German Court Rules Birkenstock Sandals Not Artistic

germany - German court dismisses Birkenstock's case against imitators, stating sandals are not considered art.

Birkenstock Loses Case Against Imitators

Birkenstock, known for its leather sandals with buckles and cork soles, lost a legal battle against three competitors for copyright infringement. The court ruled that copyright law protects artistic, not functional aspects of a design.

The company argued that its sandals should be considered 'applied art,' but the court disagreed, stating that the sandals are purely a technical creation with some design elements. This does not qualify for copyright protection in Germany.

The Bundesgerichtshof upheld a lower court's decision, highlighting that the sandals lack the artistic merit required for copyright protection.