Question: What is copyright?
Answer:Copyright refers to the automatic protection of the expression of original ideas (but not the ideas themselves, they must be in ‘material form’ to be protected by copyright). Copyright can apply to written material such as books, articles, and journals, as well as designs, artworks, music, films and media broadcasts among others. Therefore, once an original idea is manifested on paper or electronically, it is automatically protected by copyright; you do not need to register anything.
Copyright confers on the owner of their intellectual property the exclusive right to publish, reproduce, adapt and distribute their work, it prevents others from claiming the work as their own, and the right to take legal action against someone who uses or claims their work without permission. Copyright is automatic and lasts for 70 years after the owner’s death, but some forms of IP such as company logos, designs or inventions should be given added protection by registering for trademarks or patents with the help of a lawyer.
