Copyright Lawyers

Our UK copyright lawyers can advise you on copyright, a form of unregistered intellectual property right in the UK. Expert legal advice is often required from copyright lawyers because, unlike other forms of intellectual property such as designs, patents and trade marks, there is no examination process for deciding whether to ‘allow’ copyright in a work in the UK.

The main requirement is that a work is original, and the threshold for ‘originality’ is set quite low. If you have expended skill and labour in creating a work, and it is one of the types of ‘work’ that is covered by copyright, then it is most likely protected by copyright.

Our UK copyright lawyers are experienced in helping you overcome obstacles faced by people generating creative works. These include resolving a copyright infringement dispute, identifying ownership of creative works within your business, and providing advice to licence and exploit the value of your copyright.

Below is a brief introduction to UK copyright law and answers to frequently asked questions our UK copyright lawyers receive.

What is copyright?

Copyright is an intellectual property right, meaning it can be owned in the same way as tangible property. Copyright automatically subsists in an original work upon its creation. Examples of copyright works include literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, as well as sound recordings, films and broadcasts. Copyright infringement is possible if the content of the copyright work is used without permission. Our copyright lawyers can advise on whether your use of a work by a third party is likely to be infringing.

How do I register my copyright in the work(s) I have created?

Copyright cannot be registered in the UK (or most other countries), although we recommend keeping records enabling the date of creation of a work to be easily determined. It is important to note that ownership of copyright is not transferred by virtue of commissioning work, and this should be borne in mind when engaging designers and other freelancers. You should seek specific advice on your situation from our copyright lawyers and can find information here on Consultancy Agreements.

Can I copyright an idea?

No. Copyright does not protect ideas, only their expression. This means, for example, if you use innovative ideas when writing a book or developing a piece of software, copyright will not prevent others from using those ideas and expressing them in a different way. On the other hand, it may be possible to protect the way your idea would work via Patents. Our copyright lawyers can advise you on your specific situation.

Will both UK copyright and UK design right protect my work?

Possibly – UK copyright and unregistered design right have some overlap in protection. If your work is artistic, copyright protection is provided. For example, copyright and design right protection may both apply to sculptures, or other works of artistic craftsmanship. However, the qualifying requirements must be met in order for the relevant right to subsist. Our UK copyright lawyers can advise you on your specific situation and recommend the best protection for your work.

I have written a book. Will copyright protect my work and if so for how long?

Yes, provided the work is original, UK copyright will protect your work throughout your lifetime, and for 70 years following your death. The same applies to any artistic works you have created. If someone copies your work without permission before the expiry of copyright, then that could constitute copyright infringement unless any defences apply to the situation. In addition to copyright, there are likely to be other forms of intellectual property rights available to protect your work. Our UK copyright lawyers can advise you on your specific situation and recommend the most suitable form of intellectual property right protection for your work. For further information on other intellectual property rights, please see Designs and Trademarks.

How can we help you with Copyright?

Protect, enforce and exploit your copyright works with our experienced UK copyright lawyers

Our UK copyright lawyers will help:

Protect your creative works in the UK and internationally
Identify and advise on copyright ownership issues and ensure you own copyright in any work created for your business – note payment does not equal ownership
Provide practical clearance advice on the use of copyright protected works owned by others, including orphan works managed by the UK Intellectual Property Office
Exploit your creative work, whether that is through a sale or a licensing arrangement
Take appropriate action against acts of copyright infringement
Defend you from copyright infringement claims

To speak with one of our specialist UK copyright lawyers today, call us on 0131 478 4724 or complete an Online Enquiry to request a call back.

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To speak with one of our expert UK copyright lawyers today, call us on 0131 478 4724 or complete our Online Enquiry form and a member of the team will get back to you.

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