Copyright update by the UK Patent Office

[GrahamL]

The UK's Intellectual Property Office has just published a few days ago an update notice on the subject 'digital images, photographs and the internet'. Aimed at informing individuals and small business users it could be important to those publishing images on the internet. The link is:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/copyright-notice-digital-images-photographs-and-the-internet

Of course copyright law in other countries may well be different. Interesting point that in taking pictures of two dimensional artworks (and even graffiti if commissioned) the copyright for the image may well be with the artist rather than the photographer unless the Art content of the image is incidental.

Cheers,

Graham

[Rose]

Copyright law is territorial but there are international agreements between a number of countries. The biggest difference between the UK and the US for example, is that in the UK copyright arises automatically but in the US it has to be claimed. This means that in the UK you do not even have to display a copyright symbol on your work as you automatically own the copyright. There are caveats however, and it's wise to read the advice on the website.

[Peter Boughton]

Copyright is automatic in most countries, including the US - as per the Berne Convention. (Though it did take the US about a hundred years to agree to it.)

A copyright notice isn't required, but is often recommended to make it clear something is copyrighted (and so strengthen any case against an infringer).

In the US it is still required to register a copyright with the United States Copyright Office before starting a lawsuit.