Editors --- "Creative Commons and the Creative Industries" [2007] SydUPLawBk 41; in Fitzgerald, Brian; Coates, Jessica and Lewis, Suzanne (eds), "Open Content Licensing: Cultivating the Creative Commons" (Sydney University Press, 2007) 93

Creative Commons and the Creative Industries

Perspectives from the Creative Industries

RICHARD NEVILLE, PROFESSOR RICHARD JONES, PROFESSOR BARRY CONYNGHAM AM AND PROFESSOR GREG HEARN

Richard Neville is one person that I am sure does not need an introduction, but we must give him one. He is very well-known throughout the world as a social commentator and a futurist. We all know Richard from various initiatives he has been involved in from the Oz trials, right through to his social and political commentary in Australian television and media. I met Richard at a conference in Brisbane in 2004 and he said that he had been in India and had listened to Richard Stallman, who is the free software guru, talk about free and open source software. He said how fascinated he was with the concept. I asked him, ‘Have you heard about the Creative Commons?’ and he said, ‘Sort of.’ I said, ‘Would you come and speak at a conference we’re planning?’ and he said, ‘Yes, I’d like to. I really think these initiatives are very good’. As well as the paper by Richard Neville, a number of other experts also provide us with their experiences and thoughts regarding the adoption of Creative Commons in the Creative Industries. Professor Richard Jones presents reactions to open content licensing from the Australian independent film sector; Professor Barry Conyngham AM discusses his personal experiences as composer, educator and academic manager; and Professor Greg Hearn considers the implications of Creative Commons for the business side of the creative industries. Professor Brian Fitzgerald (Head, QUT Law School)