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ARTICLE · 24 MAY 2023

The Basics Of Copyright Law

Gowling WLG
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What do you need to know about copyright law? In our article series focusing on copyright law, we will explore the basics behind legislation, copyright protection, infringement and key things businesses need to know.

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Khemi Salhan
Khemi Salhan
Hannah Barnett
Hannah Barnett
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What do you need to know about copyright law? In our article series focusing on copyright law, we will explore the basics behind legislation, copyright protection, infringement and key things businesses need to know.

In the first article in our copyright series, we provide an overview on the basics of copyright, explaining some fundamental copyright concepts, including what copyright is, what can be protected by copyright, and tips on how to protect your rights.

What is copyright law?

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 governs copyright law in the UK. Copyright is a property right which protects the expression of creative output. Unlike some other intellectual property rights in the UK, copyright arises automatically on creation of a work, so there is no registration process and there are therefore no registration fees. The position on registration does vary from country to country, so please do look into local requirements when dealing outside of the UK.

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The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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