I own the copyright over a script I had written and published online. I am worried that someone is going to use it without permission and acknowledgment. If someone does use it how can I prove that I own the copyright?
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Neha Sharma, Hillsdale 2036 NSW
- Unfortunately in Australia there is no registration system for copyright and any dispute about who owns copyright must be resolved in court.
- It is a good idea to keep a record of your work in case you need to prove in court that you created the script. Records can include:
- drafts or writer’s plans;
- any research you did to write the script;
- who you discussed your work with;
- who read or edited your work; and
- when and how you published your work online.
- You must be proactive if you think someone infringes your copyright. This may mean taking legal action against the person who infringed the copyright.