Dentons Lee has won a Supreme Court reversal and remand in a copyright dispute concerning golf course design. The ruling provides important guidance on the protectability of golf course design under Korean copyright law.
The case was brought by Golfplan Incorporation, a golf course design company, against Golfzon Co., Ltd., a leading operator in the screen golf industry, alleging unauthorized use of its golf course design.
The Supreme Court recognized that a golf course design may qualify for copyright protection where the selection, arrangement and combination of course elements—such as teeing grounds, fairways, roughs, bunkers, water hazards and greens—reflect the creator’s independent expression and creative individuality.
This decision is particularly significant given that the screen golf industry originated in Korea and has since expanded globally. As such, the ruling may serve as an important reference point for similar disputes arising in the growing global screen golf and golf content industries.
The case was handled by Dentons Lee attorneys Doo-Hyeong Lee, Heejun Choi and Young-Chul Jang.