How is copyright regulated?

August 24, 2009
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

A created work is considered protected by copyright as soon as it exists. According to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, literary and artistic works are protected without any formalities in the countries party to that Convention.

Thus, WIPO does not offer any kind of copyright registration system.

However, many countries have a national copyright office and some laws allow for registration of works for the purposes of, for example, identifying and distinguishing titles of works. In certain countries, registration can also serve as prima facie evidence in a court of law with reference to disputes relating to copyright.

Many owners of creative works do not have the means to pursue the legal and administrative enforcement of copyright, especially given the increasingly worldwide use of literary, musical and performance rights.

As a result, the establishment of collective management organizations or societies is a growing trend in many countries.

These societies can provide members the benefits of the organization’s administrative and legal expertise in, for example, collecting, managing, and disbursing royalties gained from international use of a member’s work. – WIPO

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