Copyright is the legal term, which describes the rights given to the authors/creators of certain categories of work. In Ireland, copyright protection extends to the following works:
- original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works,
- sound recordings, films,
- broadcasts, cable programmes,
- the typographical arrangement of published editions,
- computer programmes,
- original databases.
In Ireland, there is no registration procedure for owners of a copyright work. It is an unregistered right (unlike patents, registered designs or trade marks). Copyright comes into effect immediately, as soon as something that can be protected is created and fixed in some way, eg on paper, on film, via sound recording, or as an electronic record on the internet, etc.
Basically the act of creating a work also creates the copyright, which then subsists in the physical expression of the work. Copyrights are protected by law and illegal use of these rights can be contested in the Courts, the technical term for this misuse is infringement.
Irish legislation provides for criminal offences and consequently infringers could face both civil liability and criminal convictions.
Professional advice should be sought by copyright owners with regard to the options and the remedies available where infringement of their work occurs. There is no official register for copyright.
How much does it cost?
Since there is no registration procedure there is no cost.
In Ireland, there is no registration procedure for owners of a copyright work.
For additionnal information: Irish Intellectual Property Legislation.
Copyright does not require renewal.
However, the duration of copyright protection varies according to the format of the work. In respect of the following works the term of protection afforded under the Copyright & Related Rights Act 2000, is:
- Literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works : Copyright protection expires 70 years after the death of the author/creator.
- Films : Copyright protection expires 70 years after the last of the following dies, the director, the author of the screenplay, the author of the dialogue of the film, or the author of the music composed for use in the film.
- Sound recordings : Copyright protection expires 50 years after the sound recording is made or if it is made available to the public then 50 years from the date it was made available to the public.
- Broadcasts : Copyright protection expires 50 years after the broadcast is first transmitted.
- The typographical arrangement of a published edition : Copyright protection expires 50 years after the date it is first made available to the public.
- Computer-generated works : Copyright protection expires 70 years after the date it is first made available to the public