The Art of Copyright Reform

SALON SESSION

Monday, October 10, 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Organized by Helen Brunner, director, Media Democracy Fund; Yolanda Hippensteele, associate director, Media Democracy Fund; Maurine Knighton, program director, arts and culture, The Nathan Cummings Foundation.

Sometimes threats to free expression and creativity come in obvious forms like censorship. Sometimes they come dressed as incomprehensible legal mumbo jumbo. Copyright laws—those governing "intellectual property"—are an example of the latter. Yet these laws have grown so expansive that they have a chilling effect on art works that involve borrowing, remixing, rehashing, and sampling. Techniques that have been a part of art making throughout history could now land you in court. If you’re interested in maintaining artists’ ability to comment on culture, or in protecting free expression in the digital age, this discussion is the place for you.