Copyright protects original creative works and provides certain exclusive rights to the creator. The main goals of copyright are to encourage innovation, provide financial benefits to creators, and facilitate public access to knowledge and entertainment. While copyright laws are set by individual countries, nearly 170 have ratified international standards through the Berne Convention. Copyright protection begins as soon as a work is fixed in a tangible form. Qualifying works like literature, music, films and art are protected, though copyright covers only the specific expression and not the underlying ideas.

1. Copyright Basics

2. What is
copyright?

3. In general,
copyright is a form
of legal protection
given to content
creators through the
grant of specific
rights to works that
qualify for
protection.

4. The main goals of copyright are:
• to encourage the development of
culture, science and innovation
• to provide a financial benefit to
copyright holders for their works
• to facilitate access to knowledge
and entertainment for the public.

5. Is copyright the same around the globe?

6. Copyright is a creation of law in each
country, so there is no such thing as
“international copyright”.

7. Nevertheless, nearly 170 countries have ratified
a treaty – the Berne Convention, administered
by the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO)
Berne sets a minimum set of standards for the
protection of the rights of the creators of
copyrighted works around the world

8. Where does copyright protection begin?

9. One of the basic
principles of the Berne
Convention is that of
“automatic protection”,
which means that
copyright protection
exists automatically
from the time a
qualifying work is fixed
in a tangible medium
(such as paper, film or a
silicon chip)

10. What is protected by copyright law?

11. A “qualifying work” is protected. This can be a:
• literary work
• a musical composition
• a film
• a software program
• a painting
• other similar forms of creative works

12. It is however only the expression, and not the idea,
that is protected by copyright law.

13. As you can see, copyright can be complicated. So how do
you create a strong copyright policy?
Download our tip sheet:
10 Tips for Creating a Copyright Policy here
www.rightsdirect.com/copyright-basics
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