SPN announces 2018 conference research day keynote

21 June 2018 Books+Publishing

The Small Press Network (SPN) has announced Monash University associate professor Rebecca Giblin as the keynote speaker for the 2018 Independent Publishing Conference academic research day, which will take place on 22 November 2018.

Giblin’s keynote address, titled ‘The Case for Rethinking Author Contracts’, will ask whether publishers can still justify taking rights for 100 years or more, and what an alternative might mean for ‘getting authors paid and books read’. She will explore how the copyright interests of authors and publishers differ, look at the history behind existing current contractual practice, and discuss how the supporting rationales are being challenged by the digital paradigm.

Working within Monash University’s law faculty, Giblin is currently leading research to investigate what copyright law could look like if it took authors’ interests more seriously, as well as research into understanding the legal and social impacts of ebook lending in public libraries around the world.

Further keynote speakers for the conference’s industry days have yet to be announced.

The full program for the 2018 SPN Independent Publishing Conference, which will run from 22-24 November at Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre, will be released in September. Tickets are on sale now.

Category: Conferences Local news