Attaching and protecting copyright

If certain criteria (e.g. minimal standards of originality) are fulfilled copyright protection attaches automatically to certain works as soon as they are created. It is often only applied for a set period, so it is important to make sure you remain protected in the long term.

There are various different categories of copyright, and creators can gain protection for:

• Original Works
• Sound Recording, Films & Broadcasts
• Adaptation of Other Works

Our copyright solicitors have a strong track record advising individuals and businesses of all sizes on a range of intellectual property and information technology matters.

In addition to copyright issues, we can also advise you on protecting the visual appearance of your idea through asserting your design rights. Additionally, if your work does not meet the necessary criteria for copyrighting, you may still be able to protect it through patents or trademarks.

For help and assistance on queries relating to copyright law, contact our intellectual property team on 0161 832 6131 or get in touch by filling out one of our online enquiry forms.

We are able to assist in a number of non-contentious areas relating to intellectual property (IP). In particular we can prepare contractual documents to deal with the assignment of IP rights and the licensing of IP rights. We can also advise on, prepare and submit trademark applications and provide advice on waivers and releases. We are also experienced in advising on general contractual matters relating to ownership of IP rights including website development agreements.

Some examples of our recent work include:

• A client who wished to launch a new product on to the market without any protection. They urgently needed our help as they wanted to attend a trade fair and release details of their product to the press. After help from us they were able to go ahead with their plans, after fully protecting their intellectual property rights.
• A well-known brand recently accused one of our clients of trademark infringement. After spending some time clarifying the facts of the alleged infringement, we were able to help defend our client’s position, allowing them to continue with their business.

For help and assistance on queries relating to intellectual property, contact our IP team or get in touch by filling out one of our online enquiry forms.