Copyright provides the creators of original works of authorship with a set of exclusive rights to copy, distribute, and perform their works for a limited period of time. Protected works include (but are not limited to) books, plays, music, movies, photographs, paintings, sculptures, digital files, and web pages these all are valuable creations worth protecting. Although copyright in a work exists automatically when an original work is created, a certificate of registration is evidence that your creation is protected by copyright and that you, the person registered, are the owner. It can be used in court as evidence of ownership.
What is Copyright?
Copyright is a right given by the law to creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings. In fact, it is a bundle of rights including, inter alia, rights of reproduction, communication to the public, adaptation and translation of the work. There could be slight variations in the composition of the rights depending on the work. Copyright ensures certain minimum safeguards of the rights of authors over their creations, thereby protecting and rewarding creativity. Creativity being the keystone of progress, no civilized society can afford to ignore the basic requirement of encouraging the same. Economic and social development of a society is dependent on creativity. The protection provided by copyright to the efforts of writers, artists, designers, dramatists, musicians, architects and producers of sound recordings, cinematograph films and computer software, creates an atmosphere conducive to creativity, which induces them to create more and motivates others to create.
The object of copyright law is to encourage authors, composers, artists and designers to create original works by rewarding them with the exclusive right for a limited period to exploit the work for monetary gain.
Benefits of Copyright:
Copyright Registration Registering your copyright protected work provides evidence that you are the owner of your work. Copyright Registration is generally required before you can pursue an infringement action against someone who used your work without authorization. Copyright owner can take legal action against any person who infringes the copyrighted work. The copyright owner is entitled to remedies by way of injunctions, damages and accounts. Registration helps preempt the defense of “innocent infringement” for infringers who claim they didn’t know the work was copyright protected.
Does copyright apply to titles and names?
Copyright does not ordinarily protect titles by themselves or names, short word combinations, slogans, short phrases, methods, plots or factual information. Copyright does not protect ideas or concepts. To get the protection of copyright a work must be original.
INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION
Full name, Father’s Name, Business Name, Address, Nationality and Nature of the Business of the Applicant Full name, Father’s Name, Business Name, Address, Nationality and Nature of the Business of the Author of the work