Copyright in the Street

An Oral History of Creative Processes in Street Art and Graffiti Subcultures

Enrico Bonadio author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:27th Apr '23

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Copyright in the Street cover

This insightful exploration of street art and graffiti examines how copyright laws are perceived, focusing on the voices within these vibrant communities. Copyright in the Street offers an in-depth look.

This book brings 'voices from the street' into the debate over the legal and non-legal protection of street art and graffiti. Drawing on ethnographic research and fieldwork, Copyright in the Street highlights insider perspectives and examines how copyright laws are perceived within street art and graffiti subcultures. It explores how these laws affect the creative practices of artists and writers, providing a deeper understanding of their views on these critical issues.

Copyright in the Street gives a voice to the main actors within these communities, shedding light on their feelings and opinions regarding the challenges that increasingly impact their everyday lives and work. The book also delves into related topics, such as the 'gallerisation' or economic exploitation of street art forms, and the intriguing parallels between the worlds of graffiti and advertising. Through comprehensive research, it offers a unique perspective on how these artists navigate the complexities of their environments.

This work provides an oral account of how copyright narratives are infiltrating street art and graffiti subcultures. By engaging with the thoughts and experiences of those directly involved, Copyright in the Street contributes significantly to the ongoing discourse surrounding the protection and recognition of street art, making it a vital resource for anyone interested in the intersection of art, law, and culture.

'Bonadio has done very thorough research on graffiti and street art cultures and has included interviews, opinions and comments from some of its key players. The case studies and examples are unquestionably relevant, and useful for navigating a very real obstacle that creators of public art are faced with today.' Al Diaz, author of SAMO©…SINCE 1978
'Enrico Bonadio is an accomplished scholar of street art, graffiti and the law. In this book he provides a comprehensive well-researched overview of copyright laws as perceived by the practitioners of these forms of art, highlighting the ramifications experienced across creative fields and the many issues facing the legal (and non-legal) protections afforded to street art and graffiti.' Jeff Gluck, Gluck Law Firm P. C., focusing on representing street artists and graffiti writers and enforcing their intellectual property rights
'Enrico Bonadio is the one who better knows and understands the world of graffiti and street art, and their intersection with copyright regimes. In this new book, he takes a step further and offers us a direct and authentic perspective of this complex and ever evolving artistic reality - and he does so through the opinions of its protagonists. Bonadio's study is essential for a better understanding of the graffiti and street art phenomenon and to steer a much-needed legal analysis.' Elena Vicente Domingo, Professor of Law at the University of Burgos, Spain
Enrico Bonadio did it again! In this volume, he brings together years of research into a comprehensive look at copyright in street art and graffiti. Here, Bonadio combines his legal acumen with his philosophical sensibility and historical knowledge to uncover a watershed moment in the study of intellectual property applied to urban creativity. No serious discussion of intellectual property in the arts, or, more broadly, street art, will be able to ignore this work.' Andrea Baldini, Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics, Alliance University, India
'One of the definitions of graffiti is 'making letters dance'. Bonadio makes his written words dance in front of us, becoming the perfect tour guide to a world that we probably only glimpsed before. As I already said, you will never see street art quite the same way after reading this book. I know I won't.' Ernesto Edwards, European Intellectual Property Review

ISBN: 9781009198684

Dimensions: 236mm x 159mm x 16mm

Weight: 410g

280 pages