My husband Lin Onus first became seriously involved in copyright law in 1988 when he became involved in the now-famous case of John Bulun Bulun’s appropriated artwork. In 1986 John’s painting By The Waterhole was appropriated by T shirt company Flash Designs and reproduced on T shirts without his permission.

Lin’s subsequent political portrait of John Bulun Bulun (1988) depicts John against a shattered By The Waterhole background (reproduced with John’s permission). Lin was a member of the arts board at the time, and was overheard discussing the issue in a radio interview by lawyer Colin Golvan. Colin contacted Lin and offered to represent John Bulun Bulun free of charge with Lin’s assistance.

A legal case was mounted in March 1989 at the Darwin Federal Court. It was the first case of its kind in the country and 13 other artists who had also had their works illegally copied joined the proceedings. The

court ruled in John’s favour and granted an injunction, and both parties settled before the trial. This was one of the first copyright successes for indigenous people in Australia.

Lin became one of the founding members of Viscopy and his estate continues to utilise the services of Viscopy to this day. The peace of mind afforded by Viscopy representation is priceless and our interests are protected at all times. Viscopy continues Lin’s heartfelt cause to protect the copyright of all indigenous and non-indigenous artists – whether they be remote/traditional, urban/contemporary or post-modern.

Jo Onus

Top 10 most popular Australian & New Zealand artists represented by Viscopy in 2009 - 2010

Top 10 most popular international artists represented by Viscopy in 2009 – 2010

1. Robert Klippel

2. Lin Onus

3. Emily Kame Kngwarreye

4. Margaret Preston

5. Charles Blackman

6. Fred Williams

7. John Olsen

8. Peter Mathieson

9. Rosalie Gascoigne

10. David Dickson

1. Pablo Picasso

2. Franz Kupka

3. Andy Warhol

4. Lyn Wendon

5. Salvador Dali

6. Jackson Pollock

7. Rene Magritte

8. Karl Schmidt-Rottluff

9. MC Escher

10. Emory Douglas

viscopy ANNUAL REPORT 2010

2010 $ 2009 $Revenue 3,895,584 2,431,398

Distribution to members (2,884,215) (1,547,752)

Accountancy expenses - (70)

Auditors’ remuneration (10,846) (6,800)

Depreciation and amortisation expenses (14,850) (6,342)

Employee benefits expenses (630,061) (387,502)

Lease expenses (2,422) (2,200)

Other expenses (366,127) (489,107)

(Loss) Profit (12,937) (8,375)

Retained earnings at the beginning of the financial year 435,855 632,825

Prior year tax adjustment - 36,405

Transfer to Reserves - (225,000)

Profit attributable to members of the company 422,918 435,855

balance sheet year ended june 20102010 $ 2009 $

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents 2,335,271 1,306,222

Trade and other receivables 229,475 297,062

Other current assets 5,156 3,821

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 2,569,902 1,607,105

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Property, plant and equipment 106,139 103,476

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 106,139 103,476

TOTAL ASSETS 2,676,041 1,710,581

LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables 1,963,231 998,572

Current tax liabilities - -

Short-term provisions 29,892 16,154

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 1,993,123 1,014,726

TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,993,123 1,014,726

NET ASSETS 682,918 695,855

EQUITY

Reserves 260,000 260,000

Retained earnings 422,918 435,855

TOTAL EQUITY 682,918 695,855

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