Global law firm Dentons represented the Bayer Group in criminal and civil law matters in the third trial against founders and webmasters of the "Pillendienst" ("Pills service") criminal group. Yesterday, "Pillendienst" founding member Georg W. as well as webmasters Friedrich T. and Sebastian W., were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from nine months up to five years and six months, partly with parole. In 2015, Matthias M., a co-founder of the "Pillendienst", was sentenced to six years and three months in prison, with Dentons representing Bayer as the joint plaintiff in the trial. Four accomplices were also sentenced to imprisonment, partly with parole. Previously, the court had sentenced twelve members of the "pills gang" to imprisonment as well as suspended sentences in several trials. They were convicted of criminal infringements of trademark law at the expense of Bayer and others, as well as violations of the German Medicinal Products Act.

Partner Constantin Rehaag represented Bayer as joint plaintiff in the criminal proceedings and is also heading Bayer’s representation in the civil proceedings, some of which have already been successfully terminated with defendants having paid reparations for damage.

From 2008 until 2011, "Pillendienst" sold counterfeit medicines via the internet by means of sophisticated advertising methods. The main products sold included potency and slimming pills and the defendants achieved a turnover of between €21 and €30 million. The drugs were produced in Asia and distribution channels ran across Eastern Europe to Germany. The dispatch was by ordinary mail and the customers paid by credit card or bank transfer. On the whole, about 600 people were part of this process, including web designers, programmers and web developers.

The Dentons team, led by Constantin Rehaag, represented Bayer throughout all proceedings. Bayer has a zero-tolerance policy against counterfeiting and piracy. The illegal internet trade in counterfeit medicine is a severe danger to consumers – in the best case the drugs do not have any effect and in the worst case they can damage health.

Advisors for Bayer AG

Dentons (Frankfurt): Dr. iur. Constantin Rehaag, MA (Partner, Intellectual Property and Technology), Dr. iur. Helmut Brandau (Of Counsel, Intellectual Property and Technology), Hanna Karoline Heidkamp (Associate, Intellectual Property and Technology)

Bayer AG: RA Marina Bloch

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