When Design Becomes Art: The Threshold for Copyright Protection

Copyright Law | Artwork & Design | Business Litigation Setting the Stage: Copyright vs. Design Protection Germany’s Federal Court of Justice (BGH) clarified on February 20, 2025 that Birkenstock’s iconic sandals—such as the Arizona and Madrid—do not qualify as “works of applied art” under § 2 UrhG and thus are not eligible

Navigating Legal Structures Across Europe: A Comparative Overview

Europe's diverse legal landscape offers a range of business structures tailored to different regulatory environments, economic contexts, and cultural norms. Understanding these structures is crucial for multinational corporations, startups, and legal professionals operating across borders. This article provides an overview of the most common legal entities in key European jurisdictions,

Germany’s Evolving Position on the CSDDD: Balancing Business and Sustainability

Germany, long a leader in European regulatory frameworks, is repositioning itself on one of the European Union’s most ambitious legislative proposals: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Once a staunch advocate for mandatory environmental and human rights due diligence, Germany has recently taken a more nuanced and pragmatic stance—calling for

The Lawmakers of Europe: How the EU Drafts and Adopts Legislation

The European Union (EU), a unique political and economic union of 27 countries, crafts laws that shape not only Europe’s internal market but influence global standards in areas like data protection, competition, environment, and human rights. Yet the way the EU drafts and adopts its laws remains a complex, multi-layered process