Which works are eligible for copyright protection?
Only works which fall within the following categories are eligible for copyright protection:
- Literary works, irrespective of their literary quality
- Artistic works, irrespective of their artistic quality
- Computer programs
- Musical works
- Sound recordings
- Broadcasts
Who is the author of a work?
A literary, musical or artistic work
The person who first makes or creates the work;
A photograph
The person who is responsible for the composition of the photograph;
A computer program
The person who exercised control over its making;
Who is the owner of the copyright in a work?
The general rule is that the author of a work is the first owner of the copyright in the work.
Course and scope of employment:
An employee under a contract of service or apprenticeship makes the work in the course of the employee’s employment, the employer is the owner of any copyright subsisting in the work.
of copyright protection?
1.Literary works, artistic works & musical works – for the life of the author and 50 years from the end of the year in which he dies;
- Computer programs, photographs and cinematograph films
-50 years from the end of the year in which the work is lawfully made available to the public or is first published, whichever term is the longer.
- Sound recordings – 50 years from the end of the year in which the broadcast first takes place.
- Published editions – 50 years from the end of the year in which the edition is first published.
Who can take legal steps in the event of copyright infringement?
The owner of copyright in a work can institute proceedings for copyright infringement. An exclusive licensee or exclusive sub-licensee may intervene in such proceedings.
What are the exceptions to copyright infringement?
- Fair dealing with a specified work.
- Quoting a specified work.
