Why apply for Copyright Protection?

January 15, 2010
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

In South Africa, like in most Berne Convention countries, copyright subsist in a qualified work, the moment that the work is created in physical form.  Therefore, no registration of copyright is necessary for copyright to subsist.

Copyright provides exclusivity to the owner thereof to perform certain acts in respect of the works. In South Africa it is advisable to add the copyright symbol before the name and year or as an alternative write the word ‘copyright’ before the name and year.

The South African Copyright Act makes provision to register copyright in cinematograph films.  The benefit of registering such copyright is that the rights that already subsist in the copyright owner is recorded at CIPRO and, should the owner thereof institute proceedings, such registration can be used as proof of such rights.

In event that copyright is not registered in cinematograph films, such rights first have to be proved during the course of the proceedings.

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…