DESIGN | The AG proposes a recognizability test for works of applied art protection

On 8 May 2025, Advocate General Szpunar (AG) delivered his Opinion in the joined cases C-580/23 (Mio AB, Mio e-handel AB, Mio Försäljning AB v Galleri Mikael & Thomas Asplund Aktiebolag) and C-795/23 (konektra GmbH and LN v USM U. Schärer Söhne AG), which are pending before the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), concerning the copyright protection of works of applied art. The AG reaffirms that originality, defined as the author’s own intellectual creation, remains the sole criterion for copyright eligibility pursuant to Directive (EC) 2001/29 of 22 May 2001, irrespective of the utilitarian nature of the work. Furthermore, the AG proposes a “recognizability” test to determine infringement, focusing on whether the allegedly infringing work reproduces the original’s creative elements in a manner that is perceptible to the informed user. Notably, this approach aims to harmonize the assessment of copyright infringement across the EU, thereby ensuring consistent protection for creators of functional artistic works. Should the ECJ endorses the AG’s Opinion, the forthcoming judgments could have a significant impact on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in sectors where design and function intersect.

Newsletter n. 107 – May 2025