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Colin Golvan

Law Articles & Essays

Aboriginal Art and Copyright - An Overview and Commentary Concerning Recent Developments

There has been a proliferation of litigation in recent years involving claims of copyright in Aboriginal artworks. This article gives an overview of this litigation and comments on some of the key issues arising out of the cases. It is observed that Aboriginal artists have been vigilant protectors of their copyright rights, and that whilst protection under the Copyright Act 1968 has addressed a number of practical concerns of Aboriginal artists, there is still some way to go before the law meets the genuine concerns of Aboriginal communities for appropriate protection for Aboriginal artistic and cultural rights.