MA in Art Law and Arts Management > Legal problems of architecture design, photography and other artifacts (especially in digital form – multimedia)

Legal problems of architecture design, photography and other artifacts (especially in digital form – multimedia)

Τeaching hours and credit allocation: 14 hours, 6 credits

The aim of this module is to identify and analyze legal problems related to architecture design, photography and other artifacts. The design and layout of spaces does not only involve mathematics, engineering, and science; architecture and design are interdependent forms of artistic expression, reflecting the designer’s talent and originality. Similarly to architecture design, photography has a functional and practical aspect, but it has also evolved into an elaborate form of artistic expression. The legal protection of architect design and photography is a new and challenging field of study. The module takes into consideration the legal implications of the new technological developments (new information and communication technologies, use of digital forms and multimedia), which are associated with architect design and photography.

On completing the course the participants will be able to:

  • Understand the main characteristics of architecture design, photography and other artifacts, from creation to commercial exploitation;
  • Understand the role of law and the scope of the protected subject matter  in the context of photography and architecture design;
  • Understand and the legal mechanisms for protecting the designer’s and the photographer’s copyright and moral rights;
  • Study the legal restrictions on photography (public morality, protection of privacy, etc.);
  • Appreciate the importance of the new information and communication technologies, digitalization, network convergence and cultural work within the information society.

Content

  • The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works; the Universal Copyright Convention;
  • Examples of national legislation, such as the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act (U.S.);
  • Registration of work;
  • Assignment and licensing;
  • Joint authorship, work-made-for-hire;
  • Contracts, releases, and permissions to the copyright laws from the architect’s, photograph’s and client’s point of view;
  • Protection from infringement; defining substantial similarity;
  • Architectural design controls;
  • Photography and the rights of privacy;
  • The special issues of censorship and obscenity in photography;
  • The legality of photographing currency, trademarks, copyrighted materials, military installations, private property, celebrities, children, etc.;
  • Getting the work on the web;
  • Litigation and ADR.