Table of Contents
- Meaning of ‘All Rights Reserved’
- Misconceptions About “All Rights Reserved”
- What Does Copyright Protect?
- Copyright Notices
- How Long Does Copyright Last?
- Licensing or Selling Your Copyright
- Are My Works Protected Internationally By Copyright?
- What If Somebody Copies My Material?
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
In Short
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‘All rights reserved’ has no legal significance in UK copyright law but can serve as a deterrent to infringers.
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Copyright protection is automatic as soon as you create a work, whether you use a copyright notice or not.
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Including a copyright notice, such as © [business name] [year], is a practical way to assert your ownership.
Tips for Businesses
Including a copyright notice on your creative works can help protect your business and show others that your content is protected. Remember, copyright protection starts automatically when you create something original, so there’s no need to register it. If you do want to sell or license your work, it’s an asset you can leverage.
As a business owner, you may be wondering how you can protect your creative output, such as your marketing copyright or website content. When viewing content, you may have seen the term ‘all rights reserved. ’ You might wonder what it means and whether you should include this statement in your business’ publications. To help, this article will explain what ‘all rights reserved’ means and the best way to protect your business’ copyright.
Meaning of ‘All Rights Reserved’
The term ‘all rights reserved’ is a blanket statement that people use to indicate that they own copyright over original work, and no one has the right to copy their content. Many different countries use this phrase, but it has no legal significance in UK copyright law. It is not necessary to display any form of message or copyright notice on a piece of work in the UK. A copyright holder has protection and rights under copyright law, regardless of whether they display a statement on that work.
However, in practice, including a copyright notice on all works you make available to the general public is a very sensible idea. Including a statement like this, or the copyright symbol (©), emphasises that your content has copyright and that you will enforce the law against infringers. Therefore, ‘all rights reserved’ can put potential infringers off reproducing your material.
Misconceptions About “All Rights Reserved”
Many business owners misunderstand the meaning of “All Rights Reserved”. It is important to know that this phrase does not give you extra legal protection beyond standard copyright law in the UK or most countries. Don’t worry if you have forgotten to use it – your work is still protected by copyright as soon as you create it. However, including the phrase can serve as a warning to potential infringers.
Continue reading this article below the formWhat Does Copyright Protect?
Copyright protection applies to creative and literary works. For example, you probably have a website with content you or an employee wrote. You may also have some graphics or illustrations that you use in your business. Copyright protects these things and other creative works such as music, literary works, art, photographs and films. Your copyright rights are automatic and start from the moment you create such work. Therefore, unlike other forms of intellectual property, you do not need to register it.
Copyright Notices
Although copyright is automatic, including a formal copyright notice on all works you create is a good idea. This notice should include your business name, the copyright symbol and the year you made the work.
You have copyright over your material, whether you include a copyright notice or not. However, a copyright notice informs viewers of the owner and their legal rights and lets them know that you are also aware of your rights. You can also include ‘all rights reserved’ if you wish to. Many creators include this statement and a copyright notice like the example above.
How Long Does Copyright Last?
In most cases, you will have copyright ownership for your lifetime plus 70 years. Some types of work have slightly different copyright lengths. For example, copyright for music or other sound recordings lasts 70 years from their first publication.
Licensing or Selling Your Copyright
Even if you include a statement like ‘all rights reserved’ on your creative output, this does not prevent you from selling the copyright or permitting someone to use your work. Your copyright is an asset, just like any other physical asset of your business. Therefore, you can make money off of it if you wish.
Are My Works Protected Internationally By Copyright?
Generally, works created in the UK are protected in most countries worldwide. Key agreements set out minimum standards among World Trade Organisation members, such as:
- the Berne Convention;
- the WIPO Copyright Treaty for digital works; and
- Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
However, while these agreements provide a framework, enforcement can be challenging due to varying legal systems. The scope of protection and exceptions may differ between jurisdictions, so you should consider seeking local legal advice when dealing with copyright issues abroad.
What If Somebody Copies My Material?
If you find that someone copied your material, the first step is to gather evidence of their copying. You can then complain directly to the person who has copied your work. Additionally, you can complain to the website or service hosting the copied work and ask them to remove it. Platforms like Facebook and YouTube make it very easy to report copyright infringement and take steps to remove the material.
If you cannot remove the infringing copies, you can file a legal claim through the Intellectual Property Office or the courts.
LegalVision’s Trade Mark Essentials Guide provides valuable information for any business looking to register or enforce a trade mark.
Key Takeaways
You can use the term ‘All Rights Reserved’ to indicate that you hold copyright over your creative works. However, this term has no legal effect in the UK. Whether you choose to use this term or not, you should also include a copyright notice on your work to indicate that you or your business owns the copyright.
If you need help with copyright matters, our experienced intellectual property lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
‘All rights reserved’ is a phrase that demonstrates to your audience that your work has copyright and that you have exclusive rights to use it. The term does not have any legal meaning in UK copyright law. Whether you choose to use this term or not, it is a good idea to include a copyright notice on all works that you make publicly available.
Copyright in the UK is an automatic right, and you do not need to register it in any way. However, to enforce your copyright if you need to, it is essential to keep evidence of when you create an original work. This is as simple as keeping the original file for works you create on a computer, since it documents the date and time of creation. In addition, you can securely file a signed and dated copy of printed works.
Copyright ownership generally lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus 70 years. Some types of work, like music or other sound recordings, have a copyright duration of 70 years from their first publication.
Yes, it is a good idea to include a formal copyright notice on all works you create. This notice should include your business name, the copyright symbol (©), and the year you made the work (e.g., ‘ABC Limited © 2000’).
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