What is the term of copyright protection?
Copyrights are divided into moral and economic rights. Protection of moral rights is perpetual. Economic rights are for the lifetime of the creator plus 50 years after his or her death. However, economic rights in pseudonymous or anonymous works, works authored by a juristic person (e.g., a company or foundation), photographic and audiovisual works, sound recordings, and performances are for 50 years from the time of public release.
When does copyright protection begin?
Article 10 of the Copyright Act provides, “The author of a work shall enjoy copyright upon completion of the work; provided, where this Act provides otherwise, such provisions shall govern.” That is to say, a creator enjoys copyrights as soon as he or she has completed a work. Registration is not required.
Copyrights are private rights. Copyright owners, like owners of other private rights in general, bear the burden of proof of the existence of their rights. Therefore, copyright owners should preserve and keep materials from the creative process or release of a work or other material relating to their rights to a work, to serve as evidence of their rights. That way, if a dispute arises, a court of law can use such evidence submitted by the rights owner as a basis to uphold the rights.
Copyrights are private rights. Copyright owners, like owners of other private rights in general, bear the burden of proof of the existence of their rights. Therefore, copyright owners should preserve and keep materials from the creative process or release of a work or other material relating to their rights to a work, to serve as evidence of their rights. That way, if a dispute arises, a court of law can use such evidence submitted by the rights owner as a basis to uphold the rights.
