OUGD502 - What is Copyright?

- do not need to register your work - this is different and costs money.
- work is copyrighted as soon as you create it.
- keep original files - date and time stamped.
- companies need a signed copyright assignation document from the creator before they can use their work.
- copyright symbol does not matter if you forget, people still cannot use it.
- can be used on anything, e.g. website, video, etc.
- recorded instance of creating it, e.g. a blog, dated file or email, etc.
- can only use works on the internet if the copyright has expired, been assigned or created by the government for use by the public domain.
- generally speaking, artworks fall out of copyright and enter the public domain in the UK 70 years after the death of the artist.
- assign copyright only on full and final payment (should be an integral part of your terms and conditions).

Limitations: things that are not covered by personal copyright.
- facts.
- conceptual ideas not expressed in tangible form.
- public domain.
- expired items.

Reproduction Rights: you own both the copyright and the rights to reproduce your work.
- what it is reproduced on.
- on anything sold with your artwork on.
- international reproduction.
- indemnity from those who incur you legal costs, i.e. a child chokes on an item that carries your work.
- bankruptcy of the users.
- all advance payments of work cancelled to be retained.
- the right to have books audited on company failure.
- no sub licensing of your work without permission and fee - retention of all original works (if agreed).

Licensing your work: in some cases you may be asked to licence your work. i.e. a stock illustration, image, design on which you may wish to retain the copyright.
You can limit the license you allow to that of single use, meaning that they can use it for a single time, as opposed to using it on printed material, website and exhibitions, etc. This means you license and gain a fee for each use.