What Does All Rights Reserved Mean in the UK?

As a business owner, you may wonder how to protect your creative output, such as your marketing materials, website content, or other intellectual property. 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 the copyright to their original work, and no one has the right to copy their content. Many different countries use this phrase. However, 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 essential to note that this phrase does not provide additional legal protection beyond the standard copyright laws in the UK or most countries. Do not 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.

What is the Effect of ”All Rights Reserved” in the UK?

In UK copyright law, “All rights reserved” has no specific legal effect. It is not required for copyright protection, which is automatic upon creation. However, the phrase can:

1. deter casual infringement by clearly stating ownership;

2. demonstrate intent to protect your work if legal action is needed; and

3. be useful for works distributed internationally.

Even without this phrase, you retain all rights granted by UK copyright law. Using it alongside a copyright notice can be prudent. This is especially the case for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions.

What 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, letting 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, as shown in the example above. 

How Do I Use a Copyright Notice?

For websites, a simple copyright notice in the footer suffices: “ABC Limited © 2000. All rights reserved.” Books and publications benefit from a more detailed statement on the copyright page: “ABC Publishing © 2000. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.”

Visual media like photographs and artwork can include a watermark or metadata tag with “© [Artist] [Year]. All rights reserved.” For digital content such as software, apps, or online videos, display the notice in: 

• ‘about’ sections;
• during startup; or
• closing credits.

When it comes to music and audio recordings, include the copyright information in liner notes or metadata. This approach ensures your copyright is asserted across all your creative outputs, providing a clear message to your audience about your intellectual property rights.

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, the copyright for music or other sound recordings lasts 70 years from the date of 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 vary between jurisdictions, so it is advisable to seek local legal advice when dealing with copyright issues abroad.

As a result of these international agreements and treaties, “all rights reserved” is typically not required abroad for your works to be protected.

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 report the issue to the website or service hosting the copied work and request that it be removed. 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.

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 you 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.

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