LGV Avvocati

LGV has exceptional experience in all IP matters and an international breadth including Italian and foreign professionals, all of whom are at least proficient in English and their respective languages.
 
The Patent department advises on patents and know-how matters across a wide range of technologies, from mechanical system (including textiles, manufacturing equipment and automotive applications) to cutting-edge innovations in microelectronics, optical media, and embedded system. The team has also handled complex mandates in the pharmaceutical, medical device, food and beverage, chemical, biotech and biomaterials.

The Copyright, IT and TMT department, one of the firm’s longest-standing and most distinguished practices. It represents both rightsholders and users of creative works covering everything, from the most traditional content - such as lyrics, photography and literary, musical, and visual works to the emerging digital media, including software, AI-generated content, television, videogames, websites, online platforms.  copyright as applied to new technologies is a core focus of the practice with extensive experience in both advisory work and litigation.

The Trademark & Design department protects some of the most prestigious trademarks, distinctive signs and designs across a broad spectrum of sectors of industry, including fashion, sport equipment, automotive, insurance and consumer goods. The team acts for leading multinational clients in the protection, enforcement and strategic management of their IP assets.

Key IP Areas

Copyright, Copyright & related rights, Intellectual property, Designs, Intellectual property (contentious), ITC litigation, Patent (contentious), Trade mark (contentious), Trade mark (prosecution)

Key Sector Expertise

Artificial intelligence, Automotive, Computer technology & services, E-commerce, Fashion & luxury goods, Food and beverage, Healthcare, ICT & software, Life sciences, Mechanical, Industrials, Media, Insurance, Music, Pharmaceutical, Technology hardware, Telecommunication

• LinkedIn
• Meet the team
• Managing  partner biography

Simona Lavagnini - Copyright - s.lavagnini@lgvavvocati.it 

• LGV Avvocati provides ongoing legal and strategic support to a prominent industry association representing major stakeho lders in the video game and esports ecosystem, including console manufa cturers, game developers, and professional players (such as Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and Electronic Arts). For several years, LGV Avvocati has advised the association on a broad range of intellectual property matters. Recently LGV avvocati has been working on esports, prominence (i.e. accessi bility on devices and services of Service of General Interest), minor identification in the online environment, contribution for the newly set Coordinator of Digital Services (AGCO
  M) and territoriality. Beyond lobbying activities, LGV is providing general assistance and advise to the Client for many different matters, including sponsorship contracts, contract s for evets manage ment, privacy issues, and other questio ns.
• The Client is the association representing some commerial software producers (Autodesk, Graphisoft, Maxxon, Exocad, PTC and others) in the field of software rights. LGV avvocati carries out the licence compliance program of the association, as well as the litigation and enforcement program. Both relate to acting against professional end user targets (companies, professionals) violating software rights in their business. The program extends to all the Italian territory and involves interim measures (search orders), followed by proceedings on the merit if the dispute is not settled. LGV Avvocati also assists BSA in non judicial activities, e.g. providing opinions regarding IP/privacy matters both to BSA and its members, cooperating with the PR agency in relation to marketing campaigns, reviewing agreem ents, etc. Since the enforcment program has been ongoing for many years, it can be said that the case law on software infringe ment has been shaped by LGV Avvocati especially in relation to relevant infringing acts and assess ment of damages.
• LGV Avvocati represents the Italian association of phonogram producers, whose members include leading global music companies such as Sony Music Entertainment Italy S.r.l., Universal Music Italia S.r.l., Warner Music Italia S.r.l., and Warner Music International Services Ltd. The case marks a watershed moment for the Italian music industry —it is the first litigation brought against an online platform in Italy concerning the liability of providers for the unauthorized sharing of user generated content. Critically, it is also the first case to apply
  the new legal framework introduced by Directive (EU) 2019/790 (the Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive), which redefines the liability of online content sharing service
  providers. LGV is advising the association in this precedent setting matter, which is expected to
  shape the interpretation and application of platform liability in Italy. The outcome will be instrumental in defining the scope of responsibility borne by digital platforms in protecting copyright holders, particularly in the evolving landscape of online content distribution. This litigation not only defends the rights of music producers but
  also establishes fundamental principles in the enforce ment of copyright law in the digital era, positioning LGV at the forefront of IP and media law in Italy.
  
  

Luigi Goglia - Intellectual property (contentious) - l.goglia@lgvavvocati.it

• Biesseis a company based in Pesaro, Italy, specialized in the producti on of woodworking and glass cutting machinery. LGV is currently assisting Biesse in two proceedings pending before
  the Enterprise Court of Milan. The first action was initiated in October 2019, the second proceedings were initiated in March 2022. Biesse filed an action for the declaration of the invalidity of the patent of a competitor who counter claimed the infringement of the patent. Both proceedings are now pending with the same reporting Judge. A decisionon joining the proceed ings is still to be issued. The counter party did not succeed so far in obtaining a speeding up of the
  proceedings. LGV’s Strategy is aimed at enabling the Client to operate in the market in a semi-safety regime. A possible sentence of patent invalidity would impact the whole product sector,
  enhance competition with expected cost lowering. The present litigation is of great significance for the market concerned, since the patent involved covers solutions used by almost all manufacturers. Moreover, the proceedings involve procedural aspects regarding the rules on preclusion for late filing of documents. Said aspects have not yet been finally resolved by Italian case law. The expected decisions will be of importance for the development of the interpretation of procedural rules.
• LGV also assists the client also in a trademark dispute in proceed ings on the merits with the
  Enterprise Court of Trieste. The counter party WYCON initiated proceedings directed at obtaining a negative ascertainment that the trademarks WJCON and WYCON do not infringe WiQo’s prior rights regarding the trademark WIQO. The Client filed counter claims. The opposing party is also an important competitor in the sector of cosmetics. The proceedings is an important step in a global strategy against misleading uses of the trademark WIQO, aimed to free the market from
  free riders. Moreover, the requested damages amount to the signific ant value of 10.000.000 Euro. LGV obtained a sentence before the Court of Trieste which ascertained the infringement of WiQo's trademark WIQO by the opposing products under the trademark WYCON. The opposing party was inhibited from using the trademark WYCON on the new products and was ordered to withdraw from the market all products bearing the trademark WYCON. Counter party appealed the decision but the dispute has been settled in a favourable manner for the client.
• LGV Avvocati represents Gioielli di Valenza (GDV), one of Italy’s leading jewellery retailers and a pioneer in launching online sales in the sector. With over 50 physical stores across the country, GDV is a well established player in both traditional and digital retail. The company faced a patent infringement lawsuit before the Court of Turin, initiated by a competitor alleging counterfeiting of a patented method used to
  dent a specific type of bracelet marketed by GDV. The case involved significant technical and legal complexity, particularly concerning the burden of proving prior use of the contested method and the validity of the patent itself. LGV conducted a meticulous investigation and compiled extensive evidence to demonstrate that the claimant’s patent lacked both novelty and inventive step. The Court of Turinruled in favour of GDV, declaring the patentinvalid due to insufficient inventiveness and inadequate disclosure. As a result, all preliminary injunctions previously granted against GDV were lifted. The decision was subsequently upheld by the Turin Court of Appeal, which confirmed the invalidity of the patent and ordered the claimant, Crieri, to cover all legal costs. Crieri then appealed to the Italian Supreme Court. In 2024, LGV appeared before the Supreme Court to argue for the dismissal of the appeal, continuing its robust defence of GDV’s rights and market position.