CJEU clarifies that framing infringes copyright if TPMs are circumvented : Court of Justice of the European Union, VG Bild-Kunst v Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, C-392/19 EU:C:2021:181, 9 March 2021
Péter Mezei, Bernd Justin Jütte · Vytautas Magnus University · 2021
Court of Justice of the European Union, VG Bild-Kunst v Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz, C-392/19 EU:C:2021:181, 9 March 2021 The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that framing thumbnails in circumvention of effective technological protection measures (TPMs) is an act communication to the public. The dispute underlying the preliminary reference by the German Bundesgerichtshof arose between the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (SPK), the operator of the German Digital Library (DBB) and collecting society VG Bild-Kunst (VBK). SPK sought to license the use of thumbnails as part of its digital offer, which VBK only agreed to under the condition that SPK implements effective technological protection measures (TPMs) that would prevent third parties from framing the thumbnails. SPK considered this condition to be unreasonable, while collecting societies, under the applicable German law, are obliged to grant licences on reasonable terms to any person requesting a...