Interview with Copyright Expert Sal Shuel
Episode 87 : Copyright with Sal Shuel
For a couple of months the Ask an Artist Team are taking a break from recording to concentrate on other things that need to be done: On-line teaching and book writing both have deadlines that cannot be put off! While they are away they have selected some of their favourite episodes from the archive.
This weeks' replay is all about copyright and the interview Laura & Peter did with copyright expert Sal Shuel. Depending on your understanding of it, it may be seen as an awkward barrier to doing what you want, or a way of protecting you from having your work stolen. Sal clears everything up in this fascinating episode.
In this episode…
Copyright law protects any work physically created by its author (all makers of work are called authors in copyright law). By making a work, the author automatically owns the copyright of that work and ownership lasts until 70 years after the death of the author. There is no need to register copyright ownership, but it is always advisable to sign or add your mark to any work you make.
The author retains ownership of their copyright even when work is sold. A client can buy the work and destroy it (should they be that eccentric), but they cannot copy it and publish that copy or profit from it in any way without specific permission. Some authors, commonly photographers and musicians, sell licences for clients to use their work for profit, but only under the specific terms of the licence. The author still owns the copyright.
It is possible to sell or assign copyright to someone else. Once the author has done so, all rights become the property of the new copyright holder. Beware of the small print when entering competitions or signing any contract concerning your work. It is easy to sign over copyright without noticing.
It is acceptable to copy the work of another creative for private study, but it is advisable to credit the artist on the back of the work. It is illegal to show, exhibit or publish any copy of another’s work you might have made (posting on social media is publishing).
Copying any work outside of personal study, including any work seen online and including all photographs, is theft of copyright even if several aspects of the work are altered. If you find your work copied by another, you contact them and assert your copyright.
It is fine to be inspired by other creatives, but only insofar as it helps to develop thoughts and ideas. Every artist should take their own photographs and sketches for making work.
Authors cannot copyright spoken words, style or teaching method. If they are copied, it falls under the heading of plagiarism and not copyright law. If a student goes on to copy their teacher and teaches the same class themselves, there is nothing to be done. But if the student uses a copy of their teacher’s notes or artwork to do so, they are infringing copyright and breaking the law.
The Takeaway
Read Sal Shuel’s clear explanation of copyright at www.salshuel.co.uk and make sure you understand the dos and don’ts of copyright law.
