A Reel Slice Productions

Documentary Database 

Intellectual Property Handbook 

 Copyright

Copyright law originated in the United Kingdom from a concept of common law; the Statute of Anne 1709. It became statutory with the passing of the Copyright Act 1911. The current act is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Duration of copyright

The 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act states the duration of copyright as;

    For literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works

      70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last remaining author of the  work dies.

      If the author is unknown, copyright will last for 70 years from end of the calendar year in which the work was created, although if it is made available to the public during that time, (by publication, authorised performance, broadcast, exhibition, etc.), then the duration will be 70 years from the end of the year that the work was first made available.

    Sound Recordings and broadcasts

    50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was created, or,if the work is released within that time: 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first released.

    Films  

     70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last principal director, author or composer dies.

     If the work is of unknown authorship: 70 years from end of the calendar year of creation, or if made available to the public in that time, 70 years from the end of the year the film was first made available.

    Typographical arrangement of published editions

    25 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first published.

    Broadcasts and Cable Programmes

    50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the broadcast was made.

    Crown Copyright

    Crown copyright will exist in works made by an officer of the Crown, this includes items such as legislation and documents and reports produced by government bodies.

     Crown Copyright will last for a period of 125 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made.

    If the work was commercially published within 75 years of the end of the calendar year in which it was made, Crown copyright will last for 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it was published.

      Parliamentary Copyright

       Parliamentary Copyright will apply to work that is made by or under the direction or control of the House of Commons or the House of Lords and will last until 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made.

Acts that are allowed

Fair dealing is a term used to describe acts which are permitted to a certain degree without infringing the work, these acts are:

Private and research study purposes.

Performance, copies or lending for educational purposes.

Criticism and news reporting.

Incidental inclusion.

Copies and lending by librarians.

Acts for the purposes of royal commissions, statutory enquiries, judicial proceedings and parliamentary purposes.

Recording of broadcasts for the purposes of listening to or viewing at a more convenient time, this is known as time shifting.

Producing a back up copy for personal use of a computer program.

Playing sound recording for a non profit making organisation, club or society.

(Profit making organisations and individuals should obtain a license from PRS for Music.)

Information Courtesy : http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk

 BHARAT PILLAI