Team > Prof. Dr. Michael Grünberger

Faculty of Law, Business and Economics
Chair of Civil, Commercial and Technology Law

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Curriculum Vitae

EMPLOYMENT

University of Bayreuth, Germany

On leave from the University of Bayreuth, President of Bucerius Law School since October 1, 2023

Professor of Civil, Commercial and Technology Law, since August 2012 (tenured)

Dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and Economics, October 2022 - May 2023

Vice dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and Economics, October 2020 - September 2022

Chair of the Bayreuth Graduate and Research Training Group “Intellectual Property and the Public Domain” (http://www.gkrw.uni-bayreuth.de), from November 2012 - March 2015. (The group was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany’s largest and most prestigious independent research funding organisation, with € 540.000,- (approx. $ 700.000,-) annually. 

Visiting Professor of Civil, Commercial and Technology Law, April – August 2012

Rupprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany

Visiting Professor of Civil Law, October 2011 – March 2012

University of Cologne, Germany

Assistant Professor at the Institute for Industrial Property Rights and Copyright, August 2005 – September 2011

Fordham Law School, New York, NY

Visiting Foreign Scholar, March – April 2008

novalex/juriq, Germany

Coaching students for the first state exam (JD equivalent) in public law,
October 2005 – March 2006; April 2003 – July 2004

University of Cologne, Germany

Graduate Senior Assistant and Ph.D. student, Chair of Civil, Commercial and Corporate Law and Intellectual Property Law, January 2003 – August 2004

Mayer, Brown & Platt, Germany

Freelancer, May 1999 – October 2000

University of Cologne, Germany

Graduate Assistant, Department for German Legal History, February 1999 – September 2000

University of Cologne, Germany

Student Research Assistant, Department for German Legal History, January 1995 – January 1999

EDUCATION

University of Cologne, Faculty of Law, Germany

Habilitation (post-doctoral degree), 2011
Dr. jur. (doctorate in law), 2005

New York University, New York

Master of Laws (LL.M.), 2005 (Artur T. Vanderbilt scholarship, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship)

Landesjustizprüfungsamt [Legal State Exam Authority] Düsseldorf, Germany

Second State Examination, 2002
(Top 3 % of all participants in 2002)

Oberlandesgericht [Regional High Court] Cologne, Germany

First State Examination (J. D. equivalent), 1999
(Top 1 % of all law school graduates in North-Rhine Westfalia in 1999)

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SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

