❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding Healthway sponsorship of the Royal Agricultural Show and allegations of plagiarism in the 2008 Open Art Award. The Minister's response defends the RAS and its processes, stating plagiarism is not condoned and existing measures are sufficient.
AnsweredQoN 4003Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to Government support for the Royal Agricultural Show through Healthway sponsorship, I ask:
(a) does the Minister support WA Healthway funding being used for exhibitions, prizes or awards that condone plagiarism or copyright violation;
(b) has the Minister’s department any guidelines or contract conditions regarding plagiarism or copyright violation;
(c) has the Minister or his department provided any guidance or advice to Lotterywest, Tourism Western Australia, the Royalties for Regions Division of the Department of Regional Development and Lands or any other government department and/or agency regarding plagiarism or copyright violation; and
(i) if not, why not;
(d) does the Minister support as best practice the Royal Agricultural Show Open Art Award’s current ‘Open Art Exhibition Application for Entry’ form which includes a signed declaration that the submitted artwork is entirely the work of the submitting artist, has not been previously exhibited and is not a direct copy of published photos or other artists’ work;
(e) is the Minister aware of plagiarism allegations, first detailed in the ‘Inside Cover’ column in
The West Australian
newspaper earlier this year surrounding the winning entry in the 2008 prize Royal Agricultural Show (RAS) Open Art Award, ‘Going to Town’ by artist Mirella Pica which was found to be a copy of another artist’s work, which had been previously published in 2007;
(f) what is the Minister’s vision for artists who feel they have been victims of plagiarism and publicly funded bodies who award prizes to plagiarised work;
(g) as the RAS receives public funding through Healthway, will the Minister recommend to the Government that future RAS funding, regardless of which agency is the conduit, be conditional on respect for copyright and ethical intellectual copyright;
(h) has the Minister made formal or informal contact with the RAS over the issue of the 2008 prize and will he demand that the RAS adhere to its own art award guidelines; and
(i) can the Minister table all correspondence on this issue received and sent within his ministerial and electorate office, and his Department?
(a) does the Minister support WA Healthway funding being used for exhibitions, prizes or awards that condone plagiarism or copyright violation;
(b) has the Minister’s department any guidelines or contract conditions regarding plagiarism or copyright violation;
(c) has the Minister or his department provided any guidance or advice to Lotterywest, Tourism Western Australia, the Royalties for Regions Division of the Department of Regional Development and Lands or any other government department and/or agency regarding plagiarism or copyright violation; and
(i) if not, why not;
(d) does the Minister support as best practice the Royal Agricultural Show Open Art Award’s current ‘Open Art Exhibition Application for Entry’ form which includes a signed declaration that the submitted artwork is entirely the work of the submitting artist, has not been previously exhibited and is not a direct copy of published photos or other artists’ work;
(e) is the Minister aware of plagiarism allegations, first detailed in the ‘Inside Cover’ column in
The West Australian
newspaper earlier this year surrounding the winning entry in the 2008 prize Royal Agricultural Show (RAS) Open Art Award, ‘Going to Town’ by artist Mirella Pica which was found to be a copy of another artist’s work, which had been previously published in 2007;
(f) what is the Minister’s vision for artists who feel they have been victims of plagiarism and publicly funded bodies who award prizes to plagiarised work;
(g) as the RAS receives public funding through Healthway, will the Minister recommend to the Government that future RAS funding, regardless of which agency is the conduit, be conditional on respect for copyright and ethical intellectual copyright;
(h) has the Minister made formal or informal contact with the RAS over the issue of the 2008 prize and will he demand that the RAS adhere to its own art award guidelines; and
(i) can the Minister table all correspondence on this issue received and sent within his ministerial and electorate office, and his Department?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 October 2010
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
29 days
(a) Healthway has not supported activities or events that condone plagiarism or copyright violation. The Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) Open Art Exhibition does not condone plagiarism or copyright violation. The Conditions of Entry for the RAS Open Art Exhibition required all exhibitors to "...certify that the artwork submitted is entirely my own work and has not been exhibited previously and is not a direct copy of photographs from periodicals, magazine or art instruction books, nor copies of other artist's work."
(b) All Healthway sponsorship contracts include a standard clause requiring the sponsorship recipient to comply with all Western Australian and Commonwealth of Australia laws which may apply to the sponsorship project.
(c) No.
(i) Not relevant.
(d) On the basis of a legal opinion, the RAS has recently updated the Conditions of Entry for the RAS Open Art Exhibition to include the additional text "in part or thereof as per copyright laws" at the end of the existing clause relating to plagiarism.
(e) The Minister is aware of the allegations. The artist Mirella Pica did certify the artwork was entirely her own work as required in the Conditions of Entry. Healthway understands the artist maintains the submitted artwork is entirely her own work and the allegation of plagiarism has not been substantiated.
(f) Any artist who feels they are the victim of plagiarism is entitled to take appropriate action and seek recompense.
(g) The Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) does not condone plagiarism or copyright violation. The inclusion of a specific condition as suggested is considered unnecessary.
(h) The Minister has not discussed this issue with the RAS. Healthway is unaware of any occasion where the RAS has not adhered to its art award guidelines.
(i) No.
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(b) All Healthway sponsorship contracts include a standard clause requiring the sponsorship recipient to comply with all Western Australian and Commonwealth of Australia laws which may apply to the sponsorship project.
(c) No.
(i) Not relevant.
(d) On the basis of a legal opinion, the RAS has recently updated the Conditions of Entry for the RAS Open Art Exhibition to include the additional text "in part or thereof as per copyright laws" at the end of the existing clause relating to plagiarism.
(e) The Minister is aware of the allegations. The artist Mirella Pica did certify the artwork was entirely her own work as required in the Conditions of Entry. Healthway understands the artist maintains the submitted artwork is entirely her own work and the allegation of plagiarism has not been substantiated.
(f) Any artist who feels they are the victim of plagiarism is entitled to take appropriate action and seek recompense.
(g) The Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) does not condone plagiarism or copyright violation. The inclusion of a specific condition as suggested is considered unnecessary.
(h) The Minister has not discussed this issue with the RAS. Healthway is unaware of any occasion where the RAS has not adhered to its art award guidelines.
(i) No.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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