[March 2026] Supreme Court Landmark Ruling: Golf Course Designs Eligible for Copyright Protection as Creative Works
LEE & MOCK News
2026.07.09
The Supreme Court has rendered a decision recognizing the creativity of golf course designs and confirming their eligibility for copyright protection. In an appeal case involving a copyright infringement and damages lawsuit filed by two golf course design firms against Golfzon, a screen golf simulation system manufacturer, the Supreme Court ruled that "a golf course can be a protected work under the Copyright Act if it possesses creativity," and subsequently overturned and remanded the lower court's decision. This ruling establishes a standard that golf course designs and layouts can receive protection under the Copyright Act, provided that a certain level of originality and creativity is recognized.