Copyright Solicitors
We offer smart copyright management and protection services to clients at a cost effective rate.
Intl. Copyright Lawyers
Copyright protection is essential if you want to make sure that others do not take advantage of your original, creative and intellectual creation. Copyright in simple terms means a right to copy a work. Copyright work is categorised according to:
- original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic;
- film, sound recordings and broadcasts; and
- typographical arrangements.
Every business has copyright work that they possess. Although copyright may seem like the simplest form of intellectual property (IP) that does not require registration unlike trade marks, copyright law can be highly complex. At Freeman Harris, we have developed an expertise in dealing with copyright law matters from copyright disputes arising from infringement to assignment and licensing of copyright.
How can Freeman Harris’s Copyright Lawyers help you with your matter?
We can directly help you in the UK or EU with your copyright matter. From enforcing your copyright to helping you set up licenses of your copyright works. Best of all, our London based copyright lawyers offer this legal service at a reasonable fee, so you don’t have to worry about the finances.
Copyright laws differ between jurisdictions, but we work with a network of associates who cover all major markets. Our Copyright solicitors can offer advice on copyright ownership, infringement and fair use. We can also help you leverage copyright with third parties.
Recent Copyright Work
- Acted on behalf of an emerging fashion label working with the likes of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton whose copyright work was being used by another company without permission to promote their work.
- Advised a popular author in a niche area about issues arising from their contract with a major publishing house (Penguin Books).
- Defended a claim of copyright infringement by one of the leading online course providers.
- Advised a popular rapper on their rights over music videos shot by their production company and managed by a third party online.
If you have a copyright dispute or would like us to provide advice on copyright, please contact us, and we will outline the service we can offer, and the associated costs.
Copyright Solicitors Team
Talha Fazlani
LitigatorTalha is a litigator with a speciality in dealing with commercial matters. He has completed his PG Cert in Intellectual Property and assists with complex copyright matters.Ian Freeman
Managing DirectorIan has a great understanding of contract drafting especially for commercial purposes, and can assist SME’s with their legal needs.Abdul Hafezi
Senior SolicitorAbdul carries out a broad range of legal work which include contract drafting and reviewing.
Copyright Law Fees
Common Copyright Questions
- What is copyright?
Copyright arises automatically; it is essentially the right to reproduce (i.e. copy), sell, licence and otherwise exploit ‘creative work’ for a period of time that varies according to the type of creative work produced.
You automatically get copyright protection when you create:
- original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work (drawing, illustration and photography)
- original non-literary written work, such as software, web content etc.
- sound and musical recordings
- film and television recordings as well as broadcasts
- How long does copyright protection last for?
There are different rules for the different categories of copyrights. For author or creators of original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, the copyright would lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. If there are joint authors, then the lifetime applies until both authors pass away.
For any broadcasts (TV, radio or online) and computer generated works, copyright lasts for 50 years from the time the work was created.
Sound recordings last for 50 years from creation, and 70 years from publishing or being made available to the public.
For films, the copyright lasts for 70 years from the death of the director and/or other principals.
- Are there types of copyright infringement?
There are two types of copyright infringement:
- Primary infringement – this occurs when a person conducts any restricted acts without the permission of the copyright holder. This could be distributing another person’s copyrighted work without permission as an example.
- Secondary infringement – this occurs ‘further down the supply chain’ where infringing copyrighted works are dealt with or their production facilitated.
- What are the restricted acts only a copyright owner can conduct?
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988) provides the copyright owner exclusive rights in the UK to conduct the following restricted acts:
- copy the work
- issue (distribute) copies of the work to the public
- rent or lend the work
- perform, show or play the work in public
- communicate the work, and
- adapt it, or do any of the above restricted acts in relation to an adaptation
Any individual who isn’t the copyright owner and conducts any of the acts above, either directly or through another person, would be infringing a copyright.
- I am being pursued for trade mark infringement. What should I do?
Contact our Copyright Solicitors Team
A little about you and what you need will help us with our response.