Conference to examine minority language music and copyright law
A special bilingual conference is to be held at Bangor to explore recent developments in copyright law and the impact of the law on minority language music.
Hosted by Bangor University Law School, ‘Collecting and Protecting: 21st century copyright and minority language music’ will be held at Bangor University’s Neuadd Reichel on Thursday 13th February, 9.30am-4.00pm.
Sponsored by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, the conference comes in the wake of the recent decision of the Copyright Tribunal in the case of the BBC and Eos, a collecting agency which represents the rights and interests of Welsh musicians.
The keynote speakers are Professor Ian Hargreaves, Professor of Digital Economy at Cardiff University, and Gwion Lewis, barrister with Landmark Chambers in London and sole counsel for Eos in the recent tribunal.
Professor Hargreaves will be discussing ‘The Politics of Copyright’ and explaining his own review of IP law for the UK Government, whilst Gwion Lewis will be reflecting on the Eos v BBC Tribunal decision and its significance in the wider debate on copyright law and minority language music.
Other contributors to the conference are John Hywel Morris (PRS for Music), Kalev Rattus (EAU Estonia), Mark Hyland (lecturer in IP and Copyright Law at Bangor Law School), and Deian ap Rhisiart and Steffan Thomas (both PhD students conducting research into music copyright in Wales).
“We hope that this highly topical conference will stimulate more interest in the field of copyright in general in Wales, and specifically more debate on the issue of copyright in the context of minority languages and cultures”, commented Carys Aaron, conference organiser and Lecturer in Law at Bangor. “Our hope is that it will lead to further research and greater legal specialisation in the subject here in Wales.”
‘Collecting and Protecting: 21st century copyright and minority language music’ is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. Registration is essential and can be done by emailing cynhadleddhawlfraint@bangor.ac.uk.
Publication date: 7 February 2014