Venice Arbitration Chamber Launches Specialized Art Dispute Regulations

The Venice Arbitration Chamber has adopted new regulations for resolving art-related disputes, positioning itself as a specialized alternative to ordinary courts. Arbitration offers advantages such as speed (240-day limit under Italian law), confidentiality, and the ability to appoint expert arbitrators. The regulations cover all creative human activities, including visual arts, music, theater, design, antiques, and collectibles. Disputes can involve authenticity, exclusivity contracts, damage or destruction of works, restitution of stolen art, design protection, copyright transfers, and plagiarism. A key feature is the ability to appoint technical consultants and, for authenticity cases, a scientific committee to propose experts. Arbitrators may also issue urgent provisional measures. To initiate arbitration, parties must include an arbitration clause in contracts or agree to a compromise after a dispute arises.