Normal German civil law does provide for the return of such objects, such as when stolen property is relocated, but the question is whether restitution law supersedes regular civil law.
If the court decides that it does, as the museum argues, the posters would stay where they are — in the German Historical Museum, though still owned by Peter Sachs.
"If it were just to be decided under civil law, it would be clear," said Matthias Druba, a Berlin lawyer who also represents Sachs. "Peter is the owner, and the owner has the right to decide where the things that belong to him should be."
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