Copyright

Copyright protects the expression of original creative works.

Creative works include drawings, photographs, written works, software code, sculptures, music and films.

Copyright comes into existence automatically when a suitable work is created. It is essential to maintain records in case it should ever become necessary to prove ownership of the copyright. Preserving the original work and marking it with the copyright symbol ©, the date, and the name of the copyright owner is good practice.
If you commission someone, such as a photographer or programmer, to create original works, the copyright does not automatically belong to you. It is crucial to have the copyright assigned in writing.
As a copyright owner, you have the right to prevent others from copying your work, making adaptations or translations, or distributing or selling copies of it.
Copyright is infringed when a person who reproduces a “substantial part” of the work – simply making minor changes will not be sufficient to avoid infringement.
Copyright is also infringed by anyone who knowingly imports, keeps or sells an infringing copy. However if it can be proven that a similar work has been created independently, without copying, there is no copyright infringement.
Copyright normally lasts until 70 years after the death of the creator of the work.

For more details about copyright, including who owns it and the protection it provides, please look at our information sheet below.