Wednesday 8 December 2010

Sound recording wins Turner art prize

This week Glaswegian Susan Philipsz became the first sound artist to win Britain's Turner Prize on Monday. The prize-winning entry is Lowlands, a recording of Phillipsz singing three versions of a traditional Scottish folk song.  Could this be the first example of a prize-winning art entry being subject to protection as a sound recording and not as an artistic work under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.  The question is not without significance since, while both musical and artistic works are protected as original authors' works, sound recordings are protected by 'neighbouring' rights, have a shorter term of protection and are affected by different exceptions to copyright protection.  The singer also enjoys a performer's right.

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