GRUR - Deutsche Vereinigung für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht e.V.

What GRUR - Deutsche Vereinigung für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht e.V. does

GRUR (Deutsche Vereinigung für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht e.V.) is a German non-profit professional association founded in 1891 and headquartered in Berlin, with its operating business office (Geschäftsstelle) in Cologne. It is the oldest and largest association in Germany dedicated to intellectual property law — encompassing patent, trademark, design, copyright, and unfair competition law — serving approximately 5,000 members including German and foreign patent attorneys, lawyers, judges, academics, corporate IP departments, and IP authorities. The association pursues the scientific advancement of IP and copyright law, supports legislative bodies with expert position statements, and funds research through grants, scholarships, and the GRUR Junge Wissenschaft young-researcher program.

Its core product surface is a portfolio of six peer-reviewed journals — GRUR (flagship, since 1892), GRUR-RR (court decision reports, 2001), GRUR International (European/international, since 1953 and now distributed via Oxford University Press since 2020), GRUR-Prax (practice-oriented, 2009), GRUR-Patent (patent practice, launched 2023), and the GRUR-RS case law database (since 2011). Supporting technology is conventional rather than proprietary: a member database with profile and address-search functionality, an online event calendar, a court jurisdiction directory, and electronic journal access delivered through Beck-Verlag's Beck-Online platform. Distribution is handled via Beck-Verlag (print and electronic for four of six journals), Oxford University Press (GRUR International globally), and direct member access for events and position statements.

GRUR is funded through three primary streams: annual membership dues ranging from €25 (reduced/student) to €600 (large-corporate tier), journal licensing royalties from Beck-Verlag and OUP, and event/seminar fees generated in partnership with DeutscheAnwaltAkademie and the Patentanwaltskammer. Pricing is set annually by the General Assembly (most recently updated for 2025) and members receive discounted rates on seminars and publications. The organization holds observer status at WIPO since 2005 and EUIPO Users' Group membership since 2006, runs seven regional district groups across Germany, and operates on a member-governed non-profit structure with no external investors, no subsidiaries, and dissolution assets vesting in the Max Planck Society.

Name

GRUR - Deutsche Vereinigung für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht e.V.

Legal name

Deutsche Vereinigung für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht e.V.

Website

https://grur.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GRUR is Germany's oldest and largest non-profit professional association for intellectual property law, serving roughly 5,000 patent attorneys, lawyers, judges, academics, and corporate IP members. It funds itself through membership dues, six peer-reviewed journals distributed via Beck-Verlag and Oxford University Press, and continuing-education seminars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association (Intellectual Property Law)

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing (MPAJABAK)

Keywords

• Intellectual property law
• Professional association
• Legal publications
• IP law research
• Legal education

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from approximately 5,000 members across various categories including individuals, corporations, authorities, and associations. Fees range from €25 (reduced rate for students) to €600 (large corporations).
2. Journal Publications: Revenue from publishing the GRUR journal family including GRUR, GRUR-RR, GRUR-International, GRUR-Prax, and GRUR-Patent, distributed through Beck-Verlag and Oxford University Press. The association also earns from the GRUR-RS court decision database.
3. Event Participation Fees: Revenue from seminar fees, annual conferences, and educational events. Members receive discounted rates for GRUR seminars organized with DeutscheAnwaltAkademie.
4. Printed Member Directory: Members can optionally receive a printed member directory for an additional fee, which includes addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of all members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GRUR is a scientific professional association for intellectual property law that sells membership subscriptions, publishes a family of IP law journals (GRUR, GRUR-RR, GRUR International, GRUR-Prax, GRUR-Patent) and the GRUR-RS case law database, and organizes continuing education seminars, annual conferences, and the biennial 'GRUR meets Brussels' workshop. Members include lawyers, patent attorneys, judges, academics, corporations, and IP authorities who gain access to scientific publications, professional networking, and legislative advocacy.

