Tools & Resources
Wikimedia Loses German Copyright Case Over Photographs of Public Domain Paintings
Type: Online Resource
Author
Benjamin Beck, Konstantin von Werder
Description
This article reviews the Regional Court of Berlin's decision in favor of the Reiss Engelhorn Museum, ruling photographs of public domain paintings are protected by the section 72 copyright-related right of the German Copyright Act.
Date
2016 July 8
Commentary
This is an ongoing dispute with the most recent judgment in favor of the Reiss Engelhorn Museum in June 2017. The highest court in Stuttgart affirmed the decision, but permitted an appeal.
Publisher
All About IP Blog, Mayer Brown
Jurisdiction
Germany
Language
ENG
Copyright Information
In Copyright
Rights and Reuse
All Rights Reserved
Cortex Citation:
Benjamin Beck and Konstantin von Werder, “Wikimedia Loses German Copyright Case Over Photographs of Public Domain Paintings,” Copyright Cortex, accessed October 18, 2026, https://copyright-cortex.org/tools-resources/wikimedia-loses-german-copyright-case-over-photographs-of-public-domain-paintings.
Benjamin Beck and Konstantin von Werder, “Wikimedia Loses German Copyright Case Over Photographs of Public Domain Paintings,” Copyright Cortex, accessed October 18, 2026, https://copyright-cortex.org/tools-resources/wikimedia-loses-german-copyright-case-over-photographs-of-public-domain-paintings.