Sophie van Loon

Auteursrecht / Collectieve Rechtenorganisaties / Intellectuele eigendom / Naburige rechten / IE-procesvoering / Online content / Portretrecht / Databankrechten / Bedrijfsgeheimen / Licenties / Domeinnaamgeschillen.

Sophie adviseert cliënten in complexe auteursrechtelijke kwesties, zoals op het gebied van collectief rechtenbeheer. Ze werkt veel voor online platforms en cliënten in de audiovisuele sector, en heeft ruime proceservaring. Daarnaast is ze zeer bedreven in het opstellen en uitonderhandelen van (licentie)contracten en heeft uitgebreide kennis op het gebied van CBO-toezicht en auteurscontractenrecht. Ook het opstellen van muziekcontracten is een kernexpertise.

Sophie startte haar loopbaan in de wetenschap – ze promoveerde aan de Radboud Universiteit op een proefschrift over de relatie tussen Intellectueel Eigendom en Mededinging. Ze is redacteur van het blad Auteursrecht en publiceert regelmatig. Ook geeft ze cursussen op haar vakgebied.

Sophie is lid van de Vereniging voor Auteursrecht (VVA) en de Licensing Executives Society (LES).

The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 - Industry focus: Media and Entertainment - Tier 1

Kennedy Van der Laan has extensive experience handling high-profile litigation matters for clients within the media and entertainment industry. The firm caters to a diversity of clients, including production companies, streaming services, broadcasters and social media platforms. Hailed for his ‘thorough understanding of media and journalism’, Jens Van den Brink heads the team. Joran Spauwen is another exceptional member of the team that has in-depth experience advising media clients on data protection regulations and online copyright requirements. Sophie van Loon and Lotte Oranje are also notable. Van Loon has experience handling copyright disputes, while Oranje regularly assists with some of the firm’s most prominent cases.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Healthcare & Life Sciences - Ranked

Jointly led by healthcare expert Fenna van Dijk and life sciences specialist Maarten Schut, Kennedy Van der Laan's team handles the full breadth of mandates across the healthcare and life sciences segments. Combining a corporate background with a focus on healthcare, Van Dijk advises on market entry, licenses, clinical research, PPPs and drafting contracts with medical devices companies; she played a key role in the vaccine strategy concerning the Covid-19 pandemic. IP expert Schut advises multinational companies including Nutreco and Syngenta and not-for-profit institutions on conflicts relating to R&D and licensing. With the addition of Joran Spauwen, the practice has gained a specialist in IP-focused transactions in the advanced technologies sector, assisting healthcare service providers with medical devices regulation and negotiating contracts with AI suppliers. He also links the M&A practice to the healthcare and life sciences practice, focusing on innovative companies investing in the health tech industry. Counsel Sophie Van Loon specialises in contract drafting, advisory work and litigation within the life sciences field and associate Eline Lam focuses on corporate, healthcare and regulatory law.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Industry focus: Media and Entertainment - Tier 1

Known for its freedom of speech and internet-related media practice, Kennedy Van der Laan is sought out by Dutch news outlets, broadcasters and production companies for advice on defamation claims and pre-publication reviews. Team head Jens van den Brink represents national and international media companies in free speech, copyright and digital matters. Content and technology specialist Joran Spauwen counsels the firm’s internet platforms and ISP clients on IP and transactional mandates. Counsel in the IP and media practice Sophie Van Loon is a key contact for social media platforms. Associate Lotte Oranje regularly acts for clients in disputes concerning press publications and online content.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Intellectual property: Trade marks, copyrights and design rights - Ranked

Kennedy Van der Laan continues to build on its key areas of specialism; technology, media/the internet and the fashion/luxury goods sectors. It has attracted an impressive number of new clients in these areas and its ‘success rate has been remarkable throughout the years‘ in respect of trade mark protection matters. Maarten Schut, who heads the group with Alfred Meijboom, has extensive trade marks expertise, particularly in the areas of life sciences and advanced technologies and is also a deputy judge at one of the four courts of appeal. Founding partner, Meijboom is known for his work where IP and IT interface and for ‘complex multi-jurisdictional‘ cases. Joran Spauwen became a partner in 2021 – his focus is on internet-based disputes and transactions and he is noted for his cyber security expertise. The ‘exceptional‘ senior associate Reindert Van Der Zaal's focus is brand protection and entertainment law. Sophie Van Loon and Gaya Schultz are other core team members.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 - Intellectual property: Trade marks, copyrights and design rights

Kennedy Van der Laan's IP practice handles both contentious and non-contentious work in the areas of trade marks, copyright, designs, licensing, R&D, trade secrets and patents. The firm has a strong presence in the technology, media, and fashion and luxury sectors. Alfred Meijboom and Maarten Schut lead the department. Sophie van Loon specialises in copyright law. Also recommended are senior associates Reindert van der Zaal and Joran Spauwen.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2019 - Intellectual Property: Trade marks, copyrights and design rights

The 'efficient, well-synced team' at Kennedy Van der Laan 'has excellent communication skills; the advice is pragmatic and it has broad experience in brand protection matters'. Alfred Meijboom and Maarten Schut head the department and offer broad expertise in IP, media, and related technology issues. Schut also coordinates the European brand protection work for Nike. Counsel Sophie van Loon has a focus on copyright law and advises international media and publishing clients, including on matters relating to collective rights management societies. The team's impressive client roster includes Ikea, Facebook, and Tommy Hilfiger. Highlight work includes continuous assistance to Converse in its fight against counterfeiting in several European countries and wins against Dutch distributors Van Caem and Goeiemode.

• Advisering van een beursgenoteerde onderneming over een geschil met een collectieve beheersorganisatie;
• Verdediging van een televisieproductie en -distributie multinational in een geschil over een programmaformat;
• Advisering van een streaming platform over auteurscontractenrecht;
• Verdediging van een internationale organisatie voor audiovisuele producenten in een geschil over CBO beheer;
• Opstellen van maatwerk contracten en advisering over contract management voor internationaal gerenommeerd architectenbureau.