Germany's Stuttgart Higher Regional Court ruled that Ravensburger, a German toy manufacturer, can continue using Leonardo da Vinci's *Vitruvian Man* (c. 1490) in its puzzles, dismissing a claim by Italy's Culture Ministry and the Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia. The Italian plaintiffs had sought a licensing agreement under a domestic cultural heritage law, arguing that commercial use of the image required their authorization, even outside Italy. The ruling reverses a 2022 Venice court decision that had ordered Ravensburger to stop production. The Italian parties may appeal to the German Federal Court of Justice.
This case matters because it tests the extraterritorial reach of national cultural heritage laws against international public domain principles. Since Leonardo died over 500 years ago, *Vitruvian Man* is in the public domain under standard copyright law, but Italy claims authority to regulate its commercial use under domestic heritage protections. The German court's refusal to enforce the Italian injunction sets a precedent that could limit how countries like Italy control reproductions of public-domain artworks globally, affecting museums, publishers, and merchandisers worldwide.