May 2008 Archives

A DESIGN exhibition showcasing the work of the region's creative community is moving to a new venue and doubling in size after massive demand from exhibitors.

Design Show Liverpool, one of the key events of Capital of Culture year, is moving to the new Novas Contemporary Urban Centre (the CUC) in Greenland Street.

The event, a showcase for creative industries and design talent from Merseyside and the North West, was to have been held in the crypt at the Metropolitan Cathedral, but has been moved to accommodate the expanded show.

THE founder of marketing agency Active Profile has been named Outstanding Graduate of the Year by the University of Liverpool's Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Leadership.

The award for Anna Heyes, who founded Active Profile in 2004, comes a month after she scooped the Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Northwest Women in Business Awards.

Ms Heyes said: "I'm thrilled the University decided to present me with this - it's strange, as it doesn't seem a second since I was studying for my degree at the Management School. It was there I had the initial encouragement to start Active Profile."

WEBSITE development firm Mando Group has signed a "significant" web deal with United Utilities.

The contract includes the redevelopment of the company's main site, www. unitedutilities.com

Mando Group will be the lead supplier in an initial one-year development and support contract in partnership with RedDot Enterprise Content Management.

A PROJECT to encourage the city centre community to create their own art and exhibitions is holding a showcase event on Saturday.

The Face of the City event, at the Merseyside Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock, will feature singers, poets, storytellers and art displays. It will run from 12pm to 4pm.

A MERSEYSIDE online pioneer has been invited to address one of the world's largest new media conferences.

Don McAllister, who founded ScreenCasts Online in 2005 to offer online video tutorials in how to use Apple Mac computers and software, will be speaking at the New Media Expo, in Las Vegas, in August.

Mr McAllister will tell delegates at the prestigious convention how he has been able to make money online.

THE Bluecoat says the success of its new retail and studio spaces shows the demand for city centre premises for creative businesses.

The city centre arts venue reopened in March after a £12.5m refurbishment - and, as well as its exhibition space, the complex now includes new retail units and studio space for artists.

Bluecoat business development manager Lynne Robertson said the facility had wanted to offer creative businesses affordable space in the city centre.

WIRRAL creative agency ICE has created a new brand for the Mersey Maritime Group's interactive training package designed to position the region as a leader in maritime training.

RECENT suggestions of a disagreement between the Culture Company and Japanese artist Taro Chiezo over the Superlambanana high-light pitfalls which may arise when dealing with works protected by copyright.

The law of copyright pro-tects art, drawings, books, plays, music, dance, photo-graphs, films, TV and radio broadcasts and computer software. Any original works in these categories are automatically protected in the UK, without the require-ment to register copyright or pay any fee.

Although it is often said that possession is nine- tenths of the law, this is not the case with copyright law. The ownership of the final physical product and the copyright in that product are treated as two separate rights. You may own something physically but not own the copyright in it and vice-versa. Copyright lies with the creator of the work, regardless of whether it has been commissioned by a third party. No particular formal-ities are required to transfer ownership of the actual work, but the copyright will not be transferred unless this is evidenced in writing and signed by the copyright owner.

This is important for a number of rea- sons. For example, it is the retained own- ership of the copyright in computer software which enables companies like Microsoft to build an em- pire and prevent the unlawful copying and distribution of software. Those principles apply when downloading music or copying CDs.

In the same way, savvy artists can gain consider-able financial benefits from merchandising by keeping control of copy-right and this same right enables photographers to maximise their income from wedding photos as they are the lawful source of copies of the original photographs.

In today's world of cash and commerce, with fast transactions and mass production, people might think it seems illogical to have such stringent copyright laws. But it is important to remember copyright exists to protect and reward creativity and innovation.

ROBERT STOKER, legal director at DLA Piper, in Liverpool.