Many people think that they obtain copyright protection for an idea by putting it in writing and submitting this to an online register like CCproof. Unfortunately, that is often not

Lepin has been selling imitations of Lego products under the LEPIN brand since 2015 (as well as having this trademark registered everywhere). Not only the products are exact imitations, the

An online row occurred in China about an exhibition of Feng Feng’s paintings. Stylized rabbits with a duck beak, strongly reminding of Dick Bruna’s Miffy. The artist rejects accusations of

Copyright also applies to works of applied art. Because trends change rapidly in the garments-/fashion industry, manufacturers often rely on unregistered designs or on copyright to protect their designs. The

Dutch TV host Arjan Lubach mercilessly exposed the practices of RUMAG last season. Rumag markets T-shirts with famous quotes translated literally, in ALLCAPS separated by dots instead of spaces. This

Copyright does not only apply to Art with a capital “A”. Products of applied art are also often seen as a creation. If this is the case, then a work

A professional illustrator is commissioned by a Dutch broadcasting company to make a silhouette drawing of a Santa-Claus figure seated on horseback. A few years later, this image (be it

Copyright does not only apply to art with the capital A. Also daily used articles are covered by its protection. However, the product (a work) must be an original creation.

In 1974 Erno Rubik develops a 3D puzzle, a cube with 6 coloured surfaces. The mechanism is protected by a Hungarian patent. Each infringement of the invention can be prevented

It is common knowledge that fame and fortune has its price. So, what about the privacy protection of ordinary people? As a rule, pictures of persons (with the exception of

Scotch & Soda sells down jackets since 2012. When Esprit launches a similar jacket in 2015, Scotch protests, claiming its copyrights (No European design was timely filed). Esprit stops the

Last year, an interesting ruling was passed by the judge regarding the use of stock photos. Normally, stock photos are protected by copyright law. The main rule is, that an

An idea itself cannot be protected, only its implementation can. The shape of a product can be protected by copyrights or design rights. If these rights are not available, in

In 2012, Trine Anderson designs the Wire Basket. She created this design as an employee of the firm Ferm Living. In the Netherlands the copyrights belong to the company if

Louis van Gaal, a Dutch soccer coach, always knows how to get and keep the media’s attention. An advertising agency bought a picture at Getty Images concerning the Dutch soccer

In June the new logo for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo was leaked. The logo was designed by the Japanese artist Kenjiro Sano and is based on the capital

Copyright gives companies the ability to act against unwanted copies of their creation. In most cases these are traditional creations such as books, movies or music. It does entail a

Plaintiff makes furniture made of glass fiber and polyethyleen and is the maker of the Ball Chair (designed in 1998(. Ramblaz produces promotion articles and at the request of a

At the beginning of this year the Hague Museum announced that they were able to buy one of te original Mondriaan dresses from Yves Saint Lauren. The dress is dubbed

Fortuna has a website with information on boat trips. On one of the pages a picture is shown of Volendam, comparable with the picture below, without a notification of who

The shape of furniture (and other shapes of applied arts) can be easily protected with a design registration. This can be licensed to third parties and can be used in

The Dutch Court of Cassation has recently given a very clear verdict on the extent of copyright law. Can a style or trend be protected against passing off if no

Lego offers an entire range of products such as doors, trees and miniature figurines (e.g. fireman) to use in combination with their famous blocks.

Banbao

Bratz is a line of toys, featuring dolls with exaggerated facial features, owned by American MGA ENTERTAINMENT. The first dolls were launched in 2001, but the real success

Happy Point rents and sells inflatable dolls. When an almost identical doll is spotted Happy Point starts a procedure. The opposing party claims that the dolls are not protected by

Some months ago a German priest launched a website aimed at informing young believers about the Bible. Using reshaped Playmobil figures the priest depicted scenes from both the Old and