Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 9 March 2021

VG Bild-Kunst v Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz

Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesgerichtshof

Reference for a preliminary ruling – Intellectual property – Copyright and related rights in the information society – Directive 2001/29/EC – Article 3(1) – Concept of ‘communication to the public’ – Embedding, in a third party’s website, of a copyright-protected work by means of the process of framing – Work freely accessible with the authorisation of the copyright holder on the licensee’s website – Clause in the exploitation agreement requiring the licensee to introduce effective technological measures against framing – Lawfulness – Fundamental rights – – Article 11 and Article 17(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

Case C-392/19


Top of the page Documents in the Case
Document Date Name of the parties Subject-matter Curia EUR-Lex Autres Liens
Judgment (OJ)
23/04/2021 VG Bild-Kunst
Judgment
ECLI:EU:C:2021:181
09/03/2021 VG Bild-Kunst
Abstract
ECLI:EU:C:2021:181
09/03/2021 VG Bild-Kunst
Application (OJ)
26/07/2019 VG Bild-Kunst
Request for a preliminary ruling
21/05/2019 VG Bild-Kunst
Opinion
ECLI:EU:C:2020:696
10/09/2020 VG Bild-Kunst
Top of the page Legal analysis of the decision or of the case

Reports of Cases

not yet published (Court Reports - general)

Subject-matter

Information not available

Systematic classification scheme

1.
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.09 Harmonised intellectual property rights
      4.11.09.03 Copyright and related rights
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.11 Freedom of expression and information
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.17 Right to property
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.09 Harmonised intellectual property rights
      4.11.09.03 Copyright and related rights
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.11 Approximation of laws
    4.11.09 Harmonised intellectual property rights
      4.11.09.03 Copyright and related rights


Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

Operative part

Opinion


Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

  • 21/05/2019

Date of the Opinion

  • 10/09/2020

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

09/03/2021


References

Publication in the Official Journal

Information not available

Name of the parties

VG Bild-Kunst

Notes on Academic Writings

  1. Grünberger, Michael: Medienspezifische Zugangsregeln im Internet : framing/embedding : Zugleich Besprechung von EuGH, Urteil vom 9.3.2021 – C-392/19 – VG Bild-Kunst/Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Zeitschrift für Urheber- und Medienrecht 2021 p. 395-400 (DE)
  2. Lucas-Schloetter, Agnès: Droit d’auteur et droits voisins. Droits patrimoniaux. Droit de communication au public, Propriétés intellectuelles 2021 n° 79 p. 95-98 (FR)
  3. Simon, Denys: Propriété intellectuelle - Droits d'auteur, Europe 2021, nº 5 Mai, comm. 183 (FR)
  4. Gernhardt, Franz: Framing als öffentliche Wiedergabe nach dem Urteil VG Bild-Kunst/Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz des EuGH (Urt. v. 9.3.2021 – C-392/19), Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht PRAX 2021 p. 363-365 (DE)
  5. Engels, Charlie: VG Bild-Kunst/Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz : noot : (C-392/19), AMI: Tijdschrift voor auteurs-, media & informatierecht 2021 p. 158-160 (NL)
  6. Seignette, Jacqueline M.B.: VG Bild-Kunst/Stiftung Pressischer Kulturbesitz : noot, Intellectuele eigendom & Reclamerecht 2021 p. 201-203 (NL)
  7. Mezei, Péter ; Jütte, Bernd Justin: CJEU clarifies that framing infringes copyright if TPMs are circumvented : VG Bild-Kunst v Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, C-392/19, Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice 2021 p. 461-463 (EN)
  8. Rosati, Eleonora: Linking and copyright in the shade of VG Bild-Kunst : case C-392/19, VG Bild-Kunst v. Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Common Market Law Review 2021 p. 1875-1894 (EN)
  9. Benabou, Valérie-Laure: La Cour de justice persiste et signe sur les liens ou comment se cogner « la tête contre les murs », Dalloz IP / IT 2021, nº 6, p. 334-338 (FR)



Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Bundesgerichtshof - Germany

Subject-matter

  • Freedom of establishment
  • Freedom to provide services
  • Approximation of laws
  • Intellectual, industrial and commercial property

Provisions of national law referred to

Information not available

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

  • Reference for a preliminary ruling

Formation of the Court

grande chambre (Cour)

Judge-Rapporteur

Ilešič

Advocate General

Szpunar

Language(s) of the Case

  • German

Language(s) of the Opinion

  • French