Definition of Copyright
Producing creativity is fostered by the uniqueness of ideas. Whenever a new invention or concept is developed, its creator has the right to copyright his work. Whether seeking public notoriety or just general record-keeping, you can realize certain benefits by copyrighting your work. Copyrighting gives exclusive rights to the creator's idea or invention for a period of time.
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Significance
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Copyrighting gives creators control over the dispersion of their work, allowing them to profit from their inventions. Copyrighting rules have been standardized under international law, protecting the work up to 100 years after the author's death. The original product will continue to carry the name of the original creator.
History
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Copyrighting was first developed in 18th-century Britain. The Statute of Anne stated that the author was the owner of her work.
Copyrighting was developed to encourage intellectual development and learning as it allowed people to have a heightened sense of gratification for a job well done.
The Berne Convention of 1886 extended copyright recognition to a several countries and it standardized the recognition of international authors. It afforded the author of the work full copyright privileges. This means that the author does not have to necessarily register his work to have copyright protection. It wasn't until 1988 that the United Kingdom signed the Berne Convention, and the United States signed it in 1989. -
Effects
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Copyrights are afforded for a variety of creative works. They can be acquired for writings and many literary works, music, dance, artwork and different media productions. Copyrights only protect the way ideas and information are expressed. Patents and trademarks may provide additional protection to the copyrighted work.
Function
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Copyrights are granted by governments for the protection and promotion of ideas and creativity. Creators are afforded first-to-market privileges and protection, and a time frame for exclusive rights, which gives them more time for research and development.
There are minimal standards that apply to the copyrighting process, and they vary from country to country. However, the Berne Convention standards automatically apply copyrights to the author in countries where the agreement is recognized. The function of the copyright is to determine that the work is original.
Types
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Another type of copyright process is the "poor man's copyright." This is the simple process of sealing the work or its idea and concept in an envelope, then sending it via certified mail back to the author. The U.S. Copyright Office does not suggest this method, and the United States requires a federal registration for the full protection of a copyright.
Benefits
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Attaining a copyright for his work affords the author certain benefits. The author has the exclusive right to copy and reproduce the work, and to create more works from the ideas and concepts of the original work.
Additionally, copyrighted work can only be publicly displayed by the original owner. The author also gains broadcasting rights, and the right to sell the copyright to others.
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Resources
- Photo Credit MIT OCW, Intellectual Property Department - Hong Kong, University of Tennessee
