The New Zealand Government is currently reviewing the Copyright Act. The review will impact visual artists in multiple ways; it has the potential to shift the balance of rights and opportunities to the benefit of artists and users, or to their detriment. Now is our opportunity to get involved.

As part of the first stage of public consultation, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking feedback on how well the copyright regime is functioning and on further evidence of issues that could be addressed in this review. Some of the important questions for visual artists will include: What are the right objectives for the Copyright Act? Is the right balance being struck between creator rights and user rights? How is collective authorship (including of works arising from social practices) handled in the current regime, and should this change? How should taonga works and mātauranga Māori be protected? Should an artist resale right be incorporated in the new act? Currently, performers have very few rights over what happens to recordings of them – should this change? Currently, if you make a work during the course of employment (including a commission), copyright belongs to the employer – should this change?

Over a 10-day period, Melissa Laing with ST PAUL St Gallery, artists and collaborators will host events to explore these issue and more, and facilitate artists to write submissions on the Review of the Copyright Act. Join us for the panel discussion and subsequent talks, and drop by any time during the opening hours to continue the discussions and submit your feedback.

Introduction to Copyright Now and the Wai 262 Report
Thursday 7 March, 5.30pm
Melissa Laing in discussion with Dr Bronwyn Holloway-Smith and Professor Pare Keiha about the objectives of copyright and the role of the Wai 262 report

Authorship in Socially Engaged and Dialogical Practice
Tuesday 12 March, 5.30pm
A conversation with Tosh Ahkit, Fiona Jack and Monique Redmond

Resale Royalties and Licensing Royalties
Wednesday 13 March, 5:30pm
Caroline Stone and Judy Darragh in conversation

Radford v Hallensteins
Thursday 14 March, 5.30pm
Art in public spaces and the moral rights of an artist. Artist John Radford and barrister Tracey Walker discuss the court case they took against Hallensteins and what this revealed about our Copyright Act.

Drop-in centre for discussions, and for submitting your feedback on the review of the Copyright Act.
12 – 16 March 2019, 12 – 7pm