Non-Conventional Copyright: Do New and Atypical Works Deserve Protection?

'Copyright law has always somehow managed to adapt to new technological and social developments as well as to new artistic and creative practices. However, every time such a development occurs, the legitimate question arises if the system is adaptable or if the breakthrough is so gigantic that a new system needs to be elaborated. In any case, new scholarly reflections are needed in regular intervals and that is exactly the purpose of this fascinating edited collection by Enrico Bonadio and Nicola Lucchi on non-conventional copyright, exploring from various angles the copyright issues of all sorts of creations ranging from unconventional art forms, new music and atypical cultural practices to new advances in technology, not forgetting to investigate the delicate issues around copyright on illegal and immoral works.'
- Christophe Geiger, University of Strasbourg, France
Copyright law constantly evolves to keep up with societal changes and technological advances. Contemporary forms of creativity can threaten the comfortable conceptions of copyright law as creative people continually find new ways of expressing themselves. In this context, Non-Conventional Copyright identifies possible new spaces for copyright protection.

With current copyright law in mind, the contributions explore if the law should be more flexible as to whether new or unconventional forms of expression - including graffiti, tattoos, land art, conceptual art and bio art, engineered DNA, sport movements, jokes, magic tricks, DJ sets, perfume making, typefaces, or illegal and immoral works - deserve protection. Vitally, the contributors suggest that it may be time to challenge some of the basic tenets of copyright laws by embracing more flexible ways to identify protectable works and interpret the current requirements for protection. Additionally, some contributors cast doubts about whether copyright is the right instrument to address and regulate these forms of expression.

Contemporary in topic, this thought-provoking book will be essential reading for intellectual property law scholars, practitioners and policymakers. Creative people and those involved in the creative industries will also find this book an engaging read.

Contributors include: E. Bonadio, S. Burke, C. Cronin, T. Dagne, T.W. Dornis, F.J. Dougherty, T.M. Gates, M.P. George, E. Haber, S. Karapapa, Y.M. King, T. Iverson, N. Lucchi, G. Mazziotti, J. McCutcheon, L. McDonagh, M. Maggiore, P. Mezei, M. Mimler, A.G. Scaria, C.Y.N. Smith, X. Tang