UK copyright protection subsists automatically in an original work upon creation, you do not need to apply for protection, indeed there is no system for registration of copyright in the UK.

Copyright provides the owner with the right to control the use or commercial exploitation of their works.  The owner can prevent others from copying the work, or a substantial part of it, or reproducing it, and other acts such as distributing copies or adapting the work.  It protects works for a substantial period of time, depending on the nature of the right it can last up to 70+ years from the death of the creator.

Works protected by copyright in the UK are usually protected overseas by international convention, however in some jurisdictions, such as China and the USA, rights must be registered in order to be enforced against third parties.

It is recommended that you put third parties on notice of your rights, for example though use of the copyright symbol © together with the owner’s name and the year of creation.

As with all intellectual property rights, copyright can be commercialized through licensing.

Our attorneys can provide advice in connection with all aspects of copyright, including commissioning of designers, proprietorship, infringement, licensing, sales and acquisition.