The Study on the Creativity and Legal Status of Directing from Copyright Law Point of View

저작권법의 시각에서 본 연극연출의 창작성과 법적 지위에 관한 연구

This thesis purposes to suggest that creative stage directors have copyright ownership and we make them create high-quality of theatre direction. Stage directors are sincere creator of the theatre stage today. We have little judicial precedents about stage directors, no artistic examination related directing. Stage directors are performers who have neighboring rights, there is a problem that they won't have the exclusive right of making derivative works in this country. Others will make creation (such as cinemas, animations, novels) based on stage expression without permission, because stage directors don't have exclusive right of making derivative works. Copyright law can't protect the concept of stage directors and building blocks of them which are drama text, actors and theatre space, because copyright law don't protect idea according to idea/expression dichotomy. The expression of stage direction is belong to five fundamentals which are composition, picturization, movement, rhythm, pantomimic dramatization that are come from Dean & Carra's work. Directors' work is to make theatrical works based on literary works. Therefore, theatrical works are derivative works which based on drama texts. Also, theatrical works are able to be joint works. In the case of that stage directors write drama text and create expression on the stage, they have to own authorship of both works. Merger doctrine should not apply theatre directors' works strictly like any other functional works because stage directors usually create noble expression which have been not before. We need shift of the definition of theatrical works which are derivative works or joint works to protect theatre directors' creativity. Hereafter, the special legal section for dramatic(theatrical) works including the flexible legal definition for performing arts should be established, and 'contract form' for stage directors should be made. Acting edition(literary works) should be published to grant creative directors compensation. I emphasize to grant ownership of copyright to creative stage directors, to encourage directors' works. Therefore, copyright law will be the support for development of cultural arts institutionally.