The Brussels Business Court has ruled that several pieces of furniture from a competitor infringe the copyrights of the Belgian interior design brand Gommaire. The decision highlights that applied art, such as furniture design, is protected when it represents an original intellectual creation.
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The case concerned a range of furniture that, according to Gommaire, had copied creative elements from their existing designs. The court emphasized that it is not the idea or style that matters, but the concrete design itself. Minor differences in finish or proportion are insufficient if the overall appearance remains recognisable.
Copyright infringement was found for the Munduk Table, Malachi Dining Chair and Bar Stool, Bali Dining Chair, and the Menorca Lounge Set, among others. The court noted that distinctive design cues, such as proportions, lines, and construction, were clearly reproduced in these products.
In contrast, no infringement was found for the Kayu Teak Lounge Chair and the Fern Desk. In these cases, the court determined that the differences were sufficient to make the original designs no longer recognisable. The court also stressed that general design principles, such as a 'waterfall' shape, cannot be claimed exclusively.
The ruling confirms that applied art is subject to the same originality requirements as other copyrighted works, no separate or stricter standard applies.
Source: Book9
More information:
Gommaire
Schijnpoortweg 123
2170 Antwerp
+32 3 288 19 40
[email protected]
www.gommaire.com
