subject: Web Design Copyright [print this page] Web Design Copyright Web Design Copyright
Copyright is a form of legal protection provided to authors of original creations such as literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, certain intellectual works and last but not least - website design and development. It allows the work to be considered as the author's property and gives authors exclusive right to publish and reproduce their work.
Did You Know ---> a well-written Web Design Contract will include Ownership and Copyright clauses. As a Web Designer you must address the issue of when you deliver the finished website to the client, do you turn over your original digital files upon completion of the project.
What is covered by copyright?
Literary works such as poems, scripts, plays, novels, and reference works are covered by copyright. Musical compositions, sheet music, and recorded musical performances are also covered by copyright as are videos and films. Artistic creations in the form of drawings, paintings, sculpture, photographs, architectural designs, and choreography are copyrightable. Other original works that are copyrightable are graphics, advertisements, maps and technical drawings, software code, databases, and video games. What is important is that the work be set in a tangible medium. Thus facts, ideas, theories, mathematical concepts, procedures, and methods of operation no matter how original - are not covered by copyright. However, copyright covers unique and specific expressions of ideas.
What rights does copyright provide?
Copyright gives the creator - or owner, if the rights are sold - of an original work the exclusive right to use the work. This includes the right to reproduce or distribute copies of the work, to display or perform the work publicly, to sell copies of the work, and to produce derivative works. Copyright also allows the owner to authorize others to use the work as per agreed provisions.
Copyright also gives its owner the right to seek compensation from those who have reproduced or distributed the work without authorization.
Do I need to register to be protected by copyright?
The moment an original work is created, it is automatically protected by copyright. So no formal registration is necessary according to the Berne Convention, the international agreement that covers copyright. Many countries, however, have national copyright offices, and their laws make provision for registration of works for identification purposes. In some countries the USA is one it is recommended that copyright be claimed by marking the specific work with the copyright symbol , followed by the date from which copyright is asserted, the name of the copyright owner, and the words "All Rights Reserved".
How long does copyright last?
The moment an original work is created, it is automatically protected by copyright. So no formal registration is necessary according to the Berne Convention, the international agreement that covers copyright. Many countries, however, have national copyright offices, and their laws make provision for registration of works for identification purposes. In some countries the USA is one it is recommended that copyright be claimed by marking the specific work with the copyright symbol , followed by the date from which copyright is asserted, the name of the copyright owner, and the words "All Rights Reserved".
