Invitation to the Symposium on Language and Diversity on 5 & 6 March 2009 at LT2, NEC

You are cordially invited to the Symposium on Language and Diversity which will be held on 5th and 6th March at Nanyang Executive Centre (NEC) . Please disseminate this email to your colleagues and students who may be interested to attend. We are pleased to offer a special discounted registration fee of S$50 for you. The registration fee includes admission to the symposium, refreshments ad conference materials. To register for the Symposium, please click: http://portal.hss.ntu.edu.sg/language/default.aspx
Please feel free to contact us at 65148382 if you require further information or email SITINUR@ntu.edu.sg.

On another note, a special workshop on Loanwords in the Asian Context organized by the Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies will be held on 9 March 2009, 9am to 1pm at Executive Seminar Room 4 (S3.1-B1-06). The workshop will draw together researchers in the region who work on the topic of loanwords. The participants are:

1. Jim Matisoff (University of Berkeley)
2. Robert Bauer (Independent Scholar)
3. Cathy Wong (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
4. Luke Kang Kwong (Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, NTU)
5. Tan Ying Ying (Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, NTU)
6. Ng Bee Chin (Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies, NTU)
7. Geoffrey Benjamin (Division of Sociology, NTU)
8. Uri Tadmor (Director, Indonesian Office, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

Re:Bangkok Intl Book Fair, 25 March – 6 April 2009

Please note that members who wish to display their books at the SBPA booth on the ASEAN stand at the Bangkok International Book Fair 2009 can submit their books to Cannon International, Blk 86 Marine Parade Central #03-213 (time: 8.00am to 12.00 noon), latest by March 2, 2009.

Each member company can submit three books for display and after the book fair, the books will be donated to a public library in Bangkok.

Members who wish to attend and need help can contact me by email or by phone at 6344 7801 as I shall be attending as official representative of SBPA.

HKTDC Hong Kong Publishing Copyright Fair, 22-24 July 2009

To cater to the demands of copyright exchange in the region, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will launch the HKTDC Hong Kong Publishing Copyright Fair on 22-24 July 2009 as a new stand-alone trade fair for the first time. The Fair co-locates with our long-standing HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2009. This brand new event will provide a platform for publishing industry, enhancing cooperation and exchange among entities in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and around the world.

Who Should Exhibit?
The Fair is suitable for publishers, copyright owners/dealers/producers, writers, media agencies, copyright service companies and associations. Major exhibits cover all kind of books, magazines, periodicals, blog, online publication and multimedia products.

Value-Added Packages for your company
A Rights Centre will be set up for professional buyers and exhibitors to conduct business networking at the well-equipped meeting space. Exhibitors can upload their book information to the Online Copyright Catalogue for buyers’ or literary agents’ reference. Business Matching service is also available upon request to search for suitable buyers and partners. Asian Publishing and Copyright Conference featuring distinguished keynote speakers who share insights on the latest developments in the publishing and copyright industry will be organised.

Participation Fee
9 sqm Standard Booth: HKD 16,911 / USD 2,187
9 sqm Standard Booth (with display platform): HKD 19,926 / USD 2,583
Raw Space (min 36 sqm): HKD 1,646 / USD 218
Discount: Debut Discount for all participants: 10%
Early Bird Discount: 20% Deadline: 20 February 2009
Bundle Discount: HK Book Fair 2009 participants enjoy 30%

With an additional particiation fee of HKD 7,800/USD 1,000, your company can get a booth at the “Hong Kong Publishing Copyright Fair – Public Zone”, which locates within the Hong Kong Book Fair on 25-28 July 2009. More information is available at www.hktdc.com/hkcopyrightfair

REGISTER HERE

IP FUNDAMENTALS FOR THE MEDIA INDUSTRY, 23-25 Feb 2009

IP Academy is pleased to offer the “IP Fundamentals: Applications for the Media Industry” that focuses on providing the IP skills necessary in the creative industry such as film, TV series, scripts etc. This is the fourth run of this course and it is scheduled from 23-25 February 2009. Participants can pick and choose to attend the modules that are relevant to their needs. For more information or to register for the course, please visit our website.

• I want to know how IP affects me at different stages in my work – from the Development stage to Pre/Post production to the Distribution stage.
• How do I identify and acquire rights – for use of 3rd party materials, music clearance, and performer’s consent?
• What are the IP issues surrounding distribution of original works online?
• The virtual world is in the ‘in thing’ at this time. What should I be aware of when entering this realm?

If these (and more) are the burning questions on your mind then this programme is for YOU.

This is a 3-day modular structured training aimed at YOU, the producer, creator and user of content in the creative industry particularly in the fields of film, TV, animation and digital media.

After giving participants a bird’s-eye view on the fundamentals of Intellectual Property, this programme zooms into practical issues involved in the production process, negotiation and contractual matters, to name a few.

