• Copyright Protection

Three reasons for Copyright Protection

So what makes having copyright protection so important? Surely if it happens automatically you don’t have to worry about it? 

While it’s true that your work gets automatic protection, that doesn’t mean that people won’t copy your work for their own gain. Your copyright may be worth more than you think, so it’s important to properly consider the reasons for keeping on top of your property.

Your work is an asset

If you have an original idea or piece of creative work, no matter what others may say, it’s still a potential asset and should be treated as such. Your work can end up having considerable value in the future and can even potentially be used for financial collateral. 

There is also the concept of copyrights as a legacy as they can last for decades, passed down as part of an estate. For literary, musical or artistic works, copyrights can last a further 70 years after the death of the original creators death and in broadcast or publishing cases this time period extends to 50 years.

Protect your rights!

If someone infringes your copyright, you will have legal grounds to pursue the guilty party to either pay you for a license, or compensate you for any financial loss you may have incurred. If they are using your work without your knowledge, you are well in your rights to stop them doing so and receive compensation for any earnings they have made off the back of your work. 

If you do see that someone is using your work without your knowledge or permission, we recommend consulting one of our IP experts about what legal recourse you can take.

Licensing is the way forward

If you have copyrighted works that has attracted the interests of other parties, you can explore your licensing options to make sure you can financially benefit from their use. Licensing is a legal authorisation from you to another party that permits them to use some (or all) of your copyrighted works. 

Licensing is also an effective way to increase the legal protection around your idea, and can be used as evidence against another party who does not fulfil their part of the deal or is using your work without permission.

The above are just a few broad areas why you should take an active interest in your intellectual property, even if you think it is already protected. Copyright infringements happen every day, so stay on top of your IP and take proactive steps to ensure your rights are looked after. 

For more information, read our page on what is a copyright, or to consult our experts and find out more, get in touch via our contact page or sign up to one of our many workshops.

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