Copyright Attorneys | Copyright Protection
September 28, 2009
Attorneys
If you are the owner of a copyright, copyright attorneys can assist you in copyright and publisher agreements and can handle both the setting of contracts and help with high level litigation cases where copyright infringement has taken place.
If you have copyright issues that need to be referred to the high courts of the country through the use of advocates, then our copyright attorneys can assist in your case.
Protection of your copyright rights should be embedded in any agreements with publishers, music houses and so on. Let our copyright attorneys assist in setting up the agreements in order to protect your rights.
Copyright Articles
- 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… - Copyright Infringement on the Internet
Too many amateur photographers make the mistake of thinking that any photo they upload to the internet will automatically… - Software Copyright
Once the computer program is created in a material form, the work is instantly subject to copyright… - Copyright in South Africa
There are two principal international copyright conventions, the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright… - Cinematograph Films Copyright Registration
The only form of copyright which can be registered in South Africa, is copyright in a cinematographic film… - USA Copyright Registrations
In the U.S copyright registrations can be filed through the United States Copyright… - Copyright Facts
The general rule is that the author / writer / photographer / creator is the first owner of copyright…
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Copyright & Intellectual Property
September 28, 2009
Attorneys, Copyright ©
The most widespread form of Intellectual Property is Copyright.
Copyright is the one form of intellectual property that does not have to be registered. Once put into a tangible form such as print or some other media, copyright automatically becomes yours.
Generally speaking, any creative work by an individual is eligible for copyright protection. It is not enough for the work of art to be still an idea in the author’s head – it must have been recorded in material form.
Because it is not registered does not mean that a creation of the mind is not valuable.
As an example, take a new novel. Not only does it have commercial value, but when looking at the screen rights to the novel, for example, it is easy to see that it also can have great strategic value.
Contact Details for Smit & Van Wyk:
Tel:
+27 (0) 12 349 7800
Fax:
+27 (0) 86 619 0493
E-mail:
enquiries@svw.co.za
Physical Address / Courier
Block A Apex Corporate Park
Quintin Brand Street
Persequor Technopark
Meiring Naudé Avenue
Pretoria
0184
South Africa
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Trademark Attorney | Trademarks
September 28, 2009
Attorneys
A trademark attorney can advise you on both the selection of trademarks and will carry out searches on your behalf to ensure there is no conflict with earlier trademarks.
Registration of your trademark offers you several advantages. It establishes your rights to the mark, even before you use it.
Registration of your mark will also simplify any infringement proceedings and at the same time notifies others of your claim to that mark.
A trademark attorney can also advise you on searching, licensing, technology transfer, setting up joint ventures, copyright protection and litigation in relation to intellectual property.
Contact Details for Smit & Van Wyk
Tel:
+27 (0) 12 349 7800
Fax:
+27 (0) 86 619 0493
E-mail:
enquiries@svw.co.za
Physical Address / Courier
Block A Apex Corporate Park
Quintin Brand Street
Persequor Technopark
Meiring Naudé Avenue
Pretoria
0184
South Africa
Trademark Articles
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What rights does Copyright provide?
August 24, 2009
Copyright ©, Intellectual Property Information
Many creative works protected by copyright require mass distribution, communication and financial investment for their dissemination (for example, publications, sound recordings and films); hence, creators often sell the rights to their works to individuals or companies best able to market the works in return for payment.
These payments are often made dependent on the actual use of the work, and are then referred to as royalties.
These economic rights have a time limit, according to the relevant WIPO treaties, of 50 years after the creator’s death. National law may establish longer time-limits.
This limit enables both creators and their heirs to benefit financially for a reasonable period of time. Copyright protection also includes moral rights, which involve the right to claim authorship of a work, and the right to oppose changes to it that could harm the creator’s reputation.
The creator – or the owner of the copyright in a work – can enforce rights administratively and in the courts, by inspection of premises for evidence of production or possession of illegally made – “pirated” – goods related to protected works.
The owner may obtain court orders to stop such activities, as well as seek damages for loss of financial rewards and recognition. – WIPO
Contact Details for Smit & Van Wyk
Tel
+27 (0) 12 349 7800
Fax
+27 (0) 86 619 0493
E-mail
enquiries@svw.co.za
Physical Address / Courier
Block A Apex Corporate Park
Quintin Brand Street
Persequor Technopark
Meiring Naudé Avenue
Pretoria
0184
South Africa
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Secure your Masterpiece with Copyright Protection
March 25, 2009
Copyright ©, Intellectual Property News
You cannot copyright an idea; however, when you commit your inspiration to paper, you own it and all the rights to it. In South Africa, copyright does not require registration because your copyright is created the minute your work appears “in material form.”
Artists, authors, musicians, designers, and producers frequently dispute authorship of copyrighted works, but South African copyright law remains extremely clear: the first one to make some artifact from the idea owns the idea.
For example, in the cases of literary, artistic, and musical works, the copyright belongs to the first person who produces the work. Therefore, common sense provides your best protection against copyright infringement: save and date the very first drafts or sketches of your work.
You may even have a friend endorse your signature and date, authenticating the information.
Recordings, television programs, and electronic media follow the same rule: first one to make it owns it.
Contact Details for Smit & Van Wyk
Tel
+27 (0) 12 349 7800
Fax
+27 (0) 86 619 0493
E-mail
enquiries@svw.co.za
Physical Address / Courier
Block A Apex Corporate Park
Quintin Brand Street
Persequor Technopark
Meiring Naudé Avenue
Pretoria
0184
South Africa
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