Artists getting antsy at Eumundi
Tue 27 March 2007
Claire Kelly, Journalism
Locals are alarmed at the new wave of copyright paranoia sweeping through the Sunshine Coast’s famous Eumundi Markets.
Many stall holders are now banning the public from taking photographs of their products – even if they are only using their mobile phones and not digital or professional cameras.
During a recent visit to the markets one shopper, who has visited the markets a few times, was appalled at how some of the stall holders were talking to customers.
Travelling from Brisbane to purchase some gifts for her friends shopper Carol Jeffers was shocked by the reaction from one stall owner who literally shouted at her shopping companion and flat mate.
“She was just about to take a photo of a kid-style painting that said something amusing, as a joke to send to her boyfriend. The next thing we know the stallholder is yelling out ‘no photographs please, put that away’,” Ms Jeffers said.
“She was rude and she was very abrupt. She had attitude. We couldn’t see signs anywhere that said photographs weren’t permitted. It was unbelievable. If they are so uncomfortable about their work maybe they should be doing something else.”
Regular Eumundi Market goer and Sunshine Coast local, Tomas Paseggi, said that he could understand why artists would be protective about their work.
“An idea could be used by another person and changed slightly to make it appear original. But I think it is getting a little carried away telling customers that they can’t take photographs, especially when a lot of them are tourists and are likely never to see some of that kind of stuff again,” Mr Paseggi said.
“I haven’t had any problems myself, but I have had a couple of friends tell me that they had issues with some of the stall holders,” he said.
One of the stall holders, who asked not to be named, said that he thought it was crazy that artists were getting so caught up in trying to stop people taking photographs.
“They’re not real artists. If the work they have is so original no-one else would be able to make it. I don’t think a true artist would be worried about anyone stealing their ideas as only they would know how to make the real product,” he said.
The markets are well known Australia wide and have evolved into a “vibrant Mecca for artists and craftsmen” since 1979, the Eumundi and Historical District Association says.
Starting with a small collection of artists the markets have transformed into more than 500 hundred stalls and are now the “Sunshine Coast’s number No.1 tourist attraction”, the Eumundi Market website says.The website also states that it is “Australia’s Premier Craft Market” and that “tourists travel from throughout Australia and overseas” to visit the market Mecca.
Built on the foundations of ‘make it, bake it, sew it or grow it’ and selling only high-quality Australian-made goods the Eumundi Markets are considered by visitors as unique and very artistic.
The Australian Copyright Council (ACC) says on its website that there is no registration of copyright in Australia but once something is created and put into a material form, such as a piece of artwork, it has automatic copyright.
However, the copyright laws (Information G63 Artworks and copyright) do not protect ideas, information styles or techniques.
Australian Copyright Information sheet G021 says that once a ‘hobby’ piece is created it is automatically protected - this includes pottery, glasswork and jewellery. The information sheet also says that particular designs can be protected however concepts and ideas are not covered unless that idea has been expressed in a material form. It is possible to safeguard a particular design but an application has to be made to the Australian Copyright Council.
Following the ACC’s guidelines, the restriction of photographs in the Eumundi Markets will do little to protect an artist’s work against copyright theft if all they have is an idea or concept. However, if their work is in a material form it is illegal for any other artist or shopper to reproduce that particular kind of art.
Image(s) designed by Claire Kelly