Copyright, databases & associated rights

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This subtopic provides an overview of copyright, databases & associated rights under EU law.

The World Intellectual Property Office defines intellectual property (IP) as 'creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; design; and symbols, names and images used in commerce'. Broadly, the aim of IP law is to cultivate an environment in which creativity and invention can flourish. Protection of IP rights means those that invest time and resource in creating and developing IP can reap benefit from their investment. By registering (where necessary), maintaining and enforcing IP rights, a rights holder can prevent people stealing or copying valuable assets.

The four most common IP rights are:

  1. •

    copyright, databases & associated rights

  2. •

    designs

  3. •

    patents, and

  4. •

    trade marks

This subtopic focuses on copyright, databases & associated rights. Copyright recognises the skill and labour and the 'creative stamp' expended by an author in creating a work. Copyright is, put simply, a right to copy a work (the copyright owner may also restrict acts other than copying). In practice, one work tends to give rise to multiple copyrights.

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