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Copyright
Copyright
protects your work. As with other forms of property,
copyright can be bought, sold, "let" or given away.
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Copyright protects
"intellectual property", and allows the copyright owner
of a work to control use of the work and to benefit financially
from this.
An arts organisation
is often a partner in creating new copyright works through commissions,
and also makes considerable use of other people's copyright works,
from existing scripts or paintings, to images or photographs for
publicity purposes. As an arts manager (or a self managed artist),
you need to be clear what protections and restrictions are provided
by copyright legislation, and what actions you need to take in relation
to copyright works. Copyright needs to be covered clearly in contracts
with commissioned artists, writers etc, and in any collaborative
projects.
You need to
- be aware
of copyright works that you are partners in creating (through
commissions)
- be aware
of copyright works that you are using
- ensure that
relevant contracts cover copyright adequately
- ensure that
you have the necessary permissions and licences for use of copyright
material
- know where
to get specialist advice when needed.
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Key Resources on Copyright
Law
of Copyright and Rights in Performance
by D De Freitas, Pub: British Copyright Council,
1998 £14.95 ISBN 0 901 737070
A useful little book, if rather dry and legal. It gives a comprehensive
outline of the law, which is clearly written and easy to understand.
This is the guide to go to when you need more detailed information
about copyright law and to help you decide whether to take further
expert advice. Review
Artists
and Writers Yearbook
Pub: A&C Black
Articles on British and US Copyright and British libel law (not
available from SAM’s Books – find in any large bookshop).
The Patent Office
has a very informative website on copyright and other aspects of
intellectual property (trademarks, designs and patents) at http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/
See also Visual
Arts Contracts listed under Contracts
Key Resources below.
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Dance
Dance
UK produce an Information Sheet on Copyright in Dance–
free to Dance UK members and £1 to non-members. http://www.danceuk.org/publications/pubs.asp
Look
Before You Leap - An Advice and Rights Guide for Choreographers
by Ann Whitley
Pub: Dance UK 1995 £10 ISBN 0 9515631 2 2
This is a must for both choreographers and those involved
with choreographers in the production of dance. It is very
comprehensive, and very practical - covering contracts,
money, copyright, rehearsals, working abroad, use of music,
videoing, insurance and health and safety. If you are in
dance it will become your constant companion! Highly recommended.
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Useful Organisations
Collecting Societies
who handle permissions and payments for use of copyright works owned
by their members:
Design and
Artists Copyright Society (DACS)
Parchment House, 13 Northburgh Street, London EC1V OAH Tel: 0207
336 8811
www.dacs.org.uk
PRS - Performing
Right Society
29-33 Berners Street, London, W1P 4AA Tel: 0207 580 5544
www.prs.co.uk
PPL - Phonographic
Performance Limited
1 Upper James Street, London, W1R 3HG Tel: 0207 534 1147
www.ppluk.com
MCPS - Mechanical
Copyright Protection Society
29-33 Berners Street, London, W1T 3AB Tel: 0207 306 4500
www.mcps.co.uk
ALCS –
Authors Licensing and Collecting Society
Marlborough Court, 14-18 Holborn, London, EC1N 2LE, Tel: 020 7395
0600
alcs@alcs.co.uk
www.alcs.co.uk
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reading
(not stocked
by SAM’s Books - all expensive reference books, so consult
them in a library…)
A
users guide to copyright
M F Flint pub: Butterworths, 4th edition 1997
Whale
on Copyright, Jeremy J Phillips, 5th edition 1997, Sweet
and Maxwell
Copinger
on Copyright - the final word.
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