Comprehensive Overview of the Copyright Rules & Laws for 2025

What is the copyright law? Copyright protects original creations across many industries and media.

Understanding what qualifies as a copyright example helps individuals and businesses recognise their rights and responsibilities.

Whether it’s music, writing, software, or art, copyright safeguards a wide range of works from unauthorised use.

You may be wondering, “How do I copyright something?” In this article, we explore tangible examples of copyright in action, see how to copyright, how to copyright something for free in the UK and how these rules apply in various formats.

What Is Copyright?

Copyright is a set of legal rights that protects original works of authorship.

These rights are granted under copyright law, which exists to encourage creativity by giving creators control over the use of their work.

How to get copyright? A work must be both original and fixed in a tangible form to qualify for copyright protection. This includes writing, music, art, films, photographs, and computer programmes.

Key points about copyright law:

• Automatic Protection: Copyright protection arises automatically when a qualifying work is created; registration is not required.
• Ownership: Typically, the creator is the copyright owner, though rights can be transferred or sold.
• Duration: The length of copyright protection varies by work type. For literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, protection often lasts for the creator’s life plus 70 years.

Copyright law restricts others from copying, distributing, performing, displaying, or adapting the work without permission.

Certain uses, such as fair dealing for criticism, review, or news reporting, may be permitted.

When a copyright expires, the work enters the public domain, allowing anyone to use it without requiring permission.

How Does Copyright Arise?

You may be wondering, “How do I copyright my work?” or how to register copyright in the UK. Copyright arises automatically when a work is created and fixed in a tangible form. There is no need to register or apply for copyright protection in the UK.

This principle is established under the UK’s copyright protection act: the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

For copyright to exist, the work must be original and expressed in a material way, such as writing, recording, or digital format.

It does not apply to ideas or concepts that have not been fixed.

The main types of works covered include:

• Literary works
• Musical works
• Artistic works
• Films
• Sound recordings
• Broadcasts

Here are the key points on how to get a copyright:

Copyright legislation in the UK recognises and protects works as soon as they meet these conditions.

If the work originates outside the UK, international agreements often extend similar protections.

Although registration is not necessary in the UK, creators should keep evidence of when their work was created. This can be useful in case of disputes.

Who Owns Copyright?

Copyright ownership usually belongs to the creator of an original work, such as a writer, artist, or photographer.

By default, this person is known as the “first owner” of copyright.

If the work was created during employment, copyright typically belongs to the employer, not the employee.

Employment contracts may further clarify or alter these rights, so staff members should check their terms.

Commissioned works can be more complex.

Unless a contract specifies otherwise, the person who creates the work remains the copyright owner, even if someone else has paid for the work to be produced.

Universities, companies, and public bodies often have specific policies about ownership.

Sometimes, copyright can be transferred or sold to another person or organisation. This transfer must usually be made in writing and signed by the owner.

It is important to distinguish between owning a physical item (like a painting or a manuscript) and owning the copyright.

Buying the item does not give copyright ownership unless this is expressly transferred.

Can Copyright Be Transferred?

Copyright can be transferred from one individual or organisation to another. This allows rights to be licensed, sold, or assigned under different circumstances.

Copyright Licencing

Licencing allows the copyright owner to grant permission for others to use their work while still retaining ownership.

Licences can be broad or specific, covering all or certain rights such as reproduction or distribution.

A licence might be exclusive (only one licensee can use the rights), non-exclusive (multiple licensees can use the work), or sole (one licensee and the owner may use the work).

Key terms should be clearly defined in the licence agreement. This can include the duration, territory, and any limitations on use.

Licences can be granted for free or for a fee.

Written agreements are recommended for clarity.

Licencing is common in publishing, music, film and software, enabling creators to benefit financially without giving up their rights.

This approach is flexible and can be adjusted according to the needs of both parties.

Copyright Selling

Copyright can be sold outright through a process called assignment.

When copyright is assigned, ownership is transferred to another party.

The original owner no longer has any rights in the work unless specifically agreed otherwise.

Assignments must be in writing and signed by the copyright owner. This ensures there is proof of transfer and outlines the terms clearly.

