The shoe manufacturer claimed its sandals “are copyright-protected works of applied art" that may not be imitated, but a court ruled they're just comfy footwear.

That’s the question Germany’s Federal Court of Justice wrestled with Thursday, and it ruled they’re just comfy footwear. Birkenstock, which is headquartered in Linz am Rhein, Germany ...

He went on to become a medical doctor who served in the Austrian army, operating out of Linz. Following his discharge in 1901, however, he decided not to return home, but to stay in Linz.

Birkenstock, which is headquartered in Linz am Rhein in western Germany, filed a lawsuit against three competitors, arguing that they sold similar styles of sandals to four signature models.

That's the question Germany's Federal Court of Justice wrestled with Thursday, and it ruled they're just comfy footwear. Birkenstock, which is headquartered in Linz am Rhein, Germany, and says its ...