Apart from finding answers to your questions at the end of the programme, you will take away with you a good foundation on identifying and managing IP issues in your daily work and gain a critical appreciation of understanding IP and its’ relevancy within creative media works and also in new media.

Module A: IP Buzz in Media Production
23 February 2009
SGD$428 (Inclusive of 7% GST)

Module B: Decoding IP the Digital Media
24 February 2009
SGD$428 (Inclusive of 7% GST)

Module C: Financing & Exploitation – What are my Options?
25 February 2009
SGD$428 (Inclusive of 7% GST)

MDA funding is available for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents at a special price of $684 (nett, inclusive of GST) for modules A, B and C combined.

Who should attend?
Producers/ Production Assistants
Screen Writers
Actors
Animators
Creators and users of content in the creative industry particularly in the fields of film, TV

WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

Module A: The IP Buzz in Media Production

1. IP: A Bird Eye’s View
· Copyright
· Trade Marks
· Passing Off
· Patents
· Registered Designs
2. How Do You Protect Ideas & Proposals?
· Law of Confidence
· Non-Disclosure Agreements
3. Acquiring Rights
· Concept of “Chain of Title”
· Assignment vs Licensing
· Original Works vs Adaptations
4. Key IP issues in Production Contracts
5. Rights Clearances
· Performer’s Consent
· Music Clearance
· Use of 3rd-party materials
· Releases
· Errors and Omission insurance issues
6. Infringements and Parodies
7. Trade Mark Filing Strategies

Module B: Decoding IP in Digital Media

1. Protecting the visible elements of digital media
· Linking (framing & deep linking) vs Content syndication (RSS, mashups, etc.)
· IPR in elements of web pages
· GUI and compilation rights
· Creative Commons
2. Protection of computer programs
· Non-Disclosure Agreements
· Copyright vs patent protection
· Free / Open Source Software
· Fair dealings and secondary infringement
· Digital rights management and anti-circumvention measures
· Safe harbour for network service providers
3. Protection of databases vs data protection
4. Virtual Worlds
· What are they all about?
· Are traditional intellectual property laws applicable?
· Rights in virtual world goods
5. Online Games
· IP-related issues

Module C: Financing & Exploitation – What are my Options?

1. Traditional Media
· Financing Models
· Distribution in Film and Television
2. Digital Media
· Cross-licences, joint ownership and creative licensing
- F/OSS licensing issues
· Payment structures and royalties
· Distribution and Support Services Agreements
· Leveraging On The Internet To Advertise
· Key-word advertising
· Treading a fine line between infringement of intellectual property and novel use of the Internet

Reminder to register for three SBPA courses

1) Marketing Planning Workshop
Date/Time: 18 Feb, 9am – 5pm (One day)
Trainer: London-based Rachel Maund
Fees: $300
Venue: National Library Building
To download a brochure with more information on this course, click here.

2) International Rights and Copyright Workshop
Date/Time: 18 Feb, 9am – 5pm (One day)
Trainer: London-based Richard Balkwill
Fees: $300
Venue: National Library Building
To download a brochure with more information on this course, click here.

3) Strategic Management Workshop
Date/Time: 19 – 21 Feb, 9am to 6pm (Three days)
Trainer: Rachel Maund and Richard Balkwill
Fees: $995.
Venue: The Legends. Fort Canning Park
To download a brochure with more information on this course, click here.

Please note that the association will be subsidizing all three courses.
All SBPA members will pay 50% of the fees.

Please email registration forms (download here) to chooworkshop@pacific.net.sg or fax to 63540932.

MDA Media Education Scheme 2009

The MDA (Media Development Authority) Media Education Scheme 2009 is open for applications as of 24 January 2009.

About the Media Education Scheme
The Media Education Scheme is an initiative to build and nurture manpower capabilities as well as the talent pool in the media industry. All Singapore citizens and permanent residents who are passionate about embarking on a long-term career in the local media industry are welcome to apply for the Scheme.

Media Education Scheme (Overseas)
The Scheme covers tuition fees of up to S$40,000 per year, or subject to a maximum of S$100,000. The scheme has a two-year service commitment to Singapore. Upon returning from their studies, recipients will have to fulfil the service commitment and are required to work in media-related companies. As international exposure and experience is desirable and encouraged, students need not start their service commitment immediately upon graduation, but can choose to do so over a five-year period.

Media Education Scheme (Local)
The Scheme covers tuition fees of up to S$10,000 per year, subject to a maximum of S$20,000. There will be no service commitment attached to the scheme.

The closing date for all applications is on Thursday, 30 April 2009.

For more information about the Media Education Scheme, please visit the MDA website.

2nd installment of MDA’s Content360 programme

MDA would like to invite publishers to take part in the 2nd installment of the Content360 programme. We are pleased to announce that 3 industry professionals will be coming to town between 18 & 19 February 2009 to meet Singapore media companies.