Copyright means that you have done the work and adding copyright means that no-one can use it.
The legal penalties for copyright infringement are:
- Infringer pays the actual pound amount of damages and profits.
- The law provides a range from £200 to £150,000 for each work infringed.
- Infringer pays for all attorneys fees and court costs.
- The Court can issue an injunction to stop the infringing acts.
- The Court can impound the illegal works.
- The infringer can go to jail.
Copyright is the mechanism used to protect an individuals or organisation’s material, identity or “inventions” from being copied and exploited by others.
Copyright is necessary because much time and effort can be expended in the development of a process, or a product and it is reasonable to allow the inventor time and a period of protection to recoup the cost for their time and the development costs.
Copyright is also very important in protecting an image or “brand”. In the case of a company selling goods, this image can be an indication of quality and value. Any copying of products, or infringing on copyright has the ability to inflict severely damage on the originators image with subsequent loss of trade.
Copyright is often “intellectual” property, ideas or designs as well as patents (“registered designs”) and logos and trademarks.
Copyright protection is provided in law. In the UK, this is provided by the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988.
Source for this and other information on Copyright can be found at:
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