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SACL: information displayed on a restaurant sign must be provided in the official state language
State language: the wording “BURGERS & BBQ RIBS” displayed on a restaurant sign was recognised as public information that must be provided in the Lithuanian state language.
The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania adopted a ruling finding that the applicant, UAB Baronsta, had been lawfully required by the State Language Inspectorate to remove the wording “BURGERS & BBQ RIBS”, displayed solely in English on the exterior sign of the restaurant Meatbusters.
The applicant argued that the wording in question formed part of a graphic logo and constituted a stylised visual element rather than public information, and therefore should not be subject to the requirements of the Law on the State Language. The company maintained that the wording was not intended to inform the public, but merely to visually complement the restaurant’s logo. However, the State Language Inspectorate concluded that such wording infringed Article 17 of the Law on the State Language, which requires public signs to be presented in the Lithuanian state language.
Having examined the case, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania held that the wording “BURGERS & BBQ RIBS” had been correctly classified as public information. The Court noted that the wording consisted of English-language words with a clear meaning directly related to the services provided by the restaurant and was displayed in a public place — on the exterior part of the sign, alongside other information such as the restaurant’s name, logo, address and opening hours. Accordingly, the wording constituted a public sign to which the requirements of the Law on the State Language applied.
The Court rejected the applicant’s argument that the wording formed part of a drawing, stating that a stylised font or graphic elements did not alter the meaning or function of the wording, namely to convey information to others.
The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania dismissed the applicant’s appeal and upheld the judgment of the court of first instance.
Administrative case No eA-1307-624/2025
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LT-01102 Vilnius Lithuania
Phone: +370 5 279 1005
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E-mail: info@lvat.lt
Working hours
I-IV 8.00 – 17.00
V 8.00 – 15.45
Lunch break 12.00 – 12.45
Hours for receiving complaints and requests at the office:
I-IV 8.00 – 17:00
V 8:00 – 15:45
Additional hours for pre-registered persons for receiving complaints and requests at the office:
I 17.00 – 17:30
III 17.00 – 17:30
Contacts
Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania
Žygimantų st. 2,
LT-01102 Vilnius Lithuania
Phone: +370 5 279 1005
E-mail: info@lvat.lt
Code 188734870
Working hours
I-IV 8.00 – 17.00
V 8.00 – 15.45
Lunch break 12.00 – 12.45
Hours for receiving complaints and requests at the office:
I-IV 8:00 – 17:00
V 8:00 – 15:45
Additional hours for pre-registered persons for receiving complaints and requests at the office:
I 17.00 – 17:30
III 17.00 – 17:30
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