Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept that grants creators of original works exclusive rights to their creations for a certain period of time. Copyright law applies to a wide range of creative works, including literature, music, art, film, software, and more.
Under copyright law, creators have the right to control how their works are used and distributed. This means that they have the right to decide who can copy, distribute, display, or perform their works publicly. They also have the right to be compensated for the use of their works by others.
In order to be protected by copyright, a work must be original and fixed in a tangible form, such as being written down on paper or recorded on a CD. Works that are not original or are not fixed in a tangible form, such as an idea or a performance, are not protected by copyright.
In most countries, copyright protection is automatic and does not require the creator to register their work or include a copyright notice. However, registering a work with a copyright office and including a copyright notice can make it easier for a creator to enforce their rights if their work is infringed upon.
There are several exceptions to copyright law that allow others to use copyrighted works without permission in certain circumstances. For example, the fair use doctrine allows for the use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, the exact boundaries of fair use can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the country in which the use takes place.
It is important to respect the copyright of others and to obtain permission before using their works. Infringing on someone else's copyright can result in legal action and damages. At the same time, it is important for creators to be aware of their rights and to take steps to protect their works if necessary.
Protect you work by copyright
Copyright protection is automatic and does not require you to register your work or include a copyright notice in order to receive protection. This means that as soon as you create an original work and fix it in a tangible form, such as by writing it down on paper or recording it on a CD, you have the exclusive rights to control how it is used and distributed.
However, there are a few steps you can take to help protect your work and make it easier to enforce your rights if necessary:
- Include a copyright notice on your work: A copyright notice is a statement that indicates that a work is protected by copyright and provides information about the copyright owner and the year of publication. Including a copyright notice on your work can serve as a reminder to others that your work is protected and may not be used without permission.
- Register your work with a copyright office: In some countries, such as the United States, you can register your work with a copyright office in order to receive additional legal protections. This can make it easier to enforce your rights if someone infringes on your copyright.
- Use a licensing agreement: A licensing agreement is a legally binding document that outlines the terms under which someone can use your work. A licensing agreement can help you control how your work is used and ensure that you are compensated for its use.
- Use digital rights management (DRM) technology: DRM technology can help you protect your work by making it more difficult for others to copy or distribute it without permission.
Most important terms and conditions of copyright
Here are some important terms and conditions related to copyright:
- Originality: To be protected by copyright, a work must be original and created by the copyright owner.
- Fixation: A work must be fixed in a tangible form, such as written down on paper or saved to a computer, to be protected by copyright.
- Exclusive rights: Copyright owners have exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display their work, and to create derivative works based on their work.
- Fair use: Under certain circumstances, it is legal to use copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner. This is known as "fair use," and it applies to uses such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
- Duration: Copyright protection lasts for a specific period of time, which varies depending on the type of work and the jurisdiction. In the United States, copyright protection lasts for the life of the copyright owner plus a certain number of years after their death.
- Transfer of ownership: Copyright ownership can be transferred from one person or entity to another through a written agreement or by operation of law.
- Infringement: Using copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner, or in a way that exceeds the scope of any applicable exception or limitation (such as fair use), is known as copyright infringement.
The copyright owner
A copyright owner is the person or entity that holds the exclusive legal rights to a work that is protected by copyright. These exclusive rights allow the copyright owner to control the use of the work and to prevent others from using it without permission.
Under copyright law, the copyright owner has the right to reproduce the work, distribute copies of the work, publicly perform the work, and publicly display the work. In addition, the copyright owner has the right to create derivative works based on the original work, and to control the distribution of these derivative works.
The copyright owner is typically the person who created the work, such as the author of a book or the composer of a song. In some cases, the copyright owner may be a company or other organization that has commissioned or otherwise acquired the rights to the work. In other cases, the copyright owner may be the successor to the original creator, such as the heirs of an author who has passed away.
The duration of copyright protection
The duration of copyright protection depends on the type of work and the country in which it is protected. In general, copyright protection lasts for the life of the creator of the work plus a certain number of years after their death.
In the United States, the duration of copyright protection for works created by an individual is the life of the creator plus 70 years after their death. For works that are created by a company or organization, the duration of copyright protection is 95 years from the date of first publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever is shorter.
In other countries, the duration of copyright protection may vary. For example, in the European Union, the duration of copyright protection for most works is the life of the creator plus 70 years after their death. Some countries have shorter periods of protection, while others have longer periods.
It's important to note that copyright protection does not last forever. Eventually, a work will enter the public domain, which means that it is no longer protected by copyright and can be used freely by anyone.
Copyright on the world nations
Here are some important terms and conditions related to copyright:
- Arabic: حقوق الطبع والنشر
- Chinese (Simplified): 版权
- Chinese (Traditional): 版權
- Croatian: Autorska prava
- Czech: Autorská práva
- Danish: Ophavsret
- Dutch: Auteursrecht
- English: Copyright
- Estonian: Autoriõigus
- Finnish: Tekijänoikeus
- French: Droit d'auteur
- German: Copyright
- Greek: Πνευματικά δικαιώματα
- Hungarian: Szabadalmak
- Icelandic: Höfundarréttur
- Indonesian: Hak cipta
- Irish: Cóipchirt
- Italian: Copyright
- Japanese: 著作権
- Korean: 저작권
- Latvian: Autortiesības
- Lithuanian: Autorių teisės
- Macedonian: Авторски права
- Norwegian: Opphavsrett
- Persian: کپیرایت
- Polish: Prawa autorskie
- Portuguese: Direitos autorais
- Romanian: Drepturi de autor
- Russian: Авторские права
- Serbian: Ауторска права
- Slovak: Autorské práva
- Slovenian: Avtorske pravice
- Spanish: Derechos de autor
- Swahili: Hakii za utafiti
- Swedish: Upphovsrätt
- Thai: ลิขสิทธิ์
- Turkish: Telif hakkı
- Ukrainian: Авторські права
- Vietnamese: Bản quyền
- Welsh: Hawlfraint
- Afrikaans: Kopiereg
- Albanian: Të drejtat e autorit
- Armenian: Ազատություն
- Belarusian: Аўтарскія правы
- Bosnian: Autorska prava
- Bulgarian: Авторски права
- Catalan: Drets d'autor
- Esperanto: Kopirajto
- Georgian: საავტორო უფლებები
- Hebrew: זכויות יוצרים