Ravensburger Vitruvian Man case: Stuttgart court rules in favor of toy maker

The ongoing legal dispute between Ravensburger and Venice's Gallerie dell'Accademia centers on the reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man puzzle. In 2022, a court in Venice found Ravensburger guilty of unauthorized reproduction under Italy's Cultural Heritage Code. The Italian Ministry of Culture has cautioned that such unauthorized reproductions could lead to financial repercussions. Italy's National Plan for Digitalization of Cultural Heritage (PND) outlines the rules for digital reproductions. Recently, a Stuttgart court determined that Ravensburger is permitted to reproduce the image, referencing its public domain status and relevant Italian laws. Nonetheless, Italian law mandates authorization and compensation for commercial use of public cultural assets, and Italy may contest the Stuttgart decision. This article was authored by Silvia Stabile, of counsel at BonelliErede's Art and Cultural Heritage Focus Team.