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IP Awareness

The Australian music industry strongly believes that education is the key to changing attitudes towards music piracy.  Stealing music is the same as stealing anything else. It is illegal and the consequences are real, for artists, songwriters, and for the future of music.  Unauthorised copying or downloading has a major effect on the music industry.  And it’s not free at all - it is the musicians, artists, sound technicians and all the other people involved in the music industry who are paying the price with less music being sold.  People’s livelihoods are affected.  Further, as a result of piracy there is less money to be invested in new talent, which ultimately means less music for you!  

MIPI is regularly involved in wide ranging and comprehensive intellectual property awareness programs often in conjunction with government, education, law enforcement and industry.  Some recent examples are set out below. 

Schools & Universities

 

  • Thornbury High Class TV- Support Artists! - A short documentary created and produced by students at Thornbury High discussing the need to support artists and song writers in the face of wide-spred illegal file sharing on the internet.  

  • Rock the Schools tour  (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 supported by MIPI) is an exciting educational initiative that entertains and inspires high school students throughout Australia via high intensity live rock concerts at schools.  In 2009, it features Australian bands The Take, Claire Clarke and Stone Parade performing in 70 schools, to over 50,000 students throughout Australia. The live band performances are followed by an educational workshop covering topics of interest to students including the negative effects of illegal downloading of music. 

  • In Tune  (2008 supported by ARIA, APRA|AMCOS and MIPI) is a short documentary on what it’s like to be an artist in 2008.  In Tune features intimate interviews with some of Australia’s biggest names who speak candidly on the issues they face as music creatorstoday, from what it’s like to be part of a band to how the digital revolution has affected their livelihoods.  The film captures comments from songwriters and musicians across many genres – from rock and pop to hip hop and soul including: Silverchair, Powderfinger, Operator Please, The Veronicas, Frenzal Rhomb, Damien Leith, Anthony Callea, Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes, Evermore, Grinspoon, Phrase, Weapon X and The Dawn Collective. 

  • Frank Hardcase  (2008 Crime Stoppers school campaign, with support from the Attorney General's Department) animation and competition to create awareness amongst school-age children about the effects that illegally downloading or file sharing music have on the industry in Australia. 

  • Young People, Music and the Internet  (2008).

  • E-pirates of the Digital Age DVD  (2008 educational DVD produced by VEA with assistance from MIPI) looks at copyright issues in music and software for secondary school students.  The DVD blurb states: “New technology has had a staggering impact on the way people use information and the speed at which it is introduced and utilized is just as quick.  Some new technologies are so quickly integrated into the online world that they are not yet covered by government policy and laws, and this can lead to conflict between users and creators.  This program examines the complex world of digital piracy and the copyright of computer related media, including software, games and music. 

  • Music for Free?  (2008 educational English unit created by the Commonwealth Department of Education with assistance from MIPI) looks at the ethics of file sharing. The unit encourages secondary students to explore the issue of illegal downloading of music from the internet and to consider the ethics of giving artists and songwriters “a fair go”. 

  • ACMF Songwriting Competition  (2008 and 2009) The Australian Children's Music Foundation conducts a National Songwriting Competition each year, open to every Primary, Secondary and Specific Purpose School across Australia.  For the second consecutive year MIPI has pledged its support and, with the help of industry partners, is providing a host of enticing prizes for the competition. Categories include Words & Music, Best Instrumental (No Lyrics), and Australian Theme (Words & Music). Click here to hear the winning song “Ain’t Yours for Free” by Sarah Krust.  

  • All Right to Copy?  (2008 developed by the National Copyright Unit of the Copyright Advisory Group of Australian Schools and TAFEs with assistance from MIPI) is a resource designed to teach students about copyright, and how it impacts them as both users and creators. The resource includes a video, which follows the progress of two students as they create a website for a competition and deal with the various copyright challenges that arise. The written content includes copyright information, sample permission letters, useful links and a quiz. 

 

Industry
 

  • Intellectual Property Thieves poster (2008) In conjunction with industry partners AFACT and IEAA, MIPI has produced a poster to promote IP theft awareness among Australian police officers. The posters were distributed to over 306 police stations across the country and aim to encourage police to be aware of IP crime and help to enforce Australia’s copyright laws.
  • Piracy in your industry guides (since 2007) MIPI has developed a wide range of fact sheets for people using music within their industry including bars & hotels, retailers, background music, businesses & companies, DJs, karaoke, fitness, jukeboxes, dance, therapy, mobile phones, market buying and selling, eBay buying and selling,  and manufacturing plants.
  • Support Artists Report Music Piracy campaign (2007) MIPI disseminated information on the negative consequences of music piracy for the music industry and encouraged people to report music piracy.  The campaign targeted music retailers, both bricks & mortar and internet, markets and others in the music industry.

  • Copyright & Security Guide for Educational Institutions  (2007). 
     

Budding creators
 

  • Victoria Rocks  (2008) MIPI is presenting seminars to musicians about protecting their rights and understanding the effects of music piracy as part of the Victoria Rocks program.
  • Tropfest and Tropfest Jr Guide to Music and Copyright  (2007, 2008 and 2009) answers questions like whether its okay to use other people’s music in your film and how to get permission for up and coming filmmakers entering the Sony Tropfest and Sony Trop Jr competitions. 
  • FretFest  (2007) MIPI provided budding Queensland singer songwriters entrants to the Fretfest “Find of the Year” competition with fact sheets about protecting their rights and ran a number of seminars to educate entrants about copyright and the importance of balancing the protection and promotion of their work.  
  • Musicians - Protecting Your Music and Doing The Right Thing  (2007) comprehensive guide released by MIPI setting out how to protect your music and to ensure that you are doing the right thing with other peoples’ music.  


MIPI regularly attends seminars and conferences to discuss music piracy and its devastating effects on singers, songwriters and others in the music industry.  If you would like to invite MIPI to your next event, have any ideas for IP awareness or have any questions about MIPI’s educational programs, please contact us. 

 

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