The Bungled Copyright of Albert Namatjira
Posted on: Tue 12 Sep 2017
Unfortunately, the appointed executors of Albert Namatjira’s estate renounced their position requiring that the Public Trustee step in. In 1983, the Public Trustee sold Albert Namatjira’s copyright to Legend Press for $8500 with what effectively amounted to another forty years left before it expired. His family, who had been receiving royalties for Namatjira’s work, were then left with a smaller amount than they would have gotten otherwise.
CEO of the Arts Law Centre of Australia joined Jennie Lenman and Ian Newton to discuss this case and copyright more broadly.
Produced by Casey Tonkin.
Image source: Flickr.
