Much of the creative work we value – whether it’s films, music, novels, or TV shows – requires a significant input of time and resources. The established method for raising the resources to fund such work…
If you’re in favor of copyright extensions – and aren’t a corporation holding the rights or a descendent of the original author – you probably need some sense knocked into you.
Flickr
In 1998, if Congress hadn’t extended copyrights by 20 years, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises and Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind would all be in the public domain…
Australian creators understand that digital distribution is changing their industries – but they’re still materially affected by copyright infringement.
AAP Image/MONA
Music is no longer a treasured experience between artist and audience, people want easy consumption and access – Australian musician/ songwriter. Australian creators have been severely affected both financially…
When asked in 1977 what he would do now that Elvis was dead, his manager Colonel Parker allegedly replied: “Why, I’ll just go right on managing him!”. In Parker’s mind, neither Elvis’ name, image, likeness…
If we want to maximise creativity, tying cash to creative output is a bad idea.
tanakawho/Flickr
Today we kick off our series devoted to creativity – examining what it is, what we know about it, and why it’s so important. Imagine you were asked to write a law that encouraged creativity. What would…
The Rubik’s Cube has confounded millions of people, including myself since discovering it in my uncle’s house as a child. And now the iconic three-dimensional puzzle has been the subject of an EU ruling…
Website blocking always fails – audiences will always find a way to watch Game of Thrones.
Foxtel
Rumours are flying that the government will introduce legislation before Christmas aimed at blocking certain websites, such as The Pirate Bay and Kickass Torrents, as part of a range of efforts to reduce…
Congress has recently stepped up its efforts to reform the copyright system, which is woefully inadequate to deal with today’s rapidly evolving communication technologies. These efforts began early last…
We’ve had a decade to learn from our mistakes.
jazbeck/Flickr
Ten years on from the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement, Australia is entering another round of negotiations towards the new and controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership. In this Free Trade Scorecard series…
Converse is taking action to protect its famous All Star sneakers from alleged imitators. The product in question is the All Star Chuck Taylor shoe that was first marketed by Converse in 1917. The trainers…
Painting over Banksy’s latest work has proved an embarrassment for the local council responsible. Council officials had to admit that they hadn’t realised the work was by Banksy and, more pertinently…
If you have an empty home, you’d better fill it soon.
Sergey Peterman/Shutterstock
You probably don’t think much about the derivation of that lovely shelving in your living room, or that sleek, stylish lamp. But many of them will be copies of designs from the 20s, 60s, 80s. And despite…
Few would argue piracy is not changing the industry, but is it really killing it?
r5d
While legal sales of recorded music continue to suffer from widespread music piracy, the popularity of live music appears to be enjoying an unprecedented boom, particularly in the UK where new stadiums…
Manchester United supporters lucky enough to see high-profile signings Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria in action for the first time at Old Trafford at the weekend may have done well to remember we look…
Mark Skilton, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick
As a new football season starts, the Premier League has stated its intent to stop fans from posting unofficial videos of goals online. The Premier League has pointed out that the videos of goals and other…
Graffiti is sometimes considered a lesser art as it is either produced illegally or just displayed on the streets and therefore outside the official art gallery circuit. Yet graffiti, and street art more…
Whilst visiting a national park in North Sulawesi wildlife photographer David Slater had his camera stolen – not by a thief, but by an inquisitive crested black macaque. The resulting selfies are causing…
Making ISPs liable for the actions of their users almost certainly won’t help artists.
AAP/Joe Castro
Dan Hunter, Queensland University of Technology e Nicolas Suzor, Queensland University of Technology
Attorney-General George Brandis is at loggerheads with Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull over proposed reforms to the Copyright Act. Brandis wants ISPs to take more responsibility for copyright…
Sherlock Holmes and his friends will remain in the public domain.
EPA/ Andy Rain
Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court dismissed a plea from the Conan Doyle Estate, which was trying to stop the publication of a new book based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective Sherlock…
American internet sensation Michelle Phan is being sued for copyright.
AAP Image/Lancome/Michelle Phan Images
The latest case of a popular YouTube blogger being sued for using music by other artists in her videos without permission raises the question of who really benefits from the re-use of music. In a claim…