Can copyright protect immersive art?

Japanese immersive powerhouse teamLab is no stranger to copyright disputes but the booming art form is still a difficult subject in legal terms.

Disclaimer: The Arts Law Centre of Australia (Arts Law) would like to note that the information conveyed in this article is general. It does not constitute, and should be not relied on as, legal advice. It is recommended to seek advice from a qualified lawyer on the legal issues affecting you before acting on any legal matter.

Recently, a lawsuit between blockbuster immersive experience creators teamLab and the Los Angeles Museum of Dream Space (MODS) has come under a spotlight, provoking questions around whether immersive art can be protected by copyright and the blurry legal boundaries that surround this booming art form.

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Celina Lei is an arts writer and editor at ArtsHub. She acquired her M.A in Art, Law and Business in New York with a B.A. in Art History and Philosophy from the University of Melbourne. She has previously worked across global art hubs in Beijing, Hong Kong and New York in both the commercial art sector and art criticism. Most recently she took part in drafting NAVA’s revised Code of Practice - Art Fairs. Celina is based in Naarm/Melbourne.