The Sagrada Família: the biggest copyright hack of all time

Barcelona’s Sagrada Família isn’t just one of the most iconic buildings in the world; it’s also one of the most fascinating examples of long-term intellectual property strategy.

Originally designed by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar in the early 1880s, the project gained its iconic identity when Antoni Gaudí took over in 1883. Gaudí reimagined the basilica with a bold, organic design unlike anything else in architecture. Unfortunately, he passed away unexpectedly in 1926, with less than a quarter of the structure completed. Nearly 100 years later, construction is still ongoing, and that unfinished design has led to one of the longest-running copyright protections ever.

Spanish copyright law gives protection to a creative work for 70 years after the death of the last surviving author. For collaborative works, that countdown doesn’t begin until the final contributor has passed away. Since the Sagrada Família has been built over generations with the contributions of dozens of architects, designers, and planners, it qualifies as a collaborative work under the law. As new elements are added and recognized as original contributions, each may qualify for separate copyright protection, thereby extending the overall term of protection for the collaborative work.

The result is a continually extended copyright period that adapts with the life and death of each contributor. As long as these new contributions are deemed original and the individuals are credited as authors, the copyright protection resets with each generation. The work is effectively building a chain of protection, stretching further into the future every time someone new adds to the design. It’s a brilliant way to preserve the basilica’s legal protection while the building itself remains unfinished.

Crazy enough, the additions to the Sagrada Familia are not stopping anytime soon. New architectural decisions, structural designs, and sculptural elements are still being introduced, each with the potential to extend copyright protection even further. The final phase of construction is still underway, with plans to complete the central Tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest and most ambitious part of the basilica, by the early 2030s.

This kind of generational authorship is rare in modern intellectual property. Most creative works are completed within a single lifetime, with clear endpoints for both authorship and protection. The Sagrada Família is a remarkable example of how architecture, law, and creativity intersect, ensuring that this unfinished masterpiece remains protected for generations to come.

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