What is copyright?
Q: What is copyright?
A: Copyright is a law that gives the owner of a work (for example, a book, movie, picture, song or website) the right to say how other people can use it.
Q: How does copyright help authors?
A: Copyright laws make it easier for authors to make money by selling their works and protect them from other people copying their works without permission and/or for commercial purposes.
Q: What happens if someone copies a work without permission?
A: If someone copies a work without permission, the owner can say they infringed their copyright. When this happens, the owner may sue for the amount that should have been paid. Most cases are handled by civil law. In more serious cases, a person who copies a work that is protected under copyright could be arrested, fined or even go to prison.
Q: How long does copyright protection last?
A: Commonly, the copyright law will protect the authors and their heirs for 50 to 100 years since the author's death, or the first day of multiple authors' deaths.
Q: Are there differences in national laws regarding copyright?
A: Yes, many countries have modified their copyright law to meet international standards but there are still differences in national laws.
Q: Can someone violating copyright law be sued only in civil court?
A: In some countries yes but in others they can also be charged by criminal courts.
Q: What other types of intellectual property exist besides copyrights?
A: Besides copyrights there are trademarks and patent law which all form part of intellectual property rights.
