From: ben d (email suppressed)
Date: Sat Jun 03 2006 - 00:44:07 PDT
In the territories occupied by the canadian state we are currently under
revision for copyright laws and trying to fight them as artists working
within the discourse of creative plagiarism (i'm sure others will have a
nicer terms; i'm always fixated on the edge). If you have any desire to
fight this process please read through the following email and write
email suppressed with your response. Let's make Canada a haven for copyright
resisters and creative plagiarizers.
ben
"It is a society, and not a technique, which has made the cinema like this.
It could have been historical examinations, theory, essay, memoirs. It could
have been the film I am making at this moment." - Guy Debord
>Dear Ben,
>
>Thanks so much for your support!
>
>We've been getting a great response from across Canada. The letter will
>go public early next week, probably Tuesday (so we have a few more days
>to gather signatures). There will be a press release coming from
>CIPPIC.
>
>Support this issue but forwarding the email with attached letter of
>concern along to your crdon at email suppressed Before
> >> Wednesday, May 31, 2006
> >>
> >> Dear....Hell
> >>
> >> We are urgently contacting all Canadian Artists who use Collage,
> >> Found Material, Video/Film Appropriation and any other form of
> >> Appropriation in their work that could be subject to copyright laws. We
>are also contacting those in the Cultural Sector who understand this
>practice and
>support these Artists.
> >>
> >> We have had a tremendous response over the last few days from across
>Canada. We hope to forward the letter and go to press early next week.
>We would like to add your name to a letter being sent to the Canadian
>Government that describes how changes in copyright legislation would
>affect Artists who use appropriation.
> >>
> >> The letter is modest. We are asking that all Artists be consulted
>before
> >> further copyright legislation is put into effect. The organization
>CIPPIC (Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
>-www.cippic.ca ) and their copyright lawyers have assisted us in
>drafting the letter to government found at the end of this email. They
>are also
> >> offering legal support, advice and website space.
> >>
> >> Copyright laws are under discussion in Parliament as we speak. There
> >> have already been several attempts to change these laws which could
>result in
> >> Appropriation becoming illegal. Letters of concern over similar issues
>have been submitted to Parliament over the last couple of weeks from ;
>The Canadian Federation of Students , The Canadian Music Creator's
>Coalition, A Group representing The Privacy Community and Privacy
>Commissioners (see www.cippic.ca for details). It is time for the
>Arts Community to step forward.
> >>
> >> Some background. We are Project Leaders for a large multi-venue
> >> video exhibition concentrating on Appropriation Practices, planned for
> Autumn
> >> 2007 in Calgary. The title of the exhibition is 'ReDirect'. A number
>of
> >> Galleries, Artist Run Centres and Arts Organizations in Calgary have
>stepped up to support the Artists and the type of work presented in the
>ReDirect exhibition. We ourselves are Canadian but for the past five
>years we have lived and worked in London, UK ; at the Tate and at the
>Lisson Gallery. We have both spent a number of years working with
>artists worldwide in the area of electronic media, specifically video
>art. We are also artists who use appropriation in our work. We feel
>passionately about this practice. This letter has developed out of
>research on the ReDirect project and our contact with a large group of
>talented and dedicated artists who use appropriation.
> >>
> >> Canadian policy on copyright is at a critical juncture. If Artists,
> >> Arts Organizations and Government do not understand or recognize the
>critical
> >> issues here we could face a similar situation to that occurring in the
>U.S. where policy is stifling innovation. Quite simply we would like
>you to tell us that we can add your name
> >> to the letter below. With your voice added to the group it is a
>stronger argument. We are contacting a national list of Artists, Arts
>Organizations and others who support this issue.
> >>
> >> We appreciate your time, interest and support. We include the letter
> >> below. Please E-MAIL US directly to add your name, your 'title'
>(Artist,
> >> Curator, Director, Art Student etc.). If you can add a professional
>affiliation please do so. Time is of the essence.
> >>
> >> Many thanks,
> >>
> >> Sarah Joyce + Gordon Duggan
> >> ReDirect
> >> 250 335 2384
> >> email suppressed
> >>
> >>
> >> Letter to Government, May 2006
> >>
> >> The Honourable Maxime Bernier P.C., M.P.
> >> Minister of Industry
> >> 5th floor, West Tower
> >> C.D. Howe Building
> >> 235 Queen St.
> >> Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5
> >>
> >> The Honourable Bev Oda P.C., M.P.
