Writing, music, pictures and code: Copyright

You automatically own in most things you create. This means you have the right to use your creations and prevent others from using them. This section will explain the rules of ownership in different types of works, and how to protect your in the and overseas. It also covers what to do if you want to use other people’s or let them use your , who owns in things created by people working for you, and how to monitor for infringements.

  1. 1.What is copyright?
  2. 2.How do I recognise a copyrighted work?
  3. 3.Should I register my creative work as copyright?
  1. 4.How do I know if somebody owns copyright in something?
  2. 5.Can I apply to register copyright?
  3. 6.Can I use someone else's copyright, or can someone else use mine?
  4. 7.Is my copyright protected overseas?
  5. 8.How long does copyright last?
  6. 9.Can businesses own copyright?
  7. 10.Can more than one person own the copyright in something?
  8. 11.Can I own copyright in a name?
  9. 12.Can I own copyright in a written work?
  10. 13.Can I own copyright in a database?
  11. 14.Can I own copyright in the layout of written work?
  12. 15.Can I own copyright in photos or images?
  13. 16.Can I own copyright in computer code?
  14. 17.Can more than one person own the copyright in computer code?
  15. 18.Can I own copyright in films, music and/or broadcasts?
  16. 19.Can I own copyright in a film?
  17. 20.How long does copyright in a film last?
  18. 21.Can I own copyright in music?
  19. 22.Can I own copyright in a sound recording?
  20. 23.Can I own copyright in a broadcast?
  21. 24.Are internet broadcasts protected by copyright?
  22. 25.How long does copyright in a broadcast last?
  1. 26.What can be done to make it clear that I own copyright?
  2. 27.How do I protect copyright overseas?
  3. 28.What do I do if I want to use somebody else's copyright or they want to use mine?
  4. 29.How does Brexit affect my copyright?
  1. 30.Who owns the copyright in works created by employees?
  2. 31.Can I agree in advance with an employee who will own the copyright in works they create?
  3. 32.Who owns the moral rights in works created by employees?
  4. 33.What can I do to protect any copyright created by employees?
  5. 34.How do I include appropriate clauses in employment contracts to ensure my business owns any copyrighted work created by employees?
  6. 35.What can I do to ensure my business owns copyrighted work created by my employees?
  7. 36.What can I do to make sure copyright belonging to my business is not stolen or misused by my employees?
  8. 37.How long can my business keep copyright created by employees?
  9. 38.Do I have to give credit to or pay employees for copyright works they create for me?
  1. 39.Who owns the copyright in works created by consultants and freelancers?
  2. 40.What can I do to protect any copyrighted work created by consultants and freelancers?
  3. 41.How do I include appropriate clauses in contracts to ensure my business owns copyrighted work created by consultants or freelancers?
  4. 42.What can I do to ensure my business owns copyrighted work created by a consultant or freelancer?
  5. 43. How do I stop consultants and freelancers from misusing my business's copyrighted work?
  1. 44.Who owns the copyright in work I have bought, outsourced or commissioned?
  2. 45.What can I do to protect any copyrighted work created by commissioned businesses?
  3. 46.How do I include appropriate clauses in contracts to ensure my business owns copyrighted works created by commissioned businesses?
  4. 47.What can I do to ensure my business owns copyrighted work created by a commissioned business?
  5. 48.How can I ensure that commissioned businesses do not misuse my company's copyright?
  1. 49.How do I know if my copyright has been infringed?
  2. 50.What is piracy?
  3. 51.How do I monitor for piracy?
  4. 52.Can I hire someone to monitor piracy for me?
  5. 53.What should I do if I discover someone has pirated my work?
  6. 54.How do I monitor for people using my photos or images without permission?
  7. 55.Can I hire someone to monitor whether other people are using my photos or images?
  8. 56.What should I do if I discover someone is using my photos or images without my permission?
  9. 57.What is plagiarism?
  10. 58.How do I monitor for plagiarism?
  11. 59.What should I do if I discover that someone has plagiarised my work?

Step-by-step guide to applying for a UK trade mark online

This step-by-step guide to applying for a UK trade mark online tells you how to apply online to register a UK trade mark. If your application is straightforward, you can usually make the application yourself (without needing a lawyer). Use this guide to assist you with completing each field of the UK online trade mark application, including who is applying for the trade mark, owner details, description and class of the trade mark, priority date, type of trade mark, and more. This step-by-step guide to applying for a UK trade mark online can save you time, by helping you to complete the form correctly (which reduces the risk of follow up questions from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO)). If you would prefer to apply for your UK trade mark by post using a paper form, see Step-by-step guide to filling in the UK trade mark application form . You can also buy this guide as part of the Protecting IP and confidential information toolkit .
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Step-by-step guide to filling in the UK trade mark application form

This step-by-step guide to filling in the UK trade mark application form guides you through the process of completing the paper application form for applying for a UK trade mark (Form TM3). This can be emailed to the IPO as a PDF, or posted. You will need to complete various details, such as owner details, description and class of trade mark, type of trade mark, priority date, and more. Usually you can apply for the trade mark yourself if your application is straightforward (without the need for a lawyer). Completing the UK trade mark application form correctly will reduce the risk of follow up questions from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) which saves you time. Note that alternatively you can apply online for a UK trade mark, which is cheaper. See Step-by-step guide to applying for a UK trade mark online . You can also buy this guide as part of the Protecting IP and confidential information toolkit .
£10 + VAT
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