The original text for the 1988 Copyright Designs and Patent Act can be found at the OSPI (HMSO) website, but should be read in conjunction with all the relevant updates and statutory instruments. To avoid confusion, we recommend a copy that … Continue reading →

Intellectual Property Office Concept House Cardiff Road Newport South Wales NP10 8QQ Tel: 0300 300 2000 www.ipo.gov.uk PRS for Music 29-33 Berners Street London W1P 4AA Tel. (0207) 580 5544 www.prsformusic.com Copyright Licensing Agency Saffron House 6-10 Kirby Street London … Continue reading →

Fair dealing is a term used to describe acts which are permitted to a certain degree without infringing the work, these acts are: Private and research study purposes. Performance, copies or lending for educational purposes. Criticism and news reporting. Incidental … Continue reading →

It is an offence to perform any of the following acts without the consent of the owner: Copy the work. Rent, lend or issue copies of the work to the public. Perform, broadcast or show the work in public. Adapt … Continue reading →

The 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act states the duration of copyright as; For literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last remaining author of the work dies. If … Continue reading →

Normally the individual or collective who authored the work will exclusively own the work and is referred to as the ‘first owner of copyright’ under the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act. However, if a work is produced as part … Continue reading →

Copyright is an automatic right and arises whenever an individual or company creates a work. To qualify, a work should be regarded as original, and exhibit a degree of labour, skill or judgement. Interpretation is related to the independent creation … Continue reading →

Literary   song lyrics, manuscripts, manuals, computer programs, commercial documents, leaflets, newsletters & articles etc. Dramatic   plays, dance, etc. Musical   recordings and score. Artistic   photography, painting, sculptures, architecture, technical drawings/diagrams, maps, logos. Typographical arrangement of published editions … Continue reading →

The law gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical arrangement of published editions, rights to control the ways in which their material may be used. The rights cover; broadcast and public performance, … Continue reading →

Copyright law originated in the United Kingdom from a concept of common law; the Statute of Anne 1709. It became statutory with the passing of the Copyright Act 1911. The current act is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.