Copyright
3. What Does Copyright Protect?
Last updated: 10 Jul 2015
- Copyright does not protect ideas but only the way ideas are expressed. Therefore copyright does not prevent the use of the same idea as long as the expression of the idea is original.
- Originality in this context is not the same as creativity or ingenuity. A work is original where the work is created independently and skill, labour and judgment are applied to it.
- There are eight main categories of forms of expression protected by copyright:
- literary works;
- artistic works;
- dramatic works;
- musical works;
- cinematographic works;
- sound recordings;
- broadcasts; and
- published editions.
- There are three bundles of rights granted to a copyright owner:
- economic rights;
- moral rights; and
- performer’s rights.
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