ArtsLab is an interdisciplinary project from the UM Library Copyright Office, funded by the Third Century Initiative.
ArtsLab connects students across campus to work on entrepreneurial
projects in the arts, including music recording. Contact Cliff at cehelm@umich.edu for more information.
ArtsLab Studios
Conversations in Art, Entrepreneurship, and Law
Hatcher Library, Gallery Lab Room 100
ArtsLab
and the UM Copyright Office will be hosting a series of round-table
discussions on topics ranging from intellectual property to business
organization to art as an advocacy tool. These events will bring
together interested students, staff, and faculty in 60 to 90 minute long
sessions designed to introduce a topic and discuss the impact it has on
creative arts, careers, and campus life. Participants are encouraged to
bring their own topics and issues to discuss generally. Even though we
will be discussing legal and business topics, these sessions are not legal advice
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January 28th. 4:30-6:00 pm.
How
exactly do you “own” art? How do we expect people to respect ownership?
This session will broadly cover the types of intellectual property
protection we have, from the law to cultural norms. Topics include
copyright, moral rights, industry custom, internet trends, and Creative
Commons.
February 3rd. 4:30-6:00 pm.
What’s
the difference between Copyright, Trademark, and Patent protection? How
do they affect art and creative projects? This session will help
identify the differences in the regime, provide basic information on
when you might be eligible for legal protection, and discuss some
campus-based examples.
Public Performance, Public Display, and Public Art [REGISTER]
February 18th. 4:30-6:00 pm.
Copyright
grants an exclusive right to a public performance – but what does that
really mean? What happens when music is performed live? What about
playing a cover of someone else’s song? What about a film screening?
Does a mural have any legal protection against reproductions? This event
will explore when performances or displays are “infringing” – and what
that means.
The Golden Rule (Fair Use, Re-Use, and New Use) [REGISTER]
February 26th. 4:30-6:00 pm.
When
should you be able to use someone else’s work without permission? Does
the answer change when it’s your art being used? The copyright concept
of “Fair Use” is the law’s attempt to deal with this question, with
mixed results of actual “fairness.” This session will first outline the
law and contemporary examples and then discuss campus-based issues.
Business Entities for Arts Organizations and Projects [REGISTER]
March 10th. 4:30-6:00 pm.
Does
it make sense to incorporate as a corporation or an LLC? What’s an LLC?
Why would you want to incorporate an artistic project? The corporate
structure provides a significant number of protections and advantages
for all types of organizations. This session will briefly outline the
advantages and the formal requirements while addressing common practices
in the industry.
Using Art as an Effective Advocacy Tool [REGISTER]
March 20th. 4:30-6:00 pm.
Do
social and civic projects benefit from the inclusion of art? Can art
itself be used as a tool for advocacy? This session will provide a
background into some recent efforts and highlight some current projects
in Detroit and Ann Arbor.
