Copyright Process

January 5, 2010
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

While certain parallels can be drawn between the registration process followed with intellectual property rights that is concerned with trademarks and patents, the copyright process is entirely different. First of all, there is no registration required for copyright to be effective.

As a participating country of the Berne Convention, the South African Copyright Act vests the authorship automatically with the creator or first owner of then work. The act clearly defines whom it considers the owner, and also addresses certain situations which are treated as exceptions.

To find out more about the copyright process, or for expert advice and representation, contact Smit & Van Wyk Incorporated.

Our expertise encompass all aspects, including litigation, relating to patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, as well as providing advice on the commercial rights attached to each of these forms of protection.

Copyright Articles

1. Copyright for Cinematographic Film
   If you want to register copyright on a cinematograph film in South Africa, you will have to complete a copyright application…
2. Copyright Infringement on the Internet
   Too many amateur photographers make the mistake of thinking that any photo they upload to the internet will automatically…
3. Software Copyright
   Once the computer program is created in a material form, the work is instantly subject to copyright…
4. Copyright in South Africa
   There are two principal international copyright conventions, the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright…
5. Cinematograph Films Copyright Registration
   The only form of copyright which can be registered in South Africa, is copyright in a cinematographic film…
6. USA Copyright Registrations
   In the U.S copyright registrations can be filed through the United States Copyright…
7. Copyright Facts
   The general rule is that the author / writer / photographer / creator is the first owner of copyright…