Why do people copyright their work

For a listing of countries and the nature of their copyright relations with the United States, see Circular 38a , International Copyright Relations of the United States.

What does copyright protect? When is my work protected? Do I have to register with your office to be protected? Is my copyright good in other countries? To help us improve GOV. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Cookies on GOV. UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies.

Hide this message. Home Business and self-employed Patents, trade marks, copyright and designs. The details of how copyright works are contained in a number of key federal laws, including the Copyright Act of , which created the original set of rights, the updated act of and the Copyright Term Extension Act of as well as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that same year, to clarify how copyright applies to digital creations.

Copyright Law -- Definition: The collection of domestic laws, including the U. Constitution, and international treaties that clarify the rights of copyright holders and the penalties for infringing on copyright. Ownership: Only the copyright-holder has a right to use a copyrighted work. All others must seek permission from the owner to use a copyrighted work.

Authors, musicians, artists and others often license use of their copyrighted works, as a means of earning income from their creations. There are some exceptions to this - such as the legal concept of "fair use" - which allows small excerpts of works, in limited cases.

Penalties: Copyright law stipulates monetary penalties for infringing upon -- that is, using without permission -- another's copyrighted work. Fines vary, but they can be substantial and are based on a court determination of financial damage to the copyright-holder, in terms of lost sales, legal fees, and so on. What rights does copyright give me? What are my rights as author of a work? There are two types of rights under copyright: economic rights , which allow the rights owner to derive financial reward from the use of his works by others; and moral rights , which protect the non-economic interests of the author.

The economic rights owner of a work can prohibit or authorize: its reproduction in various forms, such as printed publication or sound recording; its public performance, such as in a play or musical work; its recording, for example, in the form of compact discs or DVDs; its broadcasting, by radio, cable or satellite; its translation into other languages; and its adaptation, such as a novel into a film screenplay.

Can I register copyright? How can I obtain certified proof of existence for my creative work? Do I need to include it on my work? How long does copyright protection last? Can I protect my works internationally using copyright? Can I copyright my software or mobile app? There is no searchable international registry of copyright-protected works.

My published work has been reproduced without my permission. What can I do? How can I manage copyright-protected works? What are collective management organizations? How can I find the copyright laws of various countries? Who owns the copyright to a work?

If I create a work whilst in employment, who is the copyright holder? Do I need authorization to use a work protected by copyright? You may be allowed to use a protected work without any kind of authorization under two sets of circumstances: Limitations and exceptions may exist at the national level, allowing you to use the work.

Works can also sometimes be made publicly available under specific conditions or licenses that allow certain uses. There are several such licenses in common usage, e. If you are in doubt, it is always advisable to speak to an intellectual property attorney. How can I identify and get in touch with the copyright owner of a work?

What are limitations and exceptions to copyright? Examples of limitations and exceptions include: the quotation of works; the use of news of the day; or the creation of accessible formats for print disabled people.

Find out more about limitations and exceptions. Can I freely use works published on the Internet? In practice, with regards to a text publicly available on a blog or a website for example, you may not use the text unless: such intended use is covered by the general license granted through that website; the use is covered by a copyright limitation or exception; or you have obtained authorization for such use.