Each person who creates something that has artistic or literal value must protect it, using the copyright system. The copyright system ensures that a certain artistic work has legal rights. Examples of artistic works are photographs, paintings, drawings, or everything that is visual; other examples include music or choreography, and even computer programs or different designs.
People's creativity can be protected with the use of copyright. Copyright ensures that your work is recognized and sometimes it can bring you different financial rewards. People who have created artistic work will be sure that copyright will protect them if their work is copied, distributed or used without their permission. Also, another important aspect of copyright is that it will improve culture quality, entertainment and artistic knowledge all over the globe.
Everybody who creates something knows how much time and financial investment it needs. Also, a creation can only be made public through distribution and with the help of the media. Media means any form of publication, recordings, films, etc. Some people use the royalties system; it means that they will sell their work to a company that can use its marketing to obtain profits by selling their products.
All economic rights that are given to specific companies last fifty years after the death of the inventor, this fact is stated in the WIPO(World Intellectual Property Organization). But if someone needs a longer period, it is possible if that is established by the national law. This law assures that inventors and their relatives will benefit from their creation over a certain amount of time. This copyright protection also ensures moral rights; inventors will claim their authorship and will have the right to oppose any changes that can ruin their reputation.
Each country has its own national legislation, which gives the copyright and other rights to people. International treaties may have some of the national laws applied to make sure that there is no discrimination when granting rights to the creators. If you need more information about this, you should check the National Copyright Administration or CLEA (Collection of Laws For Electronic Access).
The organization named WIPO has administrated many laws and treaties which have connection with the intellectual property rights, government assistance, and any type of requests. They also give advice to people or different non governmental organizations. However, you should consult a copyright lawyer if you want more information.
Even before official procedures were introduced copyrights existed. In the Berne Convention it is stated that artistic works are protected without any official procedures, and they are protected now if the country recognizes and uses this convention.
WIPO has no system for copyright registration; this can be done in copyright offices in each country. Every country has laws which protect artistic works. Copyright is useful when making a difference between two works, or it may be used in courts when copyright disputes happen.
Trademarks are words, names and symbols that are used as a signature for a company or business in order to make sure that people recognize their products. The brand name is the one who defines a trademark.
Although trademark registration has not been made necessary by the government, there are some advantages that people can obtain when registering their trademark. If you want to have an international registration for your trademark you must first register it locally. The advantages of having your trademark registered are constituted by the rights you are given. Also, people should know that copyright and trademarks are different because it helps them with various legal issues.
Your Trademark Law explains everything you need to know about trademarks, copyrights, and patents. It is your personal reference to protecting your business.