Theory and practice of intellectual property
№ 2 / 2025
ISSN (Print) 2308-0361
ISSN (Online) 2519-2744
PDF (Ukrainian)DOI: https://doi.org/10.33731/22025.332476
Submitted 2025-05-06
Accepted 2025-05-18
Published 2025-06-16
The сoncept of originality of a work in the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union
Olena Starchenko
Ph.D. (Law), Researcher of the Copyright and Related Rights Department of the Intellectual Property Scientific Research Institute of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine
Ukraine
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3252-4338
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the content of key judgements of the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning the interpretation of the legal category of a work’s originality, namely: Infopaq International A/S v. Danske Dagblades Forening (C-5/08), Eva-Maria Painer v. Standard VerlagsGmbH and Others (C-145/10), Football Dataco Ltd v. Yahoo! UK Ltd (C-604/10), and Cofemel – Sociedade de Vestuário SA v. G-Star Raw CV (C-683/17). The significance of these judgements for the development of a coherent concept of originality is outlined. It is emphasized that the interpretative function of the Court is fundamental and plays an essential role in shaping the legal order in a global sense by harmonizing the mechanisms of legal enforcement within the EU.
The author draws attention to the evolution and refinement of the substantive understanding of the notion of originality in the course of the Court’s interpretative practice. The article substantiates the close connection between a work’s originality and creative activity. Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of the essential elements of originality, such as free and creative choices, the personal contribution of the author, and intellectual creative activity.
The author formulates scholarly conclusions regarding the key components of the concept of originality. A critical analysis is conducted on the adequacy of the current legal model for determining the protectability of a work within the EU legal space. It is concluded that the existing flexible legal framework allows for the assessment of originality in each individual case, taking into account the specific characteristics of the object and the nature of the activity that led to its creation.
The article emphasizes that the foundation of originality lies in creative activity, which is the quintessence of imagination and the author’s individual vision, based on personal preferences and resulting in a unique object of copyright. Thus, the specific work embodies an idea of the author that originates from their creative search, realized through intellectual creative activity.
Keywords: originality, Court of Justice of the EU, copyright, interpretation
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