Birkenstocks are cool enough for influencers, Hollywood stars and even Barbie — but they do not qualify as art, Germany’s top court ruled Thursday. The company claimed that their shoes can be ...

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. FILE -A Birkenstock sandal is pictured in Birkenstock store in Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 4, 2023. (AP Photo ...

Birkenstock sandals are displayed in Birkenstock store in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Can the sandals be considered art? That's what Germany's Federal Court of Justice had to ...

Celebrities have long embraced Birkenstock sandals, with stars like Katie Holmes, Gigi Hadid, and Reese Witherspoon often seen wearing the iconic summer footwear. The brand’s reputation for quality, ...

Frankfurt (Germany) (AFP) – They may be the trendy footwear of choice for Hollywood A-listers and pop stars, but Birkenstock sandals are not works of art, Germany's top court ruled Thursday.

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Birkenstock, the iconic German sandal brand, has recently faced a significant legal setback regarding the classification of its footwear as art. The Federal Court of Justice in Germany ruled that ...

FILE -A Birkenstock sandal is pictured in Birkenstock store in Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File) ...

Germany's top court ruled against Birkenstock's attempt to define its famous sandals as works of art, denying the footwear enhanced copyright protections. The court sided with competitors like Tchibo ...

The shoe company argued its sandals "are copyright-protected works of applied art" that may not be imitated - in an effort to try and stop copy-cat sellers. The Birkenstock sandal is recognisable ...

Birkenstocks: They are ubiquitous in summer, comfy and very German. Sometimes they look chic and sometimes shabby. But can these sandals be considered art? That’s the question Germany’s ...