A copyright is an exclusive right given by law for a term of years to
an author, designer, etc. for his/her original work.
WORKS ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION
The copyright Act protects certain classes or categories of
works
The following works are eligible for Copyright, if they are original.
Literary works eg. books and written composition
novels & practical works.
Musical works eg. songs.
Artistic works eg. paintings and drawings.
Cinematograph films eg programme-carrying signal
that has been transmitted by satellite.
Sound recordings.
Broadcasts eg. broadcasting of films or music.
Programme-carrying signals eg.signals embodying a programme.
Published editions eg. first print by whatever
process.
Computer programmes
For a work to be eligble for copyright, it must be
written down, recorded or otherwise reduced to material form.
What constitutes copyright infringement?
Making photocopies for private use is not an infringement of copyright.
Copying a public speech or a lecture does not constitute infringement.
No infringement results if work is acknowledged, when one is copying or citing
from another author’s work.
Generally, in respect of written material, the following guidelines apply:
Wherever possible, the author’s permission should be sought to reproduce his /
her work.
If in an article, paper or speech, when referring to the work of another, it is
required that details of the reference be provided in the form of the name of
the author and details of his/her publication i.e. title of book or magazine,
publisher, date of publication etc.
If only a small portion of the work is used, say a few sentences or a
paragraph, and provided that an acknowledgement is made, permission is not
needed.
If a "significant" section is reproduced, such as a chapter, then permission
should be obtained.
It is generally accepted that work that is being used in academic institutions,
research or for private use may be reproduced.
Another contentious area is the field of music.
Clearly if you were to copy a tape or a CD and sell this, it would represent
copyright infringement (referred to as “pirating”) But when a Dee-Jay at a
party plays CDs, is copyright being infringed?
As a general guide, copyright infringement can be said to occur where the
copyrighted material of others is used for personal gain as opposed to private
or personal use.
Copyright infringement does not occur if you copy a public speech or lecture,
made for information purposes, or photocopy government publications for public
usage.
What is the lifespan of copyright?
The lifespan of copyright depends on the type of work protected:
The copyright of written works lasts for 50 years after the writer has died.
The copyright of computer programs lasts for 50 years after the first copies
were made available to the public.
For sound recordings, radio and TV broadcasts, the copyright lasts for 50 years
from the day the work was first broadcast.
