Law Way®: Is there copyright in Indigenous languages?

Law Way® Sessions:

Law Way® Sessions is a series of conversations curated and hosted by Dr. Terri Janke. Dive into the latest insights from speakers with in-depth knowledge and expertise. Our sessions are designed to empower participants with the knowledge to make informed decision, tackle real-world challenges and address pressing issues with confidence. Elevate your legal knowledge with us.

Is Indigenous language copyright?

First Nation communities are recording and creating resources to restore language practice. There is demand for languages to be taught in schools and used in commercial ways. But who owns Indigenous languages? What are the rights to language? Dr Terri Janke and Laura Curtis will discuss copyright, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights and Indigenous languages.

Who should attend?

• First Nations entrepreneurs
• First Nations communities working in language
• First Nations organisations 
• Teachers
• Language and policy practitioners
• Linguists
• Authors, illustrators and publishers
• Anyone seeking to use or incorporate Indigenous language in their projects

Your Law Way® Sessions presenters will be:

Dr Terri Janke is a Wuthathi/Yadhaighana and Meriam woman and an international authority on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), known for innovating pathways between the non-Indigenous business sector and Indigenous people in business. Terri advises on legal matters including intellectual property, business law, shareholder agreements and governance of Indigenous organisations. She has written leading ICIP Protocols and models for various sectors including the arts, museums, archives, film and business. Terri is a Co-Chief Author of the State of the Environment Report 2021.

Laura Curtis has expertise in legal and policy drafting, governance issues and legal perspective on the management of arts and culture. Clients she has assisted include Museums, Galleries, Government agencies and non-government organisations. In 2019/20 Laura drafted a guide for Indigenous language centres in Australia, to assist them in managing the legal and governance considerations of working on Indigenous language projects, presenting the guide at Darwin PULiiMA. Between 24-26 October 2023, Laura presented at Wangka Kanyilku Wangkawa! Decolonising First Nations’ Languages Conference 2023 in Kalgoorlie, WA, hosted by Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre Aboriginal Corporation.

For more information email tjc@terrijanke.com.au or call +61 2 9693 2577

Photo Credit: Jamie James