Assignment may be for all rights, or for some specific rights, such as adaptation or public performance.

Selling copyright is irreversible; once assigned, the seller cannot use or control the rights.

This is often done when a creator wishes to transfer full control, for example, in business sales, inheritance, or when a company acquires creative assets.

What Does Copyright Do?

Copyright grants creators exclusive legal rights over their original works.

This protection starts automatically as soon as a work is created and fixed in a tangible form, such as text, music, art, or software.

In the UK, copyright law covers many types of works, including literary, musical, artistic, and dramatic creations.

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 is the core legislation providing this protection.

The main functions of copyright are:

• Allows the owner to control who copies, distributes or performs the work
• Enables the owner to grant licences or sell their rights
• Protects against unauthorised use or reproduction

A copyright owner can document their rights using licensing agreements, but there is no mandatory requirement to register a copyright document in the UK.

If two or more people create a work together, they may share copyright through joint or co-authorship, depending on how their contributions are combined.

Copyright helps resolve disputes by giving owners legal grounds to challenge infringement.

Some countries ask for a registered copyright document to pursue legal action.

How Long Does Copyright Last?

Copyright duration varies based on the type of work and the country’s laws.

The most common international standard is the Berne Convention, which sets a minimum duration for various categories. Most countries follow at least these minimums.

Literary, Dramatic, Artistic, and Musical Works

For works created by a single author, copyright typically lasts for the author's lifetime plus 70 years after their death.

In cases of joint authorship, the protection continues until 70 years after the death of the last surviving author.

Sound Recordings

Recordings are protected for 70 years from the end of the year in which they were first published.

If unpublished, the term is 70 years from the date of creation.

Films and Broadcasts

Films are protected for 70 years after the death of the last to die among the principal director, screenplay author, and composer.

Broadcasts are generally protected for 50 years from the date of first broadcast.

Layout of Published Editions

The layout or typographical arrangement of a published edition is protected for 25 years from the year of first publication.

The table below provides a general overview of works protected in the UK and other countries following Berne standards.

It is important to check specific national laws, as some countries set shorter or longer terms for certain types of works.

How to Protect Your Copyright

Copyright protection in the UK is automatic. As soon as a person creates original work, such as writing, music, or art, it is protected by copyright law.

There is no official registration process for copyright in the UK. There is no government office where one must apply or pay a fee to "get" a copyright.

The work is protected from the moment it is created in a tangible form.

To strengthen protection, creators should:

• Add a copyright notice (e.g., © [Name] [Year]) on their work.
• Keep clear records and dated copies of original drafts.
• Store work securely, with evidence of the creation date.

Anyone wishing to use copyrighted material should ask for permission or check if it qualifies for fair use or another exception.

If an infringement happens, copyright owners have the legal right to take action. They may send a formal notice or seek legal advice to enforce their rights.

Exceptions to Copyright

Copyright exceptions allow certain uses of protected works without the need for permission from the rights holder. These are defined in law and aim to balance the rights of creators with public interest and access.

Common exceptions include:

• Fair dealing for the purposes of private study or non-commercial research.
• Quotation for criticism, review, or news reporting, provided the use is fair and acknowledged.
• Use for education in schools, colleges, and universities under specific conditions.
• Making accessible copies for disabled persons.
• Incidental inclusion of copyright material in another work, such as a painting or photograph that happens to include a protected work in the background.

Certain exceptions only apply if the use is fair and does not negatively impact the interests of the copyright owner.

The scope of these exceptions can vary by country and is subject to specific conditions. Users should check the relevant legislation to ensure compliance before relying on an exception.

Some exceptions, such as those for parody or caricature, are narrowly interpreted and depend on context.

The law may evolve to address new types of content and technology.

Key Takeaways

Copyright automatically protects original creative works as soon as they are fixed in a tangible form, without the need for registration.

Although not required, registration and the © symbol can help enforce ownership more easily.

Creators retain exclusive rights to control how their work is used, and unauthorised use can lead to legal consequences.

Limited exceptions, such as fair use or fair dealing, exist but apply only in specific situations and must be used with care.