Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. intellectual property attorneys specialize in copyright registrations, litigation, agreements, licensing and legal advice. Copyright links: Copyright Attorneys, Copyright Lawyers, Copyright Photographs, Copyright Protection, Copyright Registrations, Copyright.
5 Copyright Facts
- Copyright cannot be registered in South Africa.
- Once the work is created in a material form, the work is instantly protected by copyright.
- The only form of copyright which can be registered in South Africa, is cinematographic films.
- South African law does not require the use of a copyright symbol (©), although it is beneficial.
- There is no such thing as an international copyright.
Protecting your Copyright
The best way to protect your copyright is to ensure that you have evidence of your rights in the event that your copyright is infringed. We therefore suggest the following:
- Mark your work with your name, titles, dates & times.
- Store electronic copies in a safe place.
- Keep the original works hidden in a safe place.
- Store printed copies of your work in a safe place.
- Keep record of any agreements / e-mails / invoices pertaining to the work.
- Use the copyright © symbol when presenting your work.
- Register for Copyright in the USA.
Copyright is the exclusive right to control the use of a work in all the manners in which it can be exploited for personal gain or profit. This includes the exclusive right to do any of the following with the work: Copy, Publish, Perform in public, Broadcast (e.g. on radio/TV), Adapt, Translate or Let or offer for hire.
Copyright Duration
The duration of copyright in a work depends on the specific type of work. In the case of literary, musical or artistic works, copyright usually endures for 50 years after the death of the author.
Contact details for Smit & Van Wyk:
Tel:
+27 (0) 12 349 7800
E-mail:
enquiries@svw.co.za
Physical Address / Courier:
Block A Apex Corporate Park
Quintin Brand Street
Persequor Technopark
Meiring Naudé Avenue
Pretoria
0184
South Africa