• University of Passau, "Legal Tech at the University", June 25, 2022
• Symposium "The Role of Intellectual Property in Times of Radical Change" at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition Munich, "(Re-)Constructing IP Rights in Unsettled Times: The Multilateral Task of IP Scholarship", June 14, 2022
• Max-Planck-Institut Frankfurt, “From a Rights-Based to a Procedural Approach: Re-Contextualizing Intellectual Property Rights”, May 19, 2022.
• Consumer Rights Days 2021 at the Federal Ministry of Justice, “Algorithmic Decision Systems in Non-Discrimination Law: Challenges – Construction Possibilities – Perspectives” (with Jan-Laurin Müller), July 12, 2021 
• Universiteit van Amsterdam, “Copyright Law 2030 – A memorandum on the future of the creative ecosystem in Europe”, IvR Lecture Series, April 30, 2021
• Institut für Europäisches Medienrecht, Saarbrücken, "Amendment of Copyright Law – Responsibility of Service Providers“, November 18, 2020.
• Vereniging voor Auteursrecht, Webinar, „The German Implementation of Art. 17 DSM-Directive – Possible Benefits of a Procedural Approach”, October 30, 2020.
• University of Bayreuth, 16th Forum for Consumer Rights Research, “Legal Defects of Digital Content and Copyright”, October 1, 2020
• Max-Planck-Institut Schloss Ringberg, Tegernsee, "Footprints of Hanns Ullrich", February 27, 2020
• Consumer Rights Days 2019 “Access to Data, Consumer Interests and Public Welfare”, BMJV Berlin (Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection), “The Contractual Framework for Access to Data, in particular through Control of General Terms and Conditions”, December 12, 2019.​
• Symposium “Integrative Law”, Bucerius Law School Hamburg, “Non-discrimination law: Instrument of integration, inclusion or (supposed) identity politics?”, November 21, 2019​
• Colloquium II Methodology between Science and Craft, University of Bielefeld, “Legal Theory instead of Methodology?!”, March 22, 2019.
• Seminar Legislation in Context, Humboldt-University of Berlin, “Platforms: Intermediaries, Recipients of Regulations or Regulating Actors?”, March 3, 2019.
• Symposium of the Studiengesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Recht (Research Association for Economy and Law), Salzburg/Austria, „Data (-protection) Law and Contract Law“, November 8, 2018.
• Conference of the Deutsche Richterakademie Wustrau, „Jurisdiction of the German Federal Labor Court on Anti-Discrimination Law”, June 11, 2018.
• Max-Planck-Institut Munich and Humboldt-University of Berlin, “Does One Size Fit All?” Declaration on Patent Protection – Regulatory Sovereignty under TRIPS, July 11/12, 2017.
• Universidad Pablo De Olivade, Sevilla, “Brexit and its Consequences for the Unitary Union Intellectual Property Rights”, Los juristas del civil law miran al Brexit, April 20/21, 2017.
• University of Zurich, Switzerland, Zivilrechtslehrertagung 2017, “Contracts on Digital Contents”, September 11, 2017.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany, “European and German Concepts of Intermediary Liability – Towards a Context-sensitive Approach”, Online Platforms and Intermediaries in Copyright Law, March 23/24, 2017.
• University of Oxford, St. Peter’s College, Great Britain, “One Contract to Rule Them All? – The Hidden Battle Between Contract and Copyright Law in the Digital Single Market Strategy”, February 16, 2017.
• Institute for Copyright and Media Law Munich, “Internet Platforms – Present Challenges of the Digital Economy to Copyright and Media Law”, Symposium, November 4, 2016
• Medientage München, Munich, Germany, “Copyright Law in The Strategy for a Digital Single Market”, October 27, 2016.
• GRUR Annual Symposium, Munich, Germany, “Limitations on Copyright for Educational and Scientific Purposes – from the European and the German Perspective”, October 12-15, 2016.
• University of Tartu, Society of European Contract Law SECOLA, “A Digital CESL II: A Suitability Assessment”, conference “European Contract Law in the Digital Age”, June 17/18, 2016.
• Bucerius Law School, Hamburg, Germany, “Autonomy, Equality and Justice”, round-table discussion “Autonomy in Legislation”, April 29/30, 2016.
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, “Copyright Law in a Knowledge-based Society – General Conditions for Archives”, conference “Legal Collisions in the Use of Archives? Copyright Law and User Behavior in Scientific Archives”, April 14, 2016.
• University of Cologne, Germany, “Basic Structures (General Structural Features) of the Principle of Equal Treatment”, work meeting on equal treatment 2016, April 4/5, 2016
• University of Regensburg, Germany, Symposium “Principles of Civil Law”, Civil Law and Equality, October 3, 2015
• University of Dar Es Salaam and University of Bayreuth (organiser), Eastern African Common Legal Space in Economic Law: State of the Art and Future Perspectives, with Consideration of the European Experience, Labour Law and Legal Harmonisation – The Case of Non-Discrimination Law in the E.U., August 11, 2015
• Asociación Española de Profesores de Derecho Internacional y Relaciones Internacionales Madrid and Universität Bayreuth (organiser), Testing the stress of the EU: EU law after the financial crisis, The European Patent with unitary effect – A peak in multilevel private law ordering?, May 8, 2015.
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, Conference „Intellectual Property and the Public Domain – Results and Perspectives“, Closing Statement What’s next?, February 2, 2015, Bayreuth
• Institut für Urheberrecht, Munich, Germany, working session: The Consumption and Use of Works in a Digitalized World, Do We Need a Balance Between Patent Rights and Restrictions?, December 12, 2014.
• University of Passau, Germany, DFG Graduate School “Privacy”, Privacy – Legal Functions of a Key Term, Areas and Culture of Privacy, September 17, 2014.
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, Body and Gender in Legislation, May 20, 2014
• Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria, Equal Treatment and Protection against Discrimination, January 13, 2014
• University of Salzburg, Austria, Symposium “Individual Responsibility versus Solidarity in Commercial Law”, Studiengesellschaft für Wirtschaft und Recht, Non-Discrimination Law, November 7, 2013
• University of Verona, Italy, Facoltà di Giurisprudenza, Protection of IP-Infringements in International Settings, November 4, 2013
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, Lecture “Body and Scene”, Bodies in Legislation, October 30, 2013
• 6th IP Forum Mannheim, University of Mannheim, Germany, The International Localization of IP-Rights Infringements, June 20, 2013
• Spring conference of the Pharma Study Group Information and Documentation, Erfurt, Germany, Copyright in the Cloud, April 24, 2013
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, Everything obsolete? – The Recognition Principle vs. the Conventional Private International Law, Symposium, Do we need a Rome O Regulation – Considerations about a General Part of the European Private International Law, June 30, 2012
• University of Passau, Germany, 26th Passau Symposium for Labor Law, Variety by Quota – Reverse Discrimination at the Cost of the Efficiency Principle?, June 22, 2012
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, DFG-Graduate School “Intellectual Property and the Public Domain”, Consumer Protection vs. Intellectual Property?, May 9, 2012
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, 8th Bayreuth Forum for Commercial and Media Law – The Protection of Intellectual Property on the Internet, Digitalization and Making Available of Orphan Works, January 28, 2012
• University of Innsbruck, Austria, Test-Achats and Unisex Tariffs – A Case for a Jurisprudential approach to Law, January 16, 2012
• University of Bayreuth, Germany, Gene Modified Maize, Bees and Honey – A Challenge for the Concept of Coexistence in the Act on Genetic Engineering, December 8, 2011
• University of Cologne, Germany, Habilitation, The Place of Supplementary Performance in German and European Private Law, July 14, 2011
• University of Cologne, lecture series on “Gender and Diversity – Think Laterally”, Transsexuality in Legislation – A Permanent Challenge for Gender Dichotomy, May 5, 2011
• University of Mannheim, Germany, The Women’s Quota in Supervisory Boards, 
  February 15, 2010
  
