EU’s Top Court Confirms Copyright for Design, but Looking Good Will Not Do the Trick
On September 12, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handed down yet another ruling on the interpretation of EU copyright law. With its Cofemel-decision (C-683/17), the CJEU harmonized the requirements for utilitarian objects, which might also be protected by a (registered or unregistered) design right, to benefit from copyright protection. Provided that the conditions explained hereunder are met, the Cofemel-decision confirms that lighting equipment, clothing items, furniture, motor vehicles, etc. enjoy copyright…