COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION

A simple definition of copyright is that it is a bunch of rights in certain creative works such as text, artistic works, music, computer programs, sound recordings and films. The rights are granted exclusively to the copyright owner to reproduce the material, and for some material, the right to perform or show the work to the public.

Copyright owners can prevent others from reproducing or communicating their work without their permission or may sell these rights to someone else. Copyright does not protect ideas, concepts, styles or techniques. For example, copyright will not protect an idea for a film or book, but it will protect a script for the film or even a storyboard for the film.

Why is copyright important?

• First, and foremost it is your legal right to protect your work
• It can make you money. Under copyright laws you are able to allow others to use your works for a fee, or you can sell your copyright to others for a larger fee, by using a copyright license.
• Copyrights can last up to Sixty years after the death of the original copyright owner (this number however can vary in other countries). It is important to note, that copyrights can be passed down to a family member

It is a good idea to provide necessary caution in terms of protecting both yourself, and your ideas in regards to your creative works. You work hard to express yourself and boost your creativity; please make sure that you take proper precautions in protecting them as well.

What Kind of things can be copyrighted?

• Literary works.
• Musical compositions.
• Dramatic works.
• Choreographic works.
• Audio visual works.
• Sound recordings.
• Architectural works.
• You can register copyright in the diary only if you own the rights to the work, for example, by will or by inheritance.

What Copyright does not protect?

• Copyright law does not protect domain names.
• Names are not protected by copyright law. Some names may be protected under trademark law.
• Copyright does not protect titles, slogans, or short phrases. In some cases, these things may be protected as trademarks. In some circumstances, an artistic logo may also be protected as a trademark.
• Copyright law does not protect recipes that are mere listings of ingredients. Nor does it protect other mere listings of ingredients such as those found in formulas, compounds, or prescriptions.