The Arts Law Centre is a leading advocate for Indigenous artists. Its Artists in the Black service engages in advocacy and casework and has resulted in widespread benefits within the Indigenous art community with the aim of promoting Australian Indigenous art and ensuring copyright and other rights are upheld. Arts Law has advocated for better protection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) through its participation at WIPO conferences and ongoing submissions to the Federal government to enact legislative reform on this issue. Arts Law actively participated in the deliberations which lead to the introduction of The Indigenous Art Code recognising that Indigenous visual artists from remote and regional areas are often substantially disadvantaged in commercial negotiations. It has developed best practice standards for businesses and public bodies dealing with Indigenous artists which are promoted through its sample agreements, best practice document review service and educational workshops.
Read Arts Law’s Cultural policy submission
Read Indigenous Intellectual Property Information Sheet
Media Release: Fake Art Harms Culture - what action is Government taking?
We will be at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair calling on Government to respond to Federal MP Bob Katter's proposed bill to stop the fakes.
Chanel Should Apologise for ‘Boomerang’
The Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Indigenous Art Code contacted Chanel to request an apology to Indigenous communities over their ‘boomerang’ product that was recently circulating on social media.
Media Release: A Step Forward to Stop the Fakes
The Arts Law Centre of Australia, the Indigenous Art Code and Copyright Agency | Viscopy welcomed the proposed introduction of legislation to end the practice of the production and sale of art products and merchandise which misappropriates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture.The Arts Law Centre of Australia, the Indigenous Art Code and Copyright Agency | Viscopy today welcomed the proposed introduction of legislation to end the practice of the production and sale of art products and merchandise which misappropriates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture.
Licensing of Indigenous Artwork Benefits the Artists
A great example of merchandise which has been designed with Aboriginal artists and produced overseas is the product developed in partnership with Warlukurlangu Artists’.
Bob Katter MP Takes Fake Art Harms Culture to Parliament
Bob Katter, federal member for Kennedy in Queensland, has thrown his support behind and the campaign to stop fake Indigenous art being sold in Australia.
Arts Law at the Homeground Arts Markets
Fake Art Harms Culture, and we're taking our campaign to the Sydney Opera House as part of the Homeground Arts Markets on October 8 and 9.
Arts Law submission to Productivity Commission Draft Report - 3 June 2016
Arts law is particularly concerned by some of the proposals in the draft report. The undervaluation of artists' contributions and the lack of consideration of Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property issues, the suggestion that the optimal copyright term is 15 to 25 years after creation, the proposal to remove parallel import restrictions for books and the fair use provisions proposed in the draft report. You can read our full submission here.