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The Benefits of Studying Copyright Law - They're Patently Obvious - Studying Law - The Guardian
The Benefits of Studying Copyright Law - They're Patently Obvious - Studying Law - The Guardian
The Benefits of Studying Copyright Law - They're Patently Obvious - Studying Law - The Guardian
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Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams used copyrighted elements from Marvin Gaye’s Got to Give it
Up in their song Blurred Lines, a jury in the US ruled recently. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Oli Palmer
Thu 14 May 2015 10.09 BST
We all enjoy reading books, watching films and listening to music. But in
truth, we enjoy what copyright law allows us to.
And, as Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and rapper TI found out in March,
there are many blurred lines – and these can provide opportunities for
lawyers.
Last year, Kim Kardashian allegedly tried to copyright her bum against
notorious Instagrammer, Jen Selter. The story led to two interesting
questions. Is someone’s bum protected by copyright? And to what extent is a
selfie, a global phenomenon, protected by copyright?
Copyright law is based on the idea that someone can create something that
he or she holds exclusive rights over, to prevent anyone from copying that
work to the author’s detriment. Its foundations lie within both domestic law
and European law, which means there are always tensions.
Put in context, copyright deals with issues like that time when Vanilla Ice’s
Ice Ice Baby hit the headlines for allegedly copying Queen and David Bowie’s
Under Pressure. The pressure must’ve got too much for Mr Ice, as the case
was settled before it went to trial. But underlying the claim are the
foundations of copyright: why we have it, and whom it protects.
Studying copyright law can also help you to acquire skills many law firms
and other businesses desire, such as an acute attention to detail.
There are over 50 well regarded law firms in London alonethat work in
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12/6/22, 6:19 PM The benefits of studying copyright law? They're patently obvious | Studying law | The Guardian
There are over 50 well-regarded law firms in London alonethat work in
intellectual property. There are also opportunities to work in-house at
businesses which need lawyers to deal with copyright matters as they arise.
“It’s also central to educational and charitable institutions which often need
to exploit their copyright to further their non-commercial aims. A graduate
entering the world of work with an understanding of how to protect and
enforce copyright is of significant value to the full spectrum of potential
employers.”
In 2013, one in 12 jobs in the UK were part of the creative economy, according
to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (pdf, page 10). Many of these
will involve copyright law, highlighting the importance of understanding the
field.
But the best thing about copyright law is how enjoyable it is and how
applicable it is to everyday life, which is bizarre when you consider the
intangible nature of its rights.
Rachel Metcalf, 22, who studied copyright law at Durham University, says:
“My studies gave me an awareness of why the law should be appreciated by
all, not just lawyers.”
Merely reading this article is interacting with copyright. So is watching back-
to-back episodes of Breaking Bad on Netflix, or listening to your Friday night
Spotify playlist. Why not begin to read between the lines?
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