Migration - The Right to Have Rights

Artists Patrick Bernier and Olive Martin connect political to legal struggles: the rapid expansion of copyright and intellectual property law in the digital era stands in stark contrast to the diminishing rights of immigrants and freedom of movement under French and EU law. In the performance X and Y v. France: the Case for a Legal Precedent immigration law and intellectual property law are cross-read: Two lawyers address an imaginary judge at the European Court for Human Rights, in whose place the audience sits, in order to reverse a court decision to deport immigrant X, whom they represent, from France. Arguing that X is the author and the bearer of an immaterial artwork created in collaboration with the European artist Y, the lawyers claim that X is thus under the protection of intellectual property law and cannot be deported.

Following the performance, a discussion of about 45 min. between the artists, the performers and the audience will take place.