht eingetragenen Gemeinschaftsgeschmacksmuster und beim wettbewerblichen Leistungsschutz, in: Festschrift für Winfried Tilmann, 2003, S. 221
- Osterrieth, Die Zivilprozessrechts-Novelle: Auswirkungen auf Patent- und Markenstreitigkeiten im Berufungsverfahren, Mitt.2002, 521
- Osterrieth/Oschmann, Aktuelle Fragen des gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes I - Die Abschaffung des Hochschullehrerprivilegs und ihre praktischen Auswirkungen, Medizinprodukterecht, 2002, 18
- Osterrieth/Köhler, Aktuelle Fragen des gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes II - Patente erfolgreich durchsetzen, Medizinprodukterecht 2002, 57
- Osterrieth, Geschmacksmusterschutz – Neuere Entwicklungen der Rechtsprechung zum Schutz für Kfz -Ersatzteile und neuere Entwicklungen der Schadensberechnung, VPP-Rundbrief 2001,
- Osterrieth, Der UNCTAD Code of Conduct on Transfer of Technology und die Revision der Pariser Verbandsübereinkunft, Dissertation Universität Konstanz, 1986
- Osterrieth, (Mitherausgeber) Marktkommunikation zwischen Geistigem Eigentum und Verbraucherschutz, Festschrift für Karl-Heinz Fezer, zum 70. Geburtstag, 2016
- Osterrieth, (Mitherausgeber) Schriftenreihe der LES - Lizenzen und Lizenzvertragsrecht (bis Juni 2026)
- Osterrieth/Köhler/Haft (Mitherausgeber), Patentrecht, Festschrift für Thomas Reimann, zum 65.Geburtstag, 2009





### Speaking engagements

- A frequent speaker at international and national conferences on patent law
- Lecturer at the University of Düsseldorf on intellectual property law
- Guest professor at the Universities of Strasbourg (CEIPI) France and Haifa, Israel





### What others say

- "A leading strategist in multinational patent litigation, coordinating complex cross-border disputes with authority and precision. He combines deep analytical focus with big-picture insight, drawing on extensive experience to serve as a trusted sounding board in high-stakes matters." **IAM Patent 1000 2026**
- “Christian Osterrieth is a seasoned expert with nearly four decades of experience in IP law. He has the ability to swiftly identify the core issues of a case, enabling him to craft and implement effective litigation strategies.” **IAM Patent 1000 2025**
- “Osterrieth employs his four decades of experience to meticulously analyse issues and provide wise advice to global players in an array of industries.” **IAM Patent 1000 2024**
- Thought Leader (Patents) **Who is Who Legal 2022**
- “Recognized as “Notable Practitioner” and seen as “a renowned practitioner” in the market, Christian Osterrieth acts on patent enforcement and infringement proceedings. He is regularly involved in patent cases relating to pharmaceutical products and medical devices.” **Chambers Europe and Global Guide 2022**
- “Christian Osterrieth enjoys a strong reputation for his extensive experience advising global companies on licensing deals and sophisticated patent disputes.” **Global Guide, IP (Patents), Who is Who Legal 2022**
- “Christian Osterrieth is a “leading name” in the market according to sources who describe him as a “great patent litigator”.” **National Guide, Germany (Patents), Who is Who Legal 2022**
- “IP Star” (Patent, Germany) **Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2021**
- „luminary Christian Osterrieth who continues to guide the firm and devise astute global litigation strategies has been litigating for 35 years and knows French patent procedure inside out.” **IAM Patent 1000 2021**
- “a brilliant lawyer who is top of his generation in the field”. He “has a fantastic reputation and knows how to handle even the most complex litigation” – Thought Leader in Germany (Patents) **Who is Who Legal 2020**
- **Managing Intellectual Property** IP Star (Patent, Germany) 2020
- “He is an outstanding litigator who understands the substance.” **Chambers Europe and Global 2020**
- “very quick to respond, highly knowledgeable and able to understand priority setting.” **Chambers Global 2019**
- a “brilliant lawyer who is top of his generation in the field”. He “has a fantastic reputation and knows how to handle even the most complex litigation” **Who is Who Legal 2019**
- “particularly experienced litigator” **Legal 500 2018**
- “Christian Osterrieth gehört zu den Hauptfiguren im Team” **Legal 500 Deutschland 2018**
- “He provides excellent advice with respect tot he licensing and litigation of SEPs and has a unique understanding oft he proportionality of injunctions.” **IAM Patent 1000 2018**
- “Christian Osterrieth regularly represents large companies in patent infringement proceedings and is active in sectors such as electronics, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. He offers additional expertise in licensing matters.” **Chambers Global 2018**
- “Christian Osterrieth is a smooth operator on both sides of the contentious/non-contentious divide; life sciences is his forte.” **IAM Patent 1000 2017**
- Gelistet für Intellectual Property in **Chambers Global 2017**
- “extensive knowledge of IP law” **WHO’S WHO Legal Germany 2017**
- Häufig empfohlen in der Kategorie Patentprozesse/Rechtsanwälte für Patentrecht **JUVE Handbuch 2016/2017**
- “knowledgeable” **Legal 500 2016**
- The “impressive” Christian Osterrieth has specialised in intellectual property law for almost 30 years \[…\], PATENTS **WHO’S WHO LEGAL GERMANY 2015**
- “\[…\] Christian Osterrieth is valued for his “analytical capabilities and communication skills” \[…\]” **Legal 500 EMEA 2014**
- Recommended Lawyer **JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2010**
- “\[…\] Christian Osterrieth hat umfangreiche Erfahrung im Technologiebereich und vertritt häufig Mandanten aus dem Bereich Elektronik und Pharmazeutik in Patent- und Markenrechtsverfahren. Vastly experienced patent litigator \[…\]” **Chambers Europe 2009**
- Leading Individuals, Intellectual Property **Chambers Europe 2009**