Copyright

Copyright protects the expression of ideas in tangible forms. Ideas alone cannot be protected. Here are what may be protected under copyright law:

Literary works

• Written works eg. poems, lyrics, source codes

Dramatic works

• Scripts for films
• Scripts for stage plays
• Choreography

Musical works

• Melodies

Artistic works

• Drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, engravings*
• Buildings or models of buildings*
• Works of artistic craftsmanship

* regardless of artistic merit

Additionally, films, sound recordings, television and radio broadcasts, cable programmes and performances are also protected by copyright.

The © Symbol

The copyright or © symbol is merely a notice by the owner that copyright exists. The presence of the symbol does not give the copyright owner any additional rights; the absence of the symbol does not mean that the copyright owner has waived his rights.

In practice, the symbol is usually followed by the year when a copy of the work was first made available and the name of the copyright owner.

The duration varies according to the type of copyright work you own.

Literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works

70 years from the end of the year in which the creator died. Specifically for photographs, or if the works is published after the death of the author, it lasts for 70 years, from the end of the year in which the work was first published.

Published editions of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works

25 years from the end of the year in which the edition was first published.

Sound recordings

70 years from the end of the year in which the sound recording is first published.

Broadcasts and cable programmes

50 years from the end of the year of making the broadcast or cable programme.

Performances

70 years from the end of the year of the performance.