Heuking client Zattoo heralds new TV era in Germany with entirely cloud-based IPTV service

April, 2018 - Duesseldorf, Germany

1&1 Telecommunication SE, a subsidiary of Drillisch AG, a member of United Internet Group, makes its some 12 million DSL and mobile customers a unique media offering: customers may watch 90 TV channels, 40 of which in HD, plus international TV channels, pay-TV packages for sports, music, movies, and documentaries on up to three devices.

The entire setup is engineered and managed by Zattoo Europa AG, as recently announced by the cooperation partners on April 9, 2018. A team led by Düsseldorf-based partner Michael Schmittmann provided Zattoo with comprehensive advice on copyright and contract law issues on the launch of the IPTV service.

Zattoo offers fully hosted IPTV, OTT, TV everywhere, and hybrid TV services to network operators and media companies as a white label product. The 1&1 project for all relevant end devices, ranging from set-top boxes to streaming devices such as Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV to mobile platforms such as iOS, Android or Windows 10, represents a milestone in the B2B TV solutions market. Launched under the "1&1 Digital TV" label, the entirely cloud-based IPTV service does not only offer pure transmission performance, but also functions such as nPVR (individual storage), 7-day catch-up, timeshift, live pause, and video-on-demand. During months of negotiations and preparation for the launch, Zattoo created the legal framework for the project jointly with Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek and contract partner 1&1.

The team led by Michael Schmittmann, 2017 Handelsblatt Lawyer of the Year for Media Law (Contract and Copyright Law), has been advising Zattoo for several years.

Counsel to Zattoo International GmbH
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek:
Michael Schmittmann (Contract and Copyright Law, Lead),
Astrid Luedtke (Data Protection),
Beatrice Stange, LL.M. (Competition),
Marcel Maybaum (Contract Law), all Düsseldorf

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