via EAI:
"Copyright and Contemporary Art Practice"
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
6:00 pmElectronic Arts Intermix (EAI)
535 West 22nd Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011Admission free
Reservations required: info@eai.orgEAI invites you to attend a panel discussion about copyright law and contemporary creative practice. This panel, organized by EAI and Elizabeth Kessenides, an attorney and writer, will be led by a group of four legal experts with a range of experience in major arts institutions, universities and private practice.
The implications of copyright laws, and concepts of originality, have changed dramatically over the last several decades. Since the mid 1970s there has been major copyright reform in the US. The rise of media culture and personal computers has enabled individuals to borrow, sample, appropriate and remix to an unprecedented degree. These strategies have become integral to contemporary art making.
During this period, in which technology has instigated the globalization of information, the exclusive monopoly rights of copyright owners have increased significantly. The law grants creators extremely broad rights over the use of their work - over making reproductions, creating 'derivative works,' and publicly performing and displaying the work. In addition, many forms of creative production are given copyright protection; literary works, computer software, music, moving pictures, dramatic works, works of visual art and architectural works are all protected by copyright.
The expansive scope of copyright law is increasingly problematic for artists and creators. There are real questions about whether the law, at this time, is restricting creative production as opposed to encouraging it. Will the law force new creative practices to emerge as copyright owners increasingly litigate infringement claims?
We would like to encourage a focused discussion about this subject. For this reason, limited seating is available, and an RSVP is required.
To RSVP, or for further information, please email info@eai.org with the subject line "copyright panel."
A recording of the discussion will be made available as part of EAI's new project, The Online Resource Guide for Exhibiting, Collecting & Preserving Media Art, a comprehensive source for information on single-channel video, computer-based art, and media installation: http://resourceguide.eai.org
Topics to be covered:
1. Copyright Law, background and introduction: Elizabeth Kessenides
2. The "Fair Use" Defense: Rebecca Tushnet, Georgetown School of Law
3. Copyright issues in Museums: Nancy Adelson, MoMA
4. Access to images/Open Source: Gretchen Wagner
