Federico Ferrara

Advising Sony Music in a copyright law suit against Edizioni Musicali Acqua Azzurra and three other defendants, connected with alleged unlawful actions relating to the valuable catalogue of leading Italian singer-songwriter and composer, Lucio Battisti.

Advising APA, an Italian association that brings together 47 of the country’s leading independent television production companies, on a range of matters, including discussions with the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage Activities and Tourism (MiBACT) over updating private copying levies.

Advising the client, a company that commissions new operas and manages coproduction projects, on a range of new initiatives that have arisen through its online platform, including cross-border IP advice on its relations with performing arts companies, artists, composers and publishers.

Advised on the assignment of IP rights deriving from a new song by Mina and mastered by PDU, to be used by TIM in its marketing campaigns including TIM’s advertising campaign during the 2021 edition of the most famous Italian music event, the “Festival della canzone Italiana di Sanremo”.

Advised on a marketing consultancy agreement and a licensing contract for the well-known ‘L’Estetista Cinica’ trademark.

Advised the client, an Italian music label on the negotiation of the recording and publishing agreements for the album “Mina Fossati”, and the licence agreement with R&C Produzioni for the use of a song from the new album in the film “La dea fortuna”.

Advised in negotiating and drafting licence agreements relating to patents and trade secrets as part of the establishment of a new company in the e-mobility sector.

Assisting Stefano Fontana, a famous Italian DJ - composer and performer of his own songs and creator of tailored sounds for the development of the brand identity of worldwide retail chains - on establishing a music publishing and recording company in the USA.

Advised this well known cosmetics company in preparing a defence strategy in the context of an EU-wide trademark opposition procedure brought by a Spanish cosmetics producer against the client’s ‘Veralab’ trademark.

Osborne Clarke successful in supreme court litigation: “Prendi questa mano zingara” by Francesco De Gregori held not to constitute plagiarism of the song “Zingara”.

Assistance in proceedings brought against a film studio that had synchronised a track performed by the artist with images from a film without the necessary authorisation.

Advised on the acquisition of the diagnostics division of Novartis Vaccine Diagnostics.

Successful court litigation: Universal Music found to have engaged in unfair competition concerning its publication of an  album containing the same songs as that published by the client.

Advised on rules for packaging for foodstuffs and advertising with particular focus on consumer protection.

Advised on casting contract with participants on TV "X factor" programme broadcast on SKY, including advice on involvement of minors.

Successfully advised on appeal claiming that the term ‘Oscar’ had become a generic term and therefore without industrial protection.

Advised on the training of its employees in matters of antitrust law and insider trading rules.

Advised on the acquisition of Talecris for US$4 bn, creating one of the world's largest Life Science groups.

Advised in the merger by incorporation of Alpha Therapeutic Italia S.p.A. The deal was the fruit of a complete review of the holding company's strategy in Italy.