Image: © Australian Copyright Council 2016
Did you know that copyright is one of the biggest industries in Australia? Do you know how to make it work for you? Copyright affects everyone, but for those in the creative industries it’s a crucial part of your toolkit.
Next week the Government is expected to introduce a package of reforms to Australia’s copyright legislation. Some of the proposed changes are targeted at the library and education sector, but others, such as those affecting the duration of copyright, are likely to have a more general impact.
The Australian Copyright Council (ACC) is Australia’s go-to source of information, training, legal advice and advocacy on copyright. ‘Our seminars are focused on empowering people to work with copyright,’ explained ACC Executive Director, Fiona Phillips. ‘Knowing what the rules are, knowing how to protect your work, and also knowing the pitfalls of what to avoid.’ The ACC’s national seminar series, Making Copyright Work for You, provides a perfect opportunity to become copyright savvy.
This year for the first time, the ACC is presenting seminars for the galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM) sector alongside its program for individual creators, copyright professionals and the education sector.
Galleries and museums are an important part of the cultural landscape and have special challenges when it comes to copyright. ‘We’ve created a special stream of seminars just for galleries and museums which cover the issues that face them on a day-to-day basis, from digitisation of collections, to licensing merchandise and engaging in social media’ said Phillips. ‘Those seminars also include a workshop component. We take people through the theory and then give them an opportunity to workshop real-life scenarios to reinforce their knowledge.’
There are also fiscal realities to consider. ‘Museums need to sustain themselves with producing merchandise – a commercial licencing issue. They’re dealing with a whole suite of things, including how they encourage their audiences to come to the museum and interact, [while managing] their liability for images that people visiting a museum will take. There are a whole lot of tricky issues about encouraging engagement and managing risk.’
In times of uncertain art funding, it’s important for creatives to proactively manage their rights. The Council is offering a brand new seminar on ‘Commercialising Your Copyright’, designed to help give creatives the skills they need to get their own piece of the copyright-pie. ‘Social media, for example, is a great vehicle, but perhaps you don’t want to put your most valuable content on the internet for free. You want to think about the strategies you use.’
Regardless of your role in the creative industries, it’s essential to stay on top of copyright and learn how to incorporate it into your business plan, rather than managing problems down the track. ‘Copyright does affect everybody. In our personal and professional lives, we are all creators and consumers of copyright content,’ observed Phillips. ‘While copyright can seem daunting, it’s an asset – and it lasts a long time. It’s worth taking an hour or two to learn the basics.’
To find out more about the seminars, visit the ACC website.
The ACC also offers a range of easy to understand guides to reinforce your knowledge, with a new Guide to Commericalising Your Copyright to be published in May.
For those unable to attend face-to-face training, the Council offers a Copyright Essentials Online Training Course.
