What Is Copyright?

Copyright refers to the exclusive rights granted to creators of original works to control and protect their creations. It is a form of intellectual property protection that gives creators the right to control how their works are reproduced, distributed, displayed, performed, and modified. Copyright applies to various creative works, including literary works, artistic works, music, films, software, and more. The purpose of copyright is to incentivise and reward creativity by allowing creators to benefit from their works and maintain control over their use, while also promoting the progress of arts, culture, and innovation. Copyright provides creators with certain exclusive rights, including the right to:

Reproduce the work: This involves making copies of the work in various forms, such as printing, recording, or digitising.

Distribute the work: This includes the right to control the distribution of copies of the work to the public, whether through physical copies or digital means.

Display or perform the work: This encompasses the right to publicly display or perform the work, whether it is a visual artwork, a play, a musical composition, or a film.

Create derivative works: This involves the right to create new works based on the original copyrighted work, such as adaptations, translations, or remixes.

Copyright protection arises automatically upon the creation of an original work in a fixed form, such as writing it down, recording it, or saving it on a computer. However, registering the copyright with a relevant copyright office can provide additional legal benefits, such as evidence of ownership and the ability to pursue legal remedies.

Copyright protection typically lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus a certain number of years after his death, which varies depending on the jurisdiction. During the copyright term, the creator has the exclusive rights to his work, allowing him to control its use and commercial exploitation. After the copyright term expires, the work enters the public domain, where it can be freely used by anyone.

Copyright laws aim to balance the rights of creators with the public interest in promoting creativity, innovation, and access to cultural works. It encourages the creation and dissemination of original works while providing creators with the opportunity to benefit from their creations and control how they are used.
Back to blog
UOLLB SQE Turbocharge

UOLLB SQE Turbocharge

Get ready for the SQE1 with high-performance SQE Study Guides developed by UOLLB and published by UOL Press to revolutionise your study method and exam strategy.

Turbocharge SQE Performance Here

UOL Case Bank

Upon joining, you become a valuable UOL student and gain instant access to over 2,100 essential case summaries. UOL Case Bank is constantly expanding. Speed up your revision with us now.

Subscribe Now

Where are our students from?

Council of Europe
Crown Prosecution Service
Baker Mckenzie 
Yale University
University of Chicago
Columbia University
New York University
University of Michigan 
INSEAD
University of London
University College London (UCL)
London School of Economics (LSE)
King’s College London (KCL)
Royal Holloway, University of London 
Birkbeck, University of London
SOAS, University of London
University of Manchester
University of Zurich
University of York
Brandeis University
University of Exeter
University of Sheffield
Boston University
University of Washington
University of Leeds
University of Law
University of Kent
University of Hull
Queen’s University Belfast
Toronto Metropolitan University
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
University of Buckingham
ESSEC Business School

  • Criminal Practice

    Diagrams and Charts

    Our carefully designed diagrams and charts will guide you through complex legal issues.

  • Criminal Law

    Clear and Succinct Definitions

    Key concepts are concisely defined to help you understand legal topics quickly.

  • Property Law

    Statutory Provisions

    Statutory provisions are provided side by side with legal concepts to help you swiftly locate the relevant legislation.

  • Public Law

    Case Summaries

    We have summarised important cases for you so that you don't need to read long and boring cases.

  • Evidence

    Rules and Exceptions

    Rules and exceptions are clearly listed so that you know when a rule applies and when it doesn't.

  • Company Law

    Terminology

    Legal terms and key concepts are explained at the beginning of each chapter to help you learn efficiently.

  • Case Law

    Case law is provided side by side with legal concepts so that you know how legal principles and precedents were established.

  • Law Exam Guide

    Law Essay Guide

    You will learn essential law exam skills and essay writing techniques that are not taught in class.

  • Law Exam Guide

    Problem Question Guide

    We will show you how to answer problem questions step by step to achieve first-class results.

  • Conflict of Laws

    Structured Explanations

    Complex legal concepts are broken down into concise and digestible bullet point explanations.

  • Legal System and Method

    Legal Research

    You will learn legal research techniques with our study guide and become a proficient legal researcher.

  • Jurisprudence and Legal Theory

    Exam-focused

    All essential concepts, principles, and case law are included so that you can answer exam questions quickly.