Author Neil Gaiman has won a major court victory over copyright and intellectual property issues relating to the characters in the comic book Spawn, which Gaiman claimed included characters from his Sandman series, used without his permission. “Intellectual property experts predict the appellate decision will have broader influence on joint authorship issues, giving everyone who participates in a creative work a potential copyright claim.”
Tag: 03.05.04
Keeping The Arts Alive In A War Zone
Israel is not an easy place to live at the moment, with violence and terrorism seemingly around every corner, and little prospect for short-term improvement. But somehow, Israel’s artistic and cultural scene continues to thrive, despite (maybe because of?) the political and ethnic strife. “Cultural life in Israel has always been rich and vibrant, even in times of crisis… This is not simply a boost to the morale; it is something Israelis need.”
Ballet San Jose Back From The Brink
“Silicon Valley electronics retailer John Fry has stepped in to rescue the financially battered Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley with a $1 million contribution and an extraordinary commitment to take over the board chairmanship. The gift is the largest single contribution in the ballet’s history and comes after a recent audit showed its deficit hovering at $1.5 million… The $1 million check was hand-delivered by Fry late Wednesday. According to [company CEO Charles] Hart, the ballet began writing checks to its creditors Thursday.”
Viva Paul Taylor
The Paul Taylor Company opens its new season in New York, and the company looks reborn, writes Tobi Tobias. They are “dancing as if an ardent, intensified study of echt Taylor style had reanimated it.”
Arab World – Looking For legacy
A thousand years ago the Arab world was a center of learning, a civilization that led the world. So what happened? “According to a number of highly self-critical reports that have come out in the past few years, the 21 countries that make up the region are struggling to teach even basic science at the university level. For poor countries, such as Yemen and Sudan, the problem is a lack of money and resources. For wealthier ones, such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, complacency and a relatively new and underdeveloped university system have hampered progress.”