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How Copyright Registrations Work
If you would like to register a Copyright in the U.S, click here: Copyright Registrations USA
In South Africa you don’t need to apply for copyright registrations since copyright is immediately assigned to a piece of work the moment it materializes. Pure mental acts or ideas cannot be copyrighted as the prerequisite is that the work must take on a material form of some kind, whether through performance, broadcasting, writing, painting, sculpting, photography, computer programming or through a musical composition. Copyright registrations are thus not enforced in the country.
You can however, apply for copyright registrations in the instance of cinematograph films. Such films include videos and films made for commercial purposes. The registration is done through a formal process at the Copyright Office. The documentation can be obtained for free, but there is a fee applicable upon submission. If you make use of a lawyer to submit the document registration, you must provide your lawyer with a signed Power of Attorney. There are four forms to be completed known as RF1, RF2, RF3, and RF9. The forms must be submitted in duplicate. In addition a “Statement of Case” must also be submitted.
For all other works, you simply need to put the word “copyright” or “Copyright John 2010” or “Copyright Reserved” or the copyright symbol followed by the name of the owner and the year. If you didn’t put any of the above at a piece of work, it will not mean that your work is now without protection. Common law is considered here. Few artists put “copyright” etc. on their works. They simply sign the works. The phrase copyright reserved, the symbol or simply stating copyright at the year, is just a way to get more protection and to deter others from stealing the work.
If you need help regarding a copyright infringement, plagiarism, license agreement, ownership dispute or simply with copyright registrations, contact us at Smit & Van Wyk today.
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