Who Owns Culture?: Intellectual Property Law and the Cultural Commons

Semester and Year	FA 2011
Course Number	IDSEM-UG1587
Section	001
Instructor	Gail Drakes
Days	Tue
Time	3:30 PM - 6:10 PM
Units	4.0
Level	U
Foundation Requirement	SOC

Description

Can a yoga pose be considered “private property?” Who owns the genetic sequences found in your DNA? What are the rights of an author/artist and how do those rights overlap with the rights of the community to engage with works of art? What is the significance of the “public domain” and the “cultural commons” in a free-market economy? In this course, we will deepen our understanding of the cultural and ethical implications of copyright, trademark and patent law by placing the concepts of ownership and authorship in both historical and global context. In addition to scholarly essays drawn from the fields of history, legal studies, anthropology and sociology, this course will also draw on a range of texts from the visual arts, music, and literature. Course requirements include a research essay, research-based creative projects and in-class presentations. Texts studied may include Peñalver’s Property Outlaws , Coombe’s The Cultural Life of Intellectual Properties . Visual and audio sources from Girl Talk, Negativeland, DJ Spooky and Joy Garnett may also be included.

Course Type

Interdisciplinary Seminars (IDSEM-UG)