Copyright is a type of intellectual property protection. It protects your work and blocks others from using it without permission. Copyright is acquired automatically in the UK, and there is no register of copyright works. You acquire copyright protection automatically if you create: original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic work including photography, original non-literary work, for example, software, web content and databases, sound and music recordings, film and television recordings, broadcasts, and the outline of published editions of written, dramatic and musical works. The copyright symbol © is used to signify Copyright, but its presence or absence does not change the protection you have.
How does Copyright Protect any work?
Copyright prevents copying without permission, distributing copies whether on sale or free, renting and lending the work, performances or playing the work in public, adaptations of the work, or placing the work on the internet.
How long do Copyrights last in the UK?
A Copyright lasts till the life of the author plus 70 years.
How is Copyright enforced In the UK?
· Societies like the British Phonograph Industry’s anti-piracy unit, the Federation against Copyright Theft (FACT), carry out investigations and track down copyright infringers. · If you come across an infringement of your copyrighted work. Then, you may collect evidence through a ‘trap order’ through the court system. · Notice and takedown procedures are also efficient where systems are put in place to track the use of a copyrighted work. If such conduct infringes the Copyright, the infringer is asked to stop the unlawful use of the copyright works. · It is hard to determine copyright infringement in a court. Further, they are high in cost and take a lot of time. Thus, claimants prefer ADR methods like mediation, negotiation, and arbitration which are faster. · Formal litigation is conducted in the courts depending on the value of the claim. The courts include Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) and the High Court. · The UK Border force also assists in confiscating infringing material from the border.
