The Arts Law Centre of Queensland (Arts Law Qld) has ceased operation due to a lack of funding. As a result QWC is unable to offer legal or accounting advice.
At this stage, we strongly advise contacting the Intellectual Property (IP) and Technology Law Clinic.
The IP and Technology Law Clinic is an initiative of the QUT Faculty of Law and the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH). It aims to facilitate free legal advice and legal services to members of the arts and technology communities who cannot otherwise afford to consult a lawyer. The areas of law that are covered by the IP and Technology Law Clinic include copyright, contract (especially recording contracts, publishing contracts and the like), trademarks, designs, patents, media law, laws governing digital distribution and online business models, technology law and confidentiality.
The IP and Technology Law Clinic provides three key services:
• A free legal advice service for Queenslanders working in the arts and technology sectors who cannot afford to see a lawyer, held once monthly at the QUT offices. Clients are able to make 45 minute appointments to speak to a volunteer lawyer one-on-one about any legal questions or issues they may have (‘the advice service’);
• A pro bono referral service (coordinated through QPILCH) for deserving cases that require greater attention than can be provided through the advice service (‘the pro bono referral service’); and
• An elective unit offered to QUT law students in the second semester of 2010. In this unit, students will work to support QUT and QPILCH in providing the advice service and the pro bono service, and will learn valuable practical skills in assisting others through community legal service (‘the student elective’).
The Clinic utilises an enthusiastic volunteer base of lawyers and law firms in Queensland to provide the advisory and pro bono services. The Clinic is held on the last Thursday evening of each month, from 5:30pm. Interested people from the creative and technology sectors can call 07 3138 2046 (or email cheryl.foong[at]qut.edu.au) to book a free 45-minute advice session with a lawyer.
Alternativley, you can also contact the Arts Law Centre of Australia, phone 02 9356 2566, fax 02 9358 6475, toll free 1800 221 457.
Overview
For a basic overview of legal issues in publishing, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page and download our free Legal Advice Resource Sheet.
Copyright
If you have a copyright question, QWC recommends you seek out Copyright Agency Limited, who have a range of excellent, free resource sheets, as well as Creative Commons.
Australian Copyright Council also has very clear and easy to understand copyright advice for authors in their Information Sheets available for free on their website.
For further enquries
The Australian Society of Authors offers a contract advice service – details are available on their website and there are also Contract FAQs on their site.
QWC Recommends
Queensland Writers Centre recommends Alex Adsett Publishing Services, for contract and copyright advice. She has over 12 years experience working in the legal aspects of major publishers here in Australia and in the UK. She has particular experience in reviewing publishing contracts.
Alex charges $125 for an initial contract review, including a written report. This is a special members only price.
For this price, Alex will determine:
- What's in your contract that's not to industry standards
- What's not in your contract and should be
- What's in the contract but could be improved.
Charges for any subsequent negotiation or review is $60 per hour.
Non-QWC members are charged $160 for a written report and $70 per hour for subsequent negotiation.