The Law of Copyright & Rights in Performance - The British Copyright Council's Guide by Denis De Freitas 2nd Edition 1998 This is a useful little book. Manageable in size, it can be read through in one session. At first glance it is a little dry, rather like a legal text book and my immediate thought was that anyone who is not legally trained might be put off. Unlike the booklet "How Much Do You Know About, Copyright?" written by Madeline Hutchins for The Place, London, this book does not attempt to help the reader work through problems involving copyright law or provide case studies. Rather, it gives a comprehensive outline of the law as it stands which is clearly written and easy to understand. The book starts with a short historical background followed by a detailed first section explaining the various aspects of copyright such as what works are protected, duration, ownership, infringements and enforcement. The second section covers rights in performance, which is followed by a brief account of the impact of technology. As the law of copyright is constantly changing the author quite rightly and usefully provides the contact details for the Copyright Directorate at the Patents Office which can provide the latest information. Finally there are useful appendices, particularly Appendix 6 which provides details of all the organisations involved in the administration of copyright and rights in performance. This is a guide to go to if you need more detailed information about copyright law and to help you to decide whether to take further expert advice. It does not provide answers to problems but it would certainly help the arts manager or individual artist to identify what rights might be held, what might need protection and whether a problem might arise.
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