The creation of authorship
This page is a remix from the presentation of the Design the Public Domain workshop at MICA, and sources from Copy This Book.
Copying, adapting/modifying, forking, mixing/merging… + glossary
The idea that art and culture are built upon each other is something of a truism: Ferguson goes ‘show don’t tell’ on this principle.
This comic produced by the Center for the Study of the Public Domain explains copyright basics and goes into detail about the concept of Fair Use: when is it legally acceptable to use (part) of a copyrighted work? Its main audience is documentary makers but it largely applies to graphic design as well.
Much of the grassroots protests against the overreach of copyright originates not from the arts, but from software development. The communities around free and Open Source software provide alternative models for licensing, collaboration and distribution. Kelty analyses the influence of these movements and the potential significance for other cultural areas.
Law scholar Lessig’s influential account of what’s wrong with intellectual property laws today. Lessig has played a role in the creation of Creative Commons.
One of the fundamental concepts underlying copyright is the author. Woodmansee thoroughly dissects the modern notion of the author and explains how it has come about historically.