Copyright

princesspoppypop

Im not really sure where to post this but Im interested to know a bit about copyright.

If I design something and want to copyright it does this mean that no one else can copy my design and also is US law on copyright the same as UK?

McAzrael

Copyright offers protection for your creative ideas once they become tangible (ie you write/draw/record/perform them) In English law you do not have to do anything to copyright them - so long as they meet the criteria they are protected. You may add a warning (a © is popular). US law also recognises copyright.

Are you thinking of patent? This offers protection for novel solutions - usually devices but they can be other things, such as drugs. Software cannot be patented in the EU. Patents have to be registered and only have a short lifespan - they are designed to encourage R&D but not create monopolies. You will need to register for patent protection in the EU and USA, and in any other jurisdiction.

Read all about it here: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/

princesspoppypop

Thanks for your help....

Im wanting to stop people copying my work, I have a written guide plus some ornament designs.

Im a little confused that only US have to register but if you are in the UK you dont.

Whats to stop someone in America copying someone in the UK?

And...

If someone copies your design/ idea but uses different colours/materials and sizes but a similar design could you sue them??

mookiandco

Often the hardest thing about copyright is proving you were the first to come up with an idea. It is often suggested that you should put all your designs/written work in an envelope and post it recorded delivery to yourself. The envelope should then be stamped with a date when you receive it. You shouldnt reopen the envelope. If someone in future claims they thought of the idea first, you will be able to prove a date when you had the idea/wrote the guide etc.

princesspoppypop

Thanks thats a good idea....

amyparr

Hi,

I'm afraid to say the envelope idea is a myth - I'm training to be a lawyer and do part time work with an IP (copyright, designs, patents etc) advice centre. I too thought this was a genuine way of proving copyright, but I was put straight by the lawyers who work there!

The best place to go to find out advice on this issue is www.own-it.org - they are a professionally run advice centre aimed at people in the creative industries, be that an amateur photographer, a freelance writer or yourself. They are great and I can't recommend them highly enough - they have tonnes of info on their site, and you can also email them with any IP-related legal query and they will send you back a personal reply which has been vetted by a solicitor, and it's all free. If you literally emailed them with your post above, they would be able to help (I've helped with a few queries and some are only a couple of lines long - but the more info the better!).

Hope this helps!

Amy x

princesspoppypop

Thanks Amy, I`ll have a look now.

Poppypops