COPYRIGHT LAW

UK copyright law is set out in the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA) and is specifically designed to prevent copying an existing work rather than the protection of a new idea. The CDPA lists the types of work in which copyright subsists; most common are original literary works (books, film scores, website text) and original artistic works (eg photos). If your work is copied either directly or indirectly then your copyright is infringed.

Copyright protection lasts for a set period, most often the life of the author plus 70 years from the end of the year when he or she died.

As well as copyright we can advise and assist our clients on patents, know-how, trademarks and designs as well as undertaking intellectual property transactional work.