CISAC and FutureLearn trilingual global online course on copyright history

How did author’s rights and copyright emerge? How have they evolved over time? How have technological and industrial innovations affected payments for art and creative works? The free, trilingual online course “Exploring Copyright” answers these and many other questions. Enrolment for CISAC’s Massive Online Open Course (MOOC), offered in partnership with the social platform FutureLearn, is now open in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese course versions are thanks to support from UBC and SPA, the Brazilian and Portuguese authors’ societies. “Exploring Copyright” is a historical journey from Gutenberg’s printing press to today’s digital age. It examines how creators and authors gained protection under law to earn remuneration for their work. It explains how authors’ rights contributed to economic growth over the centuries as well as how digital technology has presented new opportunities and challenges for receiving equitable remuneration for their artistic endeavors. The course includes articles, videos, illustrated timelines, quizzes and interactive discussions.