subject: The Numerous Aspects Considered When Discussing Copyright Infringement [print this page] If you have any questions relating to copyright infringement, serious fraud defence lawyers will be the legal professionals that you need to contact. Copyright is basically defined as the ownership of intellectual property. Copyright is automatic, and is a right that applies to works produced by an individual or a company on the assumption that labour and skill has gone into its creation. An example of this is an idea for a film or book would not be protected, but the content of a book or film of that idea would be.
Duration of copyright
How long does copyright last for? This will depend on what the work is:
Literary, dramatic, artistic and music - Seventy years beginning from the end of calendar year in which the author dies. If the works in question were made available to the public at any point, the 70 years will start from when it was first made available.
Sound recordings - Fifty years from the end of the year in which the work was created or released. Sound recordings - Copyright lasts 50 years from the end of calendar year in which the work was created or released.
Film - Copyright lasts 70 years from the end of the year in which the last author, director or composer dies. If the creators remain unknown, the 70 years will begin from the year of release or creation.
Crown copyright - This exists in works created by an officer of the crown like legislation, documents and reports. This copyright lasts for 125 years from the end of the year in which the work was made.
Piracy
One of the most common types of copyright infringement is piracy. Piracy is when copyrighted work is manufactured and/or sold without authorisation when it has been protected by legal rights. When discussing piracy, the most common type of this practice is illegal downloads over the internet. This can be a somewhat confusing and complicated area of law, so serious fraud defence lawyers london can step in and help deal with any concerns.
Fair dealing
This is a term describing acts that are permitted without actually infringing the copyright, like:
Study or research in a private domain. Educational use including performances. Critique and news reportage. Lending by libraries and copies. Recording broadcasts for personal consumption at a later time.
