How to catch a shark, part one: Whose copyright is it anyway?
When Damien Hirst unveiled his diamond-encrusted skull, hands up all those who thought he’d sat up all night sticking the bling on himself. Behind many leading artists is a whole posse of lesser-known artisans, whose job it is to create without credit. In the first of two articles examining copyright in the art world, Arts Hub talks to leading media lawyer Mark Stephens – partner at Finers, Stephe
8 Aug 2007 12:00
Angela Meredith
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Writing and Publishing
When Damien Hirst unveiled his diamond-encrusted skull, hands up all those who thought he’d sat up all night sticking the bling on himself. Behind many leading artists is a whole posse of lesser-known artisans, whose job it is to create without credit. In the first of two articles examining copyright in the art world, Arts Hub talks to leading media lawyer Mark Stephens – partner at Finers, Stephens, Innocent – and asks, “Whose copyright is it anyway?”
Mark Stephens is emphatic: Damien Hirst did not catch his own shark, slaughter his own meat or set his own diamonds in that blingin’ skull.
Angela Meredith is a freelance journalist/writer who covers the Arts, travel and leisure and consumer health. Her work has appeared on websites such as Men’s Health, Discovery Health and TravelZoo – and this year she worked on the launch of the website Moneypage.com as Travel/Leisure writer. She contributes accident and health and safety news to a personal injury website and has written extensively for the b2b journal Pharmacy Business. Angela is a former winner of Soho Theatre’s Verity Bargate Award for new playwrights and has written for BBC TV. In 2007 she was short listed for the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook’s New Novel Award. She began her career as an actress and still acts occasionally. She is a full member of the NUJ and Equity and has a BA (Joint Hons) in Literature & History of Art and an MA in Literature.
