Sole(ly) aesthetic? The Birkenstock Sandal goes to the Federal Court of Justice

The question of whether Birkenstock sandals can be qualified as applied art works and benefit from copyright protection is a central subject in intellectual property law. Copyright protects works that have an original and creative character. However, not all objects or designs are eligible for this form of protection. This article examines whether Birkenstock sandals meet the criteria necessary to benefit from this protection, based on the princ…

Sole(ly) aesthetic? The Birkenstock Sandal goes to the Federal Court of Justice

In Germany, the Federal Court of Justice recently issued a highly anticipated judgment regarding questions of copyright protection for works of applied art, which in this instance related to nothing less than the Birkenstock sandals. Here, we offer a comparative view on copyright protection for works of applied art in Germany and France. I. Germany […] The post Sole(ly) aesthetic? The Birkenstock Sandal goes to the Federal Court of Justice appea…