> >> Minister of Canadian Heritage
> >> 25 Eddy Street
> >> Gatineau, Quebec
> >> K1A 0M5
> >>
> >> Dear Ministers:
> >>
> >> We write to you as a coalition of Canadian Art Professionals;
> >> Artists,
> >> Curators, Arts Organizations and Institutions, who share a deep
>concern
> >> over Canada's copyright policies and the impact these policies have on
>the creation and dissemination of Contemporary Art. At particular risk
>are those artworks using appropriation; eg. Conceptual Art, Art Video
>& Film, Sound Art and Collage.
> >>
> >> Contemporary Art often takes the form of cultural commentary,
> >> criticism,
> >> parody. Art using appropriation is no exception. The subject of this
>artistic commentary ranges widely, but often involves the examination
>of
> >> the cultural products of others (eg. movies, top 40 songs, television,
>radio, advertising...). Aspects of these are often reproduced as
>part of
> >> the work of art, but in such a way that the subject is transformed and
>offers the world something new. The new works that are produced
>comment
> >> on the world in which we live and reflect the nature of creativity
>itself.
> >>
> >> The practice of Appropriation has become a fundamental part of many
> >> creative cultural activities. Artworks using Appropriation have a
>long
> >> and well documented place in the History of Art. These works are
>collected and exhibited in major cultural institutions across Canada
>and
> >> throughout the world. We cannot open a book on Modern and
> >> Contemporary
> >> Art without being presented with some form of Appropriation. The
>ability
> >> to appropriate has not simply changed the way we make art, it has
>changed
> >> the way we see the world. And yet we fear that this form of
> >> creativity
> >> is being threatened and new forms of creativity using appropriation
>will
> >> be prevented even before their potential is recognized. We ask that
>you,
> >> our government, protect our rights as creators and supporters of
>important cultural works.
> >>
> >> As individuals working in the cultural sector, we rely on effective
> >> copyright laws for our living. Effective copyright laws should offer
>artists the legal means to enforce their rights in their work, but
>should
> >> not over-reach and stifle or even destroy creativity of others. We do
>not believe Canada's exisiting copyright laws reflect the reality of
>contemporary artistic practice. We fear that revisions to the
>copyright
> >> laws currently under consideration will compound artists' problems
>under
> >> the law.
> >>
> >> We come together to offer three principles that in our view must
> >> ground
> >> Canadian copyright policy:
> >>
> >>
> >> Fair access to copyrighted material lies at the heart of Copyright.
> >> Lobbyists for the copyright industry often claim that copyright owners
>need greater control over works. This is a false view of copyright.
>The
> >> law merely grants copyright owners limited rights over their works.
>Balanced against those rights are the rights of those who follow.
>Creators need access to the works of others to create. Legislative
>changes premised on the 'need' to give copyright owners more control
>over
> >> their works must be rejected.
> >>
> >> Artists and other creators require Certainty of Access. Artists who
> >> use
> >> appropriation in their practice, rely on Canada's fair dealing
>exception
> >> to create. Fair dealing is a narrow right, perhaps at times too
>narrow
> >> to support this work. Creators should enjoy the support of the law,
>and
> >> not have to work under conditions of uncertainty. The work we speak
>of
> >> here does not compete with that of its subject, nor does the value of
>this work derive from the value of its subject. The time has come for
>the Canadian government to consider replacing fair dealing with a
>broader
> >> defense, such as fair use, that will offer artists the certainty they
>require to create.
> >> Anti-Circumvention Laws Should Not Outlaw Creative Access. We
>understand that the Canadian government is considering legislation to
> >> privilege technical measures that protect access to digital works.
>Such
> >> laws must be rejected. The law should not outlaw otherwise legal
>dealings with copyrighted works merely because a digital lock has been
>used. The artists we represent work with a contemporary palette,
>using
> >> new technology. They work from within popular culture, using material
>from movies and popular music. Contemporary culture should not be
>immune
> >> to critical commentary.
> >>
> >> We are an important and vital community within Canada's large
> >> Cultural
> >> Network. We ask that you consult with us on any potential copyright
>legislation this government intends to table. Expansive copyright
>laws
> >> are often justified in the name of benefitting artists. We ask for
>the
> >> opportunity to voice our views.
> >>
> >> Yours truly,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> cc: Patricia Neri, Director General, Copyright Policy
> >> Department of Canadian Heritage
> >>
> >> Susan Bincoletto, Director General, Marketplace Framework Policy
>Branch
> >> Industry Canada
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Members mailing list
> >> email suppressed
> >> http://lists.imaa.ca/mailman/listinfo/members
> >>
> >
>
>
>
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.