Copyright
Also read: Patents | Trademarks
If you create anything that is original within your business, it could be literature, booklets, computer programs it could be artistic pieces of work, photos, films or books then you automatically hold the copyright to them.
What is Copyright
Having the copyright enables you to control how they are used by others if at all. It enables you to keep control of the original work which can make you money, as every time someone wants to use your original work or invention they will have to pay you for the privilege.
You should be very careful however if you use some other business or contractors to do any work on or to help launch your invention. If you use someone else to create your literature or create a website for your invention, they could then hold the copyright, so you should make sure you cover yourself by drawing up a legal contract, stating the copyright belongs to you.
You cannot copyright such things as names or phrases. Copyrights in the UK last for a specified number of years after the death of the copyright holder. For more information on copyright’s go to the Patent Office website.
Copyright Infringement
Copyright in the UK is not something that you have to apply or register for. To copyright your work you should clearly mark your work with the international copyright symbol © followed by the year it was created and your name. This should stop anyone infringing on your unique work. Infringement is hard to prove but you can help matters by dating a copy of your work and leaving it with your bank or other legal body for future reference if need be.
In practice, copyright can be difficult to enforce legally. If you have copyrighted your work in the UK there are some foreign countries that will respect the UK copyright but some countries will not and any infringement will have to be fought within the boundaries of their own laws.
Copyright Infringement can be very costly to the offender as court proceeding can be taken against them. You cannot copy, sell, lend, perform, broadcast or even adapt any material that has been copyrighted without permission. Infringement can seriously damage a business’s success and must always be taken seriously. You should seek legal advice if you suspect infringement, sometimes all that is required is to point out the facts to the offending party.
It is possible that they had not realized they were infringing on your copyright. This action can save an expensive court case, however if proven in court you could receive damages as well as put a stop to the misuse of your material.
You can license your copyrighted property, you can sell it and it can even be inherited.
