Two CJEU rulings handed down in December 2025 — Mio/USM Haller (C-580/23 and C-795/23) and Deity Shoes (C-323/24) — bring fundamental clarity to the European protection framework for objects of applied art. In copyright law, no heightened originality requirement applies to objects of applied art; in design law, protection requires neither a minimum degree of creative effort nor a particular design process — novelty and individual character suffice. Both rulings affirm the autonomy and equal standing of the two regimes. This Legal Insight analyses the key findings and draws practical conclusions for IP protection strategies.
Copyright: no higher bar for applied art but difficult infringement test (Mio/USM Haller)
