Work of Authorship

Abstract

Copyright laws are important regulators of cultural expression, because they grant extensive rights to control the reproduction, adaptation and communication of ‘literary’ and ‘artistic’ works. The twin concepts of authorship and original work are central to copyright laws the world over; their interpretation driven by economic and technological concerns. In this collection of essays contributors from various academic disciplines query what diverse disciplines in the humanities ‒ including literary studies, aesthetics, film studies, and the philosophy of art ‒ have to offer law, in a quest to establish a more nuanced and useful conception of copyright and authorship. This volume brings together scholars from a range of disciplines to explore the challenges inherent in translating aesthetics and creativity studies to concepts of copyright.

Keywords: copyright; collective authorship; aesthetics; philosophy; creativity