Pirate Hunter. Brand Protector.
For more than 20 years, Christian Zierhut has fought for globally recognized brands — giving everything to reduce legal risk for his clients and strengthen brand performance.
From counterfeit Baby Born® dolls and Frisbee® & Hula Hoop® toys, to slavishly copied car parts, designer couture, comic superheroes, and the merchandise of Formula 1 and MotoGP world champions.
In this interview, he explains how he unmasks counterfeiters — and why speaking with him is worth your time.
How did it all begin?
I’m 49 years old, studied in Würzburg, and completed both state exams there.
It probably started back in high school — I was fascinated by how the German Civil Code, with its abstract, universally applicable rules, can resolve almost any case. That was compelling to me.
My parents ran electronics stores — and even in high school, I was responsible for an entire branch: purchasing, advertising, personnel. I grew up with entrepreneurial thinking, and I was fascinated by the law. Studying law was the logical next step.
What fuels your passion for justice?
“One out of ten is truly creative — the other nine copy.”
I know what it feels like to build something of your own — only for others to copy it, steal ideas, and save themselves development costs. That is unacceptable.
I fight for those who invest — time, energy, money, and ideas.
What principles guide your decisions as a lawyer, especially in challenging situations?
Values such as reliability and loyalty are essential to me. I also trust my intuition with people and situations. Courage is always part of it: the courage to question what is familiar, take new paths, and make decisions that are not only legally correct but also right on a human level.
You founded your law firm as a stock corporation — an unusual move in the legal field. Why?
In 2002, it was indeed unconventional — we were the first “lawyer AG” ever approved in Munich.
But this structure allowed me to pursue my vision consistently: to think entrepreneurially, work innovatively, and build a firm that offers more than traditional legal frameworks.
Winning 1st place in the “BJU Young Entrepreneurs Award” in 2003 showed me that courage and new approaches pay off — especially in a field where many firms cling to old models.
What were your biggest milestones?
- One of my first milestones was founding UNIcomp, one of the first direct computer retailers in Germany. We were pioneers and dominated many university cities for years. That entrepreneurial experience shapes me to this day.
- Another defining period was my humanitarian work in Togo, Senegal, and Gambia during the Ebola and Covid crises. Through the IOM and the Red Cross, my company supplied specially developed water disinfection devices used in field clinics, hospitals, and at the airports of Dakar and Banjul. Most recently, we even received an official government mandate to combat counterfeit medicines in West Africa — a vital issue for public health.
- One of my most formative professional experiences came early in my career: I represented a small German publisher against a major media corporation — David against Goliath. We won. That success taught me that courage, perseverance, and a clear strategy can overcome even seemingly impossible odds.
“Beating Axel Springer — you don’t forget that.”
- Another milestone was when trademark enforcement didn’t just win cases — it transformed entire industries.
We didn’t just seize counterfeit goods — we demonstrated what is possible when brand protection is pursued consistently, boldly, and strategically. Entire warehouses full of body kits were seized for Rieger Tuning; for KW Automotive, we spent days dismantling coilover suspension systems until every infringing component was identified and confiscated. These cases were a turning point: they proved that imitation is not a minor offense but a real threat to innovation. Rieger and KW had the courage to stand with us — and as a result, the industry learned that product piracy carries consequences. To this day, hardly anyone dares to import China-made copies into Europe. It was not just a legal victory — it set new standards for brand protection and permanently changed the market.
- Another milestone was when trademark enforcement didn’t just win cases — it transformed entire industries.
We didn’t just seize counterfeit goods — we demonstrated what is possible when brand protection is pursued consistently, boldly, and strategically. Entire warehouses full of body kits were seized for Rieger Tuning; for KW Automotive, we spent days dismantling coilover suspension systems until every infringing component was identified and confiscated. These cases were a turning point: they proved that imitation is not a minor offense but a real threat to innovation. Rieger and KW had the courage to stand with us — and as a result, the industry learned that product piracy carries consequences.
To this day, hardly anyone dares to import China-made copies into Europe. It was not just a legal victory — it set new standards for brand protection and permanently changed the market. Another defining milestone was my work with Precisport, the global licensee for Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. In this arena, brands stand for more than products — they are emotional worlds, global communities, symbols of identity. Our mission was to preserve their authenticity and secure their long-term value. A landmark project was Ed Hardy — likely the most extensive anti-counterfeiting mandate Europe has seen. The challenge was immense: international structures, digital markets, globally coordinated counterfeit networks. What emerged was a new understanding of how to analyze markets, detect disturbances early, and clean up complex systems sustainably. This project has shaped our strategic thinking to this day. More recent work includes measures for iconic brands such as Frisbee®, Hula Hoop®, Stan Lee’s POW! superhero rights, BABY born®, the Frida Kahlo Corporation, Monchhichi, and many others. For these clients, we are able to create an accurate, high-resolution market picture within days — almost like an X-ray — enabling us to foresee developments, identify risks, and take proactive action. The core of our work is not only combating counterfeits, but understanding brands as living systems. We view brand protection holistically: internationally connected, data-driven, forward-looking, and designed to stabilize markets in the long run.
What exactly does a “pirate hunter” do?
We find counterfeits.
If necessary, I climb into the shipping container myself — flashlight in hand.
What happens at your desk?
We evaluate leads, conduct worldwide research, and develop strategies. Every case is different — that’s what makes this profession exciting.
Which IP rights do you use?
Patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs — but above all: protect early.
Is there a “master strategy” in brand protection?
There is no single master strategy — the future belongs to integrated systems.
Brand protection is effective when we:
Prevent — build protection frameworks before products and markets emerge
Detect — scan markets in real time through monitoring, data analysis, and international networks
Respond — intervene intelligently when limits are crossed, legally, administratively, and technologically
Only this interconnected, forward-looking combination allows brand protection to not just react — but to anticipate developments.
Is your focus on Europe?
We work internationally, but Germany is one of our strongest bases — legally, economically, and strategically.
From here, we develop measures with impact far beyond Europe.
Our goal is clear: stop counterfeits before they reach the European market — or ideally before they are even produced.
To achieve this, we connect authorities, analyze global supply chains, and intervene where the effect is greatest.
For us, brand protection does not end at borders — it begins where markets emerge.
What motivates you?
I’m most motivated when clients feel they have regained control — over their brand, their product, their life’s work. That is the best moment.
Which developments will shape brand protection in the future?
Brand protection will become more digital, more global, and more data-driven.
Risks emerge in seconds — and we must not only recognize them but predict them.
AI-driven analyses, international cooperation, and proactive action will be decisive.
Brands today are identity — and protecting that identity is more important than ever in an increasingly fast-paced world.
Interview by Melanie Roth, journalist and reporter at Bayerischer Rundfunk.