Copyright is the exclusive right to reproduce or authorise others to reproduce artistic, dramatic, literary, or musical works. It is conferred by the Copyright Act (1988), which also extends to sound broadcasting, cinematograph films, and television broadcasts. Copyright lasts for the author' s lifetime plus 50 years from the end of the year in which he died (or from the end of the year in which a film or broadcast was made); it can be assigned or transmitted on death. The principal remedies for breach of copyright are an action for damages and account of profits or an injunction. It is a criminal offence to make or deal in articles that infringe a copyright.
The law of copyright was first made in 1814, and enacted that an author should possess a right in his work for life, or for twenty-eight years. If he died before the expiration of twenty-eight years, the residue of the right passed to the heirs. However, to be protected eleven copies of the work had to have been given for public use.
In 1842 the time was extended to forty-two years , and at least seven years after the death of the author. Protection being afforded to work with five copies or more provided for public use. Research Copyright
Abbreviations
General Information
Research Copyright