Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

NB: Information in this Unit Outline is subject to change prior to commencement of semester

The practices of the creative industries are shaped by the underlying legal-framework that applies to society in general, and to the specific law that is purposely directed towards the creative sector, whether it be related to writers, media industries, the arts in general or the production sector. In order to be able to effectively function as a practitioner in these areas, it is necessary for you to have an appreciation of the extent to which the law affects you and your creative practice. The unit also seeks to foster an appreciation of the developing nature of the law through court decisions and its capacity to adapt to new circumstances, as well as providing you with the scope to appreciate the development of law through changes in policy through the intervention of parliaments.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with:
- An overview of the law directly affecting aspects of the creative industries;
- A capacity for you to be able to identify the extent to which the law specifically affects the practices in the creative industries;
- An understanding of how the law will adapt to accommodate developments in the creative industries.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Appreciate the impact that the law has on the practices of creative industries in general and your sector of creative practice;
2. Identify the legal issues that apply to specific activities of creative practice;
3. Recognise how your business and creative practices may be affected by the law;
4. Identify and understand when legal advice needs to be sought;
5. Critically evaluate the law as developed through both judicial and legislative intervention, and to understand the impact this will have on artistic, creative and professional practice.

Content

This unit is framed around a program based on a core set of topics applicable to all of you.
1. Introduction, the institutional framework of law applying to the creative industries and legal terminology.
2. Law, ethics and morals.
3. Copyright law.
4. The law dealing with information and ideas - breach of confidence, freedom of information, law relating to privacy.
5. Defamation.
6. Court Documents, contempt of court and reporting courts and parliament.
7. Other areas of the law including content classification, restricted publications, obscenity, online content law, broadcasting law.
8. New developments. Review and overview.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will involve lectures, workshops and tutorials. The core lecture material forms the foundation for tutorials and workshops. The unit is designed to enable you to acquire knowledge of the applicable law through lectures and set reading, and for you to use the workshops and tutorials to further your understanding of the law and to apply it to the specific situations that you will explore. Through this same process, you will engage in a critical evaluation of the relationship between law and creative industries.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked.
If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: (Formative and Summative) You will be required to provide a written response of no more than 1500 words to a problem style question. The question will cover a number of areas of law.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Open-book Examination
Description: (Summative) You will undertake an end of semester open-book examination which will deal with all aspects of the course. The exam scenario is designed to replicate the 'on-the-spot' thinking that you will encounter in your day-to-day practice and decision making. It will comprise a choice of 3 from 4 questions.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4 & 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

REQUIRED TEXT

Rhonda Breit (2007) Law and Ethics for Professional Communicators Butterworths, Australia

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Armstrong et al. (1995) 3rd Edition Media Law in Australia OUP: Melbourne

Beattie and Beal (2006) Converge and Connect A Media and Communications Law Handbook Oxford University Press

Butler, Des and Rodrick, Sharon (2004) 2nd Edition Australian Media Law LBC: Sydney.

Chisholm and Nettheim (2002) 6th Edition Understanding Law Butterworths: Sydney

Leiboff, Marrett (2007) Creative Practice and the Law Lawbook Co: Sydney

McKeough, Jill et al. (2004) 3nd Edition Intellectual Property in Australia LexisNexis-Butterworths: Sydney

Pearson, Mark (2004) 2nd Edition The journalist's guide to media law: dealing with legal and ethical issues Allen & Unwin: Sydney

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 30-Apr-2012