Tools & Resources
Wikimedia Foundation, Wikimedia Deutschland urge Reiss Engelhorn Museum to reconsider suit over public domain works of art
Type: Online Resource
Author
Michelle Paulson, Geoff Brigham
Description
This blog post responds to the lawsuit filed by the Reiss Engelhorn Museum in Mannheim, Germany, against Wikimedia Foundation in regards to 17 images of public domain artworks which were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.
Date
2015 November 23
Commentary
<p>In June 2016, the Regional Court of Berlin ruled that the museum's reproductions were protected, even though the intent was to create a faithful image rather than produce an artistic interpretation. Wikimedia appealed.</p>
<p>In September 2016, the decision was affirmed. The court held not only that copyright as simple light photography existed in the museum’s reproductions, but also that the museum could restrict visitors from making their own reproductions based on the its private ownership status of the works. Wikimedia appealed.</p>
<p>In June 2017, the highest court in Stuttgart affirmed again, but permitted an appeal.</p>
<p>In September 2016, the decision was affirmed. The court held not only that copyright as simple light photography existed in the museum’s reproductions, but also that the museum could restrict visitors from making their own reproductions based on the its private ownership status of the works. Wikimedia appealed.</p>
<p>In June 2017, the highest court in Stuttgart affirmed again, but permitted an appeal.</p>
Publisher
Wikimedia Foundation
Institution
Wikimedia Foundation
Jurisdiction
Germany
Language
ENG
Copyright Information
In Copyright
Rights and Reuse
All Rights Reserved
Cortex Citation:
Michelle Paulson and Geoff Brigham, “Wikimedia Foundation, Wikimedia Deutschland urge Reiss Engelhorn Museum to reconsider suit over public domain works of art,” Copyright Cortex, accessed October 18, 2026, https://copyright-cortex.org/tools-resources/wikimedia-foundation-wikimedia-deutschl-urge-reiss-engelhorn-museum-to-reconsider-suit-over-public-domain-works-of-art.
Michelle Paulson and Geoff Brigham, “Wikimedia Foundation, Wikimedia Deutschland urge Reiss Engelhorn Museum to reconsider suit over public domain works of art,” Copyright Cortex, accessed October 18, 2026, https://copyright-cortex.org/tools-resources/wikimedia-foundation-wikimedia-deutschl-urge-reiss-engelhorn-museum-to-reconsider-suit-over-public-domain-works-of-art.