Bristol’s Wake the Tiger faces copyright lawsuit from Meow Wolf

A Bristol attraction is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit from an American firm.

Wake the Tiger is an immersive experience which was opened in St Philips in 2022 by some of the team behind Boomtown festival.

Meow Wolf, which operates five similar venues in the United States claims Wake the Tiger has stolen its intellectual property.

Wake the Tiger said it has been notified about the legal action and it “strongly disputes” the claims, calling them an “unfounded and aggressive attack by a much larger business”.

Meow Wolf is an American arts and entertainment company that creates large-scale interactive and immersive art installations.

Founded in 2008, the company started out in Santa Fe and now operates venues in Las Vegas, Denver, Grapevine and Houston.

The firm says it aims to “open portals of possibility” and “redefine the paradigm of art and story telling to make a positive difference in the world.

Wake the Tiger states it creates “immersive experiences that combine story-telling, art and purpose in a journey of discovery”, while aiming to inspire people to reconnect with the environment.

The BBC has approached Meow Wolf, which claims Wake the Tiger has breached its copyright and designs, for comment.

In response to the claims, Wake the Tiger said that it has “always operated with the utmost integrity” and stands by the “originality and creativity” of what it offers.

“As an independently-owned local attraction, we are deeply rooted in Bristol’s community and culture,” it said in a statement.

“Our vision has always been to create a unique, homegrown experience that reflects the innovation and artistry of the UK alternative art scene.

“The creative ideas and evolving narrative for Wake The Tiger were born out of an extension of 15 years of creative development within the UK’s underground art scene.

“We are confident that the case will demonstrate that we have not infringed upon any intellectual property and our focus remains on delivering an extraordinary and distinct experience to our visitors and continuing to celebrate the incredible talent within Bristol’s creative scene.”