Intellectual Property Office. Patents. Copyright. Copyright protects written, theatrical, musical and artistic works as well as film, book layouts, sound recordings, and broadcasts. Copyright is an automatic right, which means you don't have to apply for it. About copyright Here you'll find information on the benefits of copyright protection and what an owner's exclusive economic rights are. Copyright applies to... Copyright applies to all sorts of written and recorded materials from software and the internet to drawings and photography. Ownership of copyright works Ownership of copyright works may depend on the circumstances under which the work was created as this section explains. Other people's copyright works You will normally need permission to use someone else's copyright work but in certain very specific situations you may not. Copyright works are protected across most mediums - so if they're protected in one, they're probably protected in others.
Fast Facts Copyright doesn't protect ideas. Take the Copyright quiz! Trade marks. Designs.