The talk focuses on how copyright laws are perceived within the street art and graffiti subcultures, and how artists and writers view certain creative aspects of their own practice. By drawing on my ethnographic research and fieldwork, the talk gives voice to the main actors of these communities and highlights their feelings and opinions toward issues which until recently they have often felt far from their everyday life and practice. In other words, I want to bring the ‘voice from the street’ into the debate over the legal (and non-legal) protection of street art and graffiti. The talk also touches on related and complementary issues, such as the ‘gallerisation’ and economic exploitation of these forms of art (e.g. via merchandising) and the curious similarities between the graffiti and advertising worlds.

Enrico Bonadio is Professor of Intellectual Property Law at City St George’s University of London. He teaches, researches, and advises in the field of intellectual property (IP) law. His research agenda is wide-ranging, having recently focused on IP protection of non-conventional forms of creativity, including street art and graffiti. Amongst other books and works, he is the author of ‘Copyright in the Street – An Oral History of Creative Processes in the Street Art and Graffiti Subcultures’ (Cambridge University Press 2023); ‘The Cambridge Handbook of Copyright in Street Art and Graffiti’ (edited) (Cambridge University Press, 2019); and ‘Protecting Art in the Street – A Photographic Guide to Copyright in Street Art and Graffiti’ (photographic book) (Dokument Press, 2020). He is also currently working on another co-edited book on ‘Street Art and Democracy’ (with Siri Egeland) (Routledge forthcoming 2026). Enrico has been delivering classes and talks in more than 140 universities and research institutions in six continents and his research has been covered by several media outfits including CNN, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Reuters, South China Morning Post, BBC, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Politico and Associated Press.
This event will be held in the Edgar Graham Room, School of Law, QUB (MST.02.002)