• 17th Annual Conference of the Junges Forum Rechtsphilosophie (“Equality and Difference”), Halle, Germany, The Presumption of Equality. A Justification Model of the Obligation of Private Actors for Equal Treatment, September 22, 2010
• University of Cologne, Germany, lecture  series on Gender Research, Marriage and Civil Union: Separate But Equal?, May 7, 2010
• University of Tübingen, Germany, Study Group “Competition and Innovation”, The Binding Effect of Decisions of the Competition Authorities, September 25, 2009
• Max-Planck-Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, Hamburg, Germany, Lecture at the Post-Doctoral Seminar, Personal Equality. The Principle of Non-Discrimination in Civil Law, May 4 and 5, 2009
• Aristoteles University, Thessaloniki, Greece, Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights – Does One Size Fit All?, December 18, 2007
• Max-Planck-Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law, Munich, Germany, Max-Planck-Forum 2007, IP-Law Enforcement Efforts – Indications of a Breakdown, November 15, 2007
• University Medical Center Aachen, Germany, Symposium on Medically-Ethical Aspects in the Treatment of Transsexuality, The Reform of the Transsexuality Act –Great Success or Minor Achievement?, May 16, 2007
• Deutsches Anwaltsinstitut Bochum, Germany, Teaching Unit in the course of the 4th Seminar on Commercial and Corporation Law, Competition Law, May 4, 2007
• University of Cologne, Germany, From Bernhard Markus Antoinette to Anderson Bernd Peter – The Regulation and Identification Functions of First Names, January 25, 2007​

TEACHING

How to Read Judgments Critically: Legal Treatment of Non-Traditional Status and Family Relationships, seminar, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2022

Specialization in Intellectual Property and Competition Law, lecture, University of Bayreuth, Winter 2020/21, Winter 2021/22, Winter 2022/23

How to Read Judgments Critically, seminar, University of Bayreuth: Winter 2020/21

Modern Society in Private Law: Liberty and/versus Equality, seminar, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2020

Basic Controversies in (Private) Law, reading seminar, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2019

Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination in (Private) Law, seminar, University of Bayreuth: Winter 2018/19

Civil Law Code – general part, lecture, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2017, Winter 2017/18, Summer 2018, Summer 2019, Summer 2020, Summer 2021, Summer 2022

