FAQs about Intellectual Property
What is copyright ?
Copyright is a type of intellectual property which can be bought or sold. It gives the authors of certain types of material rights to control ways their material can be utilised. The owners of copyright can grant a licence to others to use their works. These rights cover copying, distributing, adapting, communicating to the public by electronic transmission, renting and performing in public.
The creator (author) is generally the first owner of copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work. The principal director and the film producer are joint authors and first owners of copyright in a film. If the work or film is made in the course of employment, it is the employer who owns the copyright. The record producer, broadcaster or publisher normally own the copyright in sound recordings, broadcasts and published editions.
Copyright protection is automatic so there are no formalities involved.
What’s the importance of Confidentiality agreements ?
A confidentiality agreement is an essential contract for an individual or a business that wants to protect confidential information. They are frequently used when signing up independent contractors. The party to confidentiality agreement is required to keep the information received as confidential when they make an agreement with another party.
The most important provisions in the agreement should clearly define what information is protected by the agreement, the purpose for disclosure when information is revealed to another individual or business, and the period of confidentiality. The agreement will be legally binding once it is signed.
It is recommended to make a written confidentiality agreement to an oral one. This is due to the fact that the court may find the existence of an oral agreement difficult to prove.