Of Authors and Origins Essays on Copyright Law

Rapid changes in technology, combined with significant intellectual developments in contemporary art and literary theory, are challenging many of the central tenets which underlie copyright law such as authorship, originality, and influence. In this impressive collection of essays, leading international scholars from a number of different disciplines examine the impact of recent theoretical developments on copyright law. Focusing on three themes--the relationship between literary property and authorship, how copyright is culturally specific, and the two main traditions of copyright and droit d'auteur--this volume explores the ways in which cultures regulate artistic and literary expression and discusses the challenges that lie ahead in copyright law in maintaining its relevance in the face of rapid change.