Publication MARQUES: CJEU rules on copyright protection for works of applied art in Mio and Konektra cases

Marie De WitAdverit Zeist, Netherlands

This article reports on the 4 December 2025 ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the joined Mio and Konektra cases. The decision addresses the threshold for copyright protection of works of applied art, an area historically marked by fragmented national approaches. It clarifies how originality is assessed for functional/design objects across the EU. The piece situates the judgment's implications for designers and manufacturers seeking copyright protection alongside or instead of design rights.

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