What is a copyright?

Copyright is a legal right that protects original works of authorship such as books, music, films, artwork and software. It arises automatically the moment the work is created and fixed in a tangible form, with no registration required in most countries.

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What qualifies for copyright?

A work must meet two conditions.

• Originality. It must be independently created and show a minimal level of creativity.
• Fixation. It must exist in a physical or digital form that others can perceive, reproduce or communicate.

Ideas themselves are not covered. Copyright protects the expression of an idea, not the idea behind it, which is the single most common misunderstanding about it.

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What rights does copyright give?

The exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display and license the work. Others need permission to do any of those things, subject to exceptions such as quotation or fair dealing that vary by country.

Registration is not required, though in some jurisdictions registering strengthens what you can claim if you end up enforcing the right.

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How long does copyright last?

In most jurisdictions, the life of the author plus 50 to 70 years, depending on the country. For corporate or anonymous works, the term is often a fixed number of years from publication.

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Does copyright need renewing?

No, and this is where it differs most sharply from a patent. Copyright requires no renewal, no fee and no filing to stay alive. It cannot be lost by forgetting to do something.

A patent is the opposite. It needs a patent renewal fee paid in every country where it is granted, and a single missed payment can end it years early.