In a landmark decision for Germany, the Munich Local Court (Amtsgericht München) ruled that logos generated by Artificial Intelligence are not automatically protected under copyright law unless there is sufficient and recognizable human creative contribution (case no. 142 C 9786/25).
Author: maria
The Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) completed six educational visits to the 2nd Model Junior High School of Athens for the 2025–2026 school year, following an invitation from the 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Stamatia Paschaliori.
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CommonsDB – Feasibility Study, part 2
The draft bill of the Ministry of Culture was approved by Parliament on 29 January 2026, introducing for the first time into the Greek legal system a comprehensive institutional framework for the prevention and combating of forgery and fraud involving works of art and collectible items. The new legislation establishes a stricter and more complete regulatory framework aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage, protecting creators, and ensuring the proper functioning of the art market. The bill also includes provisions concerning historic cinemas.
The law provides for increased criminal and administrative sanctions for the production, circulation, trade, and possession of forged works of art, substantially strengthening the deterrent framework against practices of forgery and fraud. Penalties are scaled according to the severity of the offense and the financial damage caused, while aggravating circumstances—such as professional or repeated involvement—are also taken into account.
A key innovation of the law is the establishment of a special registry of forged works of art. The registry will serve as a central point for recording and information, contributing to the prevention of the re-circulation of forged works and facilitating inspections by the competent authorities. At the same time, it enhances cooperation among public authorities, expert professionals, and stakeholders in the art market.
The introduction of the registry is expected to strengthen the traceability of works of art and improve transparency in transactions, thereby protecting collectors, museums, galleries, auction houses, and investors. Moreover, it contributes to restoring confidence in the art market, which has repeatedly been undermined by incidents of falsification and deception.
See the Official Government Gazette here
The Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament approved on 28 January, by 17 votes in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions, a series of proposals aimed at ensuring full transparency and fair remuneration for creators and rightholders regarding the use of protected works by generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
The European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN), which consists of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the national intellectual property offices of the EU Member States, and the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property, has announced the launch of a new online platform aimed at supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in intellectual property matters.
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The HCO Newsletter – January 2026
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On Monday, 19 January 2026, a Memorandum of Educational Cooperation was signed in a cordial atmosphere between the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) and the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO), during a meeting held at EPLO’s offices in Plaka. The Memorandum inaugurates an important collaboration aimed, among other things, at the exchange of know-how and the development of joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest.
The European Commission has launched a consultation with stakeholders aimed at supporting the implementation of the obligation for providers of general-purpose AI models to identify and comply with rights reservations expressed by rightholders.
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Works Entering the Public Domain in 2026
The year 2026 brings into the public domain significant works of European and global cultural heritage, as copyright protection expires for creators who passed away in 1955. These works become freely accessible and may be used without prior authorisation, opening up new opportunities for creativity, education, and cultural dissemination.