Copyright protects your work and stops others from using it without your permission. This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) . You get copyright protection automatically - you do not have to apply or pay a fee. There is not a register of copyright works in the UK. You automatically get copyright protection when you create: original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, including illustration and photography original non-literary written work, such as software, web content and databases sound and music recordings film and television recordings broadcasts the layout of published editions of written, dramatic and musical works You can mark your work with the copyright symbol (©), your name and the year of creation. Whether you mark the work or not does not affect the level of protection you have. How copyright protects your work Copyright prevents people from: copying your work distributing copies of it, whether free of charge or for sale renting or lending copies of your work performing, showing or playing your work in public making an adaptation of your work putting it on the internet Copyright overseas Your work could be protected by copyright in other countries through international agreements, for example the Berne Convention . In most countries copyright lasts a minimum of life plus 50 years for most types of written, dramatic and artistic works, and at least 25 years for photographs. It can be different for other types of work. Contact the IPO Customer Support Centre if you have a question about international copyright. IPO Customer Support Centre information@ipo.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 300 2000 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges

How long copyright lasts

Copyright protection starts as soon as a work is created. Once your copyright has expired, anyone can use or copy your work. The length of copyright depends on the type of work. Type of work How long copyright usually lasts Written, dramatic, musical and artistic work 70 years after the author’s death Sound and music recording 70 years from when it’s first published Films 70 years after the death of the director, screenplay author and composer Broadcasts 50 years from when it’s first broadcast Layout of published editions of written, dramatic or musical works 25 years from when it’s first published The length of copyright also depends on how long ago the work was created. You can read more guidance about how long copyright lasts . Contact the IPO Customer Support Centre if you have questions about the copyright of an older work. IPO Customer Support Centre information@ipo.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 300 2000 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges

License and sell your copyright

You can license the use of your work if you own the copyright. You can also decide how your work is used. You can register your work with a licensing body , for example a collecting society, who will agree licences with users for you and collect royalties for you. Sell or transfer your copyright You’ll need to write and sign a document (sometimes called an ‘assignment’) to show a sale or transfer has taken place. Your copyright can be transferred by inheritance and will be valid as long as the work remains in copyright - check how long protection lasts . Moral rights You can keep or waive your ‘moral rights’, which include the right to: be identified as the author of your work object to how the work is presented, for example if you think it’s ‘derogatory’ or damaging to you or your reputation object to changes made to your work Performers’ rights You have rights in your performances separate to copyright if you’re a performer. For example, if you’re an actor in a play you may have ‘economic rights’ in any recordings or broadcasts of their performance, even if the copyright is sold.

Stop people using your work

You’re responsible for defending your copyright material against infringement. Some people or organisations (such as libraries or schools) may be able to use copyright work without permission . You should check whether someone’s use of your work is permitted before trying to stop them. If you think someone is using your work and they don’t know you own the rights People or organisations must apply for a licence if they want to use a work that’s covered by copyright but do not know who the rights holder is. Check the licences register to see if anyone has licensed your work or is in the process of applying for a licence. If your work is on the register you can: apply to have an application stopped claim the licence fee that’s been paid (if a licence has already been issued) If you have a dispute about licensing Your collecting society can contact the Copyright Tribunal and ask them to decide on some disputes about licensing. Copyright Tribunal copyright.tribunal@ipo.gov.uk Telephone: 01633 814 044 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges They can also contact them by post. The Secretary Copyright Tribunal 10 Victoria Street London SW1H ONN Help with copyright law The IPO Customer Support Centre offers general advice on copyright law. IPO Customer Support Centre information@ipo.gov.uk Telephone: 0300 300 2000 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges You can get advice on particular legal issues from an intellectual property ( IP ) professional. If you’d like more guidance about an area of copyright law You can also ask IPO to publish guidance about an area of copyright law. They might publish a public ‘copyright notice’ if your question highlights a gap in the general copyright guidance.

How copyright protects your work

Overview

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You get copyright protection automatically - you do not have to apply or pay a fee. There is not a register of copyright works in the UK.

You automatically get copyright protection when you create:

original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, including illustration and photography
original non-literary written work, such as software, web content and databases
sound and music recordings
film and television recordings
broadcasts
the layout of published editions of written, dramatic and musical works

You can mark your work with the copyright symbol (©), your name and the year of creation. Whether you mark the work or not does not affect the level of protection you have.