Copyright is a law that gives the owner of an artistic or literature works. With copyright, a work can only be copied if the owner gives permission.
A copyright protects expression of an idea. It doesn’t give protection for the idea itself.
The owner may also authorize others to exercise these rights. The general rule is that copyrights last for 60 years.
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What are the works protected by Copyrights?
Literary works.
Musical works, including any accompanying words.
Dramatic works, including any accompanying music.
Pantomimes and choreographic works.
Pictorial, graphic and sculptural works.
Motion pictures and other audiovisual works.
Sound recordings.
Architectural plans, drawings and actual buildings.
How do copyrights work?
A copyright protects expression of an idea. It doesn’t give protection for the idea itself. It gives the owner of the copyright the exclusive right to do the following:
To reproduce the work
To prepare derivative works based upon the work
To distribute copies of the work to the public
To perform the work publicly
To display the copyrighted work publicly, and
In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.
What is the term of a copyright?\
The owner may also authorize others to exercise these rights. The general rule is that copyrights last for 60 years. But there is a difference of start date between certain types of original works.
In the case of original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the 60-year period is counted from the year following the death of the author.
In the case of cinematograph films, sound recordings, photographs, posthumous publications, anonymous and pseudonymous publications, works of government and works of international organizations, the 60-year period is counted from the date of publication.
