Course Title: Address Copyright Requirements

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: LAW5125C

Course Title: Address Copyright Requirements

School: 345T Creative Media

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4171 - Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Penny Johnson
Building 94, level 2, room 6
23–27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
9925 4383 (phone); 9925 4362 (fax)
penny.johnson@rmit.edu.au

Stephanie Holt
Building 94, level 2, room 6
23–27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
9925 4951 (phone); 9925 4362 (fax)
sholt@fryerstown.vicmail.net

Kirsty Elliott
Building 94, level 2, room 6
23–27 Cardigan Street, South Carlton
9925 4587 (phone); 9925 4362 (fax)
kirsty.elliott@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 20

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit introduces you to the copyright issues involved in protecting creative work (both text and images) from both a writer’s and an editor’s perspective.

You gain an understanding of copyright legislation and its practical application for print and online publications; the difference between assigning and licensing rights; issues to be aware of when signing agreements; the function of the Australian Copyright Council, the Copyright Agency Ltd and international copyright and collection agencies; and strategies for gaining permission to use copyright material.
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National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUSADM08A Address copyright requirements

Element:

Assign copyright of creative works or performers

Performance Criteria:

3.1     Undertake strategic planning of negotiated deals for works/performances with an understanding of the difference between assignment of copyright and licensing

3.2     Assign copyright for composers and/or performers only where artists are aware of all implications

3.3     Confirm and agree with all relevant parties the degree to which artists and publisher may control the use and exploitation of work under assignment of copyright

Element:

Comply with conditions of copyright agreement

Performance Criteria:

5.1     Maintain documents relevant to the copyright agreement in a secure and accessible form allowing for retrieval where required

5.2     Undertake all responsibilities to ensure compliance with the conditions of the copyright agreement as and when required

Element:

Ensure that copyright protection on creative works or performance is adequate locally and internationally

Performance Criteria:

2.1     Undertake all procedures necessary to ensure that created material are protected at local and international levels against illegal or unauthorised reproduction of work, or parts of work:
•    in printed or recorded media
•    in live performance
•    in television, cable transmission or online media
•    in any media for advertising or screen for other purposes

2.2     Undertake all procedures necessary to ensure that work is protected at local and international level against adaptations of work whether printed, live or in any electronic media

2.3     Undertake research and/or obtain reliable legal advice where necessary to ensure that artists’/copyright owners’ rights are protected

Element:

Identify copyright issues for the protection and exploitation of products

Performance Criteria:

1.1     Apply knowledge of Copyright Act to products in terms of:
•    protection against unauthorised use on own and other’s works
•    commercial exploitation of own work under copyright intellectual property and licensing legislation

1.2     Seek advice, as required, to ensure that copyright issues are fully addressed in terms of own rights and the rights of others

Element:

License rights to creative works or performance

Performance Criteria:

4.1     Confirm and agree to the territories in which the licensing rights may be exercised with all relevant parties

4.2     Confirm and agree to the timeframe of the license with all relevant parties

4.3     Confirm and agreed to the terms of exploitation of the work/license with all relevant parties

4.4     Ensure that creative control of the work, including to what extent and how it may be recast, is confirmed and agreed by all relevant parties

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will have knowledge of your rights and responsibilities as both a writer and an editor with regard to copyright


Details of Learning Activities

Students learn through a mix of lectures, discussion, practical exercises and group work. An industry practitioner gives a guest lecture on copyright and publishing, and students examine case studies in groups. During Arts–Law Week in May, students attend one of the free sessions in the program. Students are responsible for managing their learning and undertaking an appropriate amount of out-of-class independent study and research.


Teaching Schedule

Week Topic
1 Arts–Law Week
Students are required to attend at least one session during this week of free workshops, seminars and clinics
2 Copyright lecture: What writers need to know
3 Copyright class: Editor’s responsibilities and case studies
4 Independent study
5 Take-home copyright test


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Copyright handout – to be given out in class

Lynne Spender, Between the Lines: A Legal Guide for Writers and Illustrators, Keesing Press, Australian Society of Authors Ltd, Sydney 2004


Other Resources

Arts Law Centre of Australia Online <www.artslaw.com.au>
Australian Copyright Council website <www.copyright.org.au>


Overview of Assessment

Assessment involves a take-home test. This task tests your understanding of material covered in the copyright unit through discursive and multiple-choice responses to questions.


Assessment Tasks

Take-home Copyright Test

Students will have two weeks to complete a take-home test. This task tests their understanding of material covered in the copyright unit through discursive and multiple-choice responses to questions.

Due date
Week beginning 16 June

Percentage weight
100%

Grade
A numerical grade will be given for the test, which will form the basis of the grade for the unit of competency. Students will be assessed as Competent (C) or Not yet competent (NYC) for this unit.


Assessment Matrix

Not applicable

Course Overview: Access Course Overview