Product overview

GRUR is a scientific professional association (not a software product company) offering a family of German-language intellectual property law journals and related professional services. The core offerings include six peer-reviewed journals (GRUR, GRUR-RR, GRUR International, GRUR-Prax, GRUR-Patent, and GRUR-RS case law database) covering German, European, and international IP law. These are complemented by professional services including a job marketplace, continuing education seminars, annual conferences, a science promotion fund for academic research, position statements on legislative matters, a newsletter, young scientist programs, and directories of courts and academic institutions. Distribution is primarily through Beck-Online (electronic) and Beck-Verlag (print), with GRUR International also available through Oxford University Press.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GRUR (Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht) Journal The flagship scientific journal of GRUR containing articles on German domestic intellectual property law including patent law, utility model law, employee invention law, copyright and publishing law, competition and trademark law, and related civil law matters, for IP law professionals and researchers.
• GRUR-RR (Rechtsprechungs-Report) Journal Reports on current court decisions in intellectual property law, complementing the case law section of GRUR.
• GRUR International Journal Journal of European and international IP law covering European, foreign, and international law topics; available through Beck as well as Oxford University Press.
• GRUR-Prax Journal Practice-oriented journal providing current information and analyses on important developments in intellectual property, competition, and copyright law.
• GRUR Patent Journal Monthly practice-oriented journal in German and English covering all patent law topics, including reviews of decisions from the Unified Patent Court, EPO Boards of Appeal, and national jurisdictions.
• GRUR-RS Case Law Database Online case law collection providing access to court decisions in the field of intellectual property law.
• GRUR Seminars Continuing education seminars organized in cooperation with the DeutscheAnwaltAkademie and the Patentanwaltskammer, with experienced judges, lawyers, administrative officials, and scientists as speakers.
• GRUR Annual Conferences (Jahrestagungen) Annual conferences featuring lectures, panel discussions, and colloquia on national and international intellectual property questions.
• GRUR Science Promotion (Wissenschaftsförderung) Science fund supporting selected chairs and research projects through grants, scholarships, printing cost subsidies, and literature allowances for young scientists in intellectual property law.
• GRUR Position Statements (Stellungnahmen) Official position statements on current developments in intellectual property law, prepared by specialized committees and submitted to relevant ministries, authorities, and international bodies.
• GRUR Newsletter Official newsletter covering current developments in intellectual property law, competition law, and data law at national, European, and international levels.
• GRUR Job Market (Stellenmarkt) Job marketplace for international positions in intellectual property law, covering general IP law, trademark/competition/patent law, multimedia law, and cartel law.
• GRUR Junge Wissenschaft (Young Scientists Program) Program supporting young researchers in intellectual property law, including conferences, conference papers, and networking opportunities.
• GRUR Court Jurisdiction Database Database providing addresses and jurisdiction information for courts dealing with intellectual property matters in Germany.
• GRUR Wissenschaftsatlas (Academic Atlas) Directory of chairs, institutes, and advanced study programs in intellectual property law at German universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 5,000 members served through publications, events, and advocacy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oxford University Press (OUP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020International publishing partnership for GRUR International journal. Since 2020, GRUR International has been available to readers through OUP, expanding global access to the journal. OUP provides electronic access to the journal as part of its academic publishing portfolio.
• Beck-VerlagcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary publisher and distributor of GRUR journals including GRUR, GRUR-RR, GRUR-Prax, and GRUR-Patent. Provides electronic access through Beck-Online platform. Manages subscription lists and distribution of print editions.
• DeutscheAnwaltAkademiecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with the German Lawyer Academy for organizing continuing education seminars in intellectual property law. GRUR members receive discounted participation fees. Experienced judges, lawyers, administrative officials, and scientists serve as instructors.
• Patentanwaltskammer (German Patent Attorney Chamber)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration with the German Patent Attorney Chamber for organizing continuing education seminars. Joint efforts to provide professional development opportunities for patent attorneys in intellectual property law.
• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRUR has held observer status at WIPO since 2005 and participates in meetings of WIPO committees. The association engages in international discussions on IP topics and developments.
• EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRUR has been a member of the EUIPO Users' Group since 2006. The association participates in EUIPO consultations and contributes to European IP policy discussions.
• Max-Planck-Institut für Innovation und Wettbewerb (MPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Munich-based institute co-publishes the International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law (IIC) with the same objectives as GRUR. GRUR members can subscribe to IIC at preferential rates.
• EPA/EPO (European Patent Office)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRUR shares EPO news and events on its platform. Regular exchange of information about EPO activities relevant to German IP professionals.
• European CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRUR participates in European Commission consultations on IP-related matters and organizes the GRUR meets Brussels workshop annually to facilitate dialogue with Commission representatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AIPPI (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property): AIPPI is a global non-profit association of IP professionals, founded in 1897, that mirrors GRUR's mission of advancing IP law through study, publications, and policy engagement. It is the closest international analogue to GRUR and the most direct peer in scope and activities.
• INTA (International Trademark Association): INTA is a global membership association of trademark owners and professionals that, like GRUR, publishes journals, hosts annual meetings, and advocates on IP policy. It is a direct peer for GRUR's trademark and brand-side activities.
• LESI (Licensing Executives Society International): LESI is a worldwide non-profit professional society of licensing executives, attorneys, and technology transfer professionals. It is comparable to GRUR in operating as a learned society that publishes IP and licensing content and holds international conferences.
• MARQUES (Association of European Trade Mark Owners): MARQUES is a European membership association for trade mark owners that publishes industry resources and hosts conferences on brand and design IP. It is a direct peer to GRUR's European-focused trademark and design programming.
• ECTA (European Communities Trade Mark Association): ECTA is a European IP association focused on trade marks, designs, and related IP rights, with publications, committees, and conferences. It is a direct peer to GRUR's trade mark and design practice.
• ITechLaw (International Technology Law Association): ITechLaw is a global membership organization for lawyers and policy experts in technology, IP, and digital law. It is comparable to GRUR in serving IP/technology practitioners through publications, conferences, and committees.

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law: The ABA IP Section is the U.S. national bar-association section for IP lawyers, offering publications, CLE, and policy advocacy. It is a broader incumbent peer with comparable functions to GRUR but operating inside a much larger general legal body.
• IBA (International Bar Association): The IBA is the world's largest international legal membership organization, with IP among many practice areas. It is a broader incumbent peer covering IP practitioners globally alongside other legal disciplines.

Regional players

• Union des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle (UnionIP / CNCPI): UnionIP is the French national association of IP practitioners, with a parallel professional society role to GRUR but focused on the French market. It is a regional peer in the same professional-association category.

Others

• Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI): VDI is a large German technical and scientific society that combines learned-society publishing, conferences, and advocacy for engineers, comparable in organizational form (German eingetragener Verein with journals and regional groups) to GRUR but focused on engineering rather than IP law.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GRUR - Deutsche Vereinigung für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht e.V.