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BVG warns: Be careful when sitting! The smell of chlorine and french fries threaten!
The BVG provides information about increased passenger numbers and the dispute over the “worm pattern” of seat covers in Berlin.
BVG warns: Be careful when sitting! The smell of chlorine and french fries threaten!
In the vibrant metropolis of Berlin, the Berliner Verkehrsgesellschaft (BVG) has its hands full meeting the increasing demands of passengers. Even when the sun is shining and the outdoor pools are full, passenger safety remains the top priority during the summer months. The BVG expects a higher number of passengers on the routes to popular swimming options in the coming weeks, and has reacted humorously to the situation on Instagram: A picture that addresses the smell of chlorine at the “Prinzenstrasse” subway station and the warning about the dreaded “open-air pool fries fingers” on the seat covers caused a smile online. The post received around 1,500 likes within a very short time, and users commented with humor and joy on the request to be considerate of the upholstery. [Berlin Live].
Particular attention is paid to the so-called “worm pattern”, which has been used in Berlin public transport for 30 years and was designed by the designer Herbert Lindinger. This pattern was originally designed for the S-Bahn in the 1990s to cover up vandalism. However, the court recognized the 2021 pattern as protected by copyright - a ruling that the BVG did not want to let stand and so filed an appeal. Interestingly, Lindinger, who already sued the BVG in 2018 over outstanding license fees, has also filed an appeal. This is where it gets exciting: Nobody currently dares to predict when the Hamburg Higher Regional Court will deal with the matter. Perhaps the decision is expected this year, as Tagesspiegel reports.
The dispute over the pattern
But what is behind this legal dispute? The ruling, confirmed by the Hamburg Regional Court, stipulates that the BVG may not use the model, officially called “Urban Jungle,” without Lindinger’s consent. Although the technical design has been recognized as a work of art under copyright law, it remains to be seen how the BVG will position itself in the coming months. Finally, the court also ordered that BVG could pay damages and may have to destroy fan products with this pattern. The covers remain in the vehicles for the time being in order not to endanger local public transport, as the Vy lawyer informs.
The BVG is now planning new models that will have seats in the “night line” design, a style that is considered less intrusive. Given the complexity of the situation, if Lindinger sukses in the appeal, the BVG could be faced with a financial dilemma that, in the worst case, could run into the millions. There are currently many unknowns. What is certain, however, is that Berliners should not only keep an eye on the buses, but also the legal situation.