Rimmer on Waiting For Copyright To Expire: The Legal Endgame of Samuel Beckett @DrRimmer

Matthew Rimmer, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), has published Waiting for Copyright to Expire: The Legal Endgame of Samuel Beckett. Here is the abstract.

Taking a comparative approach, this paper provides a legal commentary on the copyright disputes over the work of Samuel Beckett. In particular, it focuses upon legal and policy debates over the copyright term and the public domain; the operation of economic rights and defences such as fair dealing and fair use; and the comparative application of moral rights. This paper highlights conflicts in respect of copyright law and dramatic works within the performing arts community. It looks at the respective interests of playwrights, dramaturges, directors, producers, performers, theatre companies, and the viewing public. This paper considers the larger questions in respect of the intersection of intellectual property and human rights – looking at the impact of copyright law upon freedom of speech, artistic expression, and censorship. In particular, the conflicts over the performance of the work of Samuel Beckett raise questions about intellectual property, sexual discrimination, and racial discrimination.

Download the article from SSRN at the link.