How to define Copyright?

Copyright (or author’s right) is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Works covered by copyright include books, music, paintings, sculptures, and films, as well as computer programs, databases, advertisements, maps, and technical drawings.，

Who Can Register Copyright?

In most countries, under the Berne Convention, copyright protection is granted automatically without the need for registration or other formalities. Nevertheless, many countries have established voluntary copyright registration systems. Such systems help resolve ownership or authorship disputes, and facilitate financial transactions, sales, as well as the licensing and/or transfer of rights.

There Are Two Types of Copyright Rights:

1. Economic Rights – These allow rights holders to earn financial rewards from the use of their works by others.

2. Moral Rights – These protect the non-economic interests of the author.

Most copyright laws provide that rights holders have the authority to authorize or prohibit certain uses of their works, or in some cases, to receive remuneration for such uses (for example, through collective management). Owners of economic rights in works may prohibit or authorize:

• Reproduction in various forms, such as printed publications or sound recordings;

•  Public performances, such as theatrical plays or musical works;

•  Fixation, for example on CDs or DVDs;

•  Broadcasting by radio, cable, or satellite;

•  Translation into other languages;

•  Adaptation, such as turning a novel into a film script.

Examples of widely recognized moral rights include the right to claim authorship of a work and the right to object to modifications that could harm the creator’s reputation.

What Can Be Protected by Copyright?

Copyright laws generally do not provide an exhaustive list of protected works. However, broadly speaking, works commonly protected worldwide include:

• Literary works, such as novels, poems, plays, reference books, and newspaper articles;

•  Computer programs and databases;

•  Films, musical works, and choreographies;

•  Artistic works, such as paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures;

•  Architectural works; and advertisements, maps, and technical drawings.

Copyright protection applies only to the expression of ideas, not to ideas themselves, procedures, methods of operation, or mathematical concepts. Objects such as titles, slogans, or logos may or may not be protected by copyright, depending on whether they contain sufficient originality.