Copyright protection of industrial design works: the Venice Court protects Kartell’s Componibili, but continues to require artistic value

The Court of Venice granted copyright protection to Kartell’s famous “Componibili” modular storage units, designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri in 1967, and enjoined the marketing of three competing products named “Oasi”, “Mirage” and “Eden”. In doing so, the court assessed both creativity and artistic value, although the latter seems incompatible with the EU law.