Introduction to Legal Sociology, lecture, University of Bayreuth: Winter 2016/17

Introduction to EU Intellectual Property Law, Duquesne University School of Law, Summer Study of European Law at Cologne University, lecture: Summer 2011, Summer 2012, Summer 2013, Summer 2014

Jurisprudence & Methodology of Law, lecture, University of Bayreuth (co-teaching with colleagues from criminal law and pulic law): Summer 2014, Summer 2015, Summer 2016, Summer 2017, Summer 2018, Summer 2021

Technology Law, lecture, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2012, Summer 2013, Summer 2014, Summer 2015, Summer 2016, Summer 2017, Summer 2018

Exercise Course in Civil Law for Advanced Learners, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2012, Summer 2013, Summer 2014, Summer 2016, Summer 2018

Intellectual Property Law, advanced seminar, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2012,Winter 2012/13, Summer 2013, Winter 2013/14, Summer 2014, Winter 2014/15, Summer 2015, Summer 2016, Winter 2016/17, Summer 2017, Winter 2017/18, Winter 2018/19, Summer 2019, Summer 2020, Winter 2020/21, Summer 2021, Winter 2021/22, Summer 2022, Winter 2022/23, Summer 2023

Legal Theory, lecture, University of Bayreuth (co-teaching with Prof. Lepsius and Prof. Podszun): Summer 2015

Intellectual Property Law I (Patent, Trademark and Design Law), lecture, University of Bayreuth: Winter 2012/13, Winter 2013/14, Winter 2014/15, Winter 2016/17, Winter 2017/18, Winter 2018/19

Legal Foundations, lecture, University of Bayreuth (co-teaching with colleagues from criminal law and public law): Winter 2013/14, Winter 2014/15, Winter 2016/17, Winter 2018/19, Winter 2021/22, Winter 2022/23

Specialization on Technology Law, lecture and advanced seminar, University of Bayreuth: Winter 2013/14, Winter 2014/15

Private Law in a Multilevel Legal Order, Tanzanian-German Centre for Eastern African Legal Studies, University of Dar es Salaam: July 29 – 31, 2013

Intellectual Property Law II (Copyright), lecture, University of Bayreuth: Summer 2013, Summer 2014, Summer 2016, Summer 2017, Summer 2018, Summer 2019, Summer 2020, Summer 2021, Summer 2022, Summer 2023

European Private Law, lecture, University of Bayreuth: Winter 2012/13

Introduction to Law for Engineers, lecture, University of Bayreuth: Winter 2012/13

Jurisprudence & Methodology of Law, University of Heidelberg: Winter 2011/12

European Private Law, lecture, University of Heidelberg: Winter 2011/12

Tort, Unjust Enrichment & negotio gestorum, lecture for advanced students, winter term 2011/12, University of Heidelberg

Copyright Law, lecture, University of Cologne: Summer 2009

Comparative Aspects of German-U.S. Constitutional Law, colloquium, University of Cologne: Summer 2008

Selected Comparative Aspects on German and English Private Law, colloquium, University of Cologne: Winter 2007/8

MEMBERSHIPS

Board member of the Institut für Urheber- und Medienrecht e.V., Munich (Institute for Copyright and Media Law)

Board member of the Society of Comparative Law (since 2015)

Co-Editor of the Zeitschrift für Geistiges Eigentum (Intellectual Property Journal), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen (since 2014)

Member of the advisory council of the Gender Studies Institute at Cologne University (since 2012)

Elected Member of the Faculty Council of the Law and Economics Department at Bayreuth University (for the 2013-2015 term)

Hiring committee member for tenured positions at the Law and Economics Department at Bayreuth University (2012-2015)

Elected Member of the Faculty Council of the Law Department at the University of Cologne (2009-2011)

Member of the Diversity Committee of Cologne University (2008-2011)

Faculty of Law, Business and Economics
Chair of Civil, Commercial and Technology Law

Publications

Faculty of Law, Business and Economics
Chair of Civil, Commercial and Technology Law

Prof. Dr. Michael Grünberger
Chairholder

E-Mail: michael.gruenberger@uni-bayreuth.de
Phone: +49 (0)921 / 55-6170
Building RW II, room 1.39

For appointments please contact technikrecht@uni-bayreuth.de