Kylie Pappalardo

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Making Australian research free for everyone to read sounds ideal. But the Chief Scientist’s open‑access plan isn’t risk‑free

The idea is publicly funded Australian research should be free for the public to read when published. But if it means taking money from universities struggling for research funding, that poses risks.
The on-paper designs for furniture belong to the designer, just like any other artists. But things get more complicated when designs become physical objects. Shutterstock

Explainer: can you copyright furniture?

How are furniture designers protected by law, and what is an ‘original design’ when aesthetics meets functionality?
In a new study, various creators described the process of obtaining copyright permission as ‘incredibly stressful’, ‘terrifying’ and ‘a total legal nightmare’.

How copyright law is holding back Australian creators

A new study has found copyright law can act as a deterrent to creation, rather than an incentive for it.
The Grand Tour, starring Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, available on Amazon’s pay-to-view service is reportedly now the most illegally downloaded program. Amazon Prime

Blocking access to illegal file‑share websites won’t stop illegal downloading

A court has ruled that internet service providers in Australia should block access to some illegal file-sharing websites. But is there a better way to beat the priates?
A pause, not a halt in legal attempts to claim money from people who illegally downloaded the movie Dallas Buyers Club, which starred Jared Leto (left) and Matthew McConaughey (right). Voltage Pictures

What now after the Dallas Buyers Club pirate claim is rejected as ‘surreal’?

The Federal Court has said no to an attempt to claim potentially thousands of dollars from people who illegally downloaded the movie Dallas Buyers Club. But the downloaders are not in the clear yet.
Marvin Gaye’s family has won damages of more than US$7.3 million in a case involving Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams. EPA/Paul Buck

Blurred Lines may be the biggest music copyright case of 2015

A jury in the US has awarded damages of nearly US$7.4 million to Marvin Gaye’s family in a lawsuit against singers Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams. Aren’t we missing the point of copyright?

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