Copyright, databases & associated rights

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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Latest EU Law News

EU adopts regulation streamlining financial services reporting requirements

The European Parliament and Council have adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/… of 8 October 2025 amending Regulations (EU) No 1092/2010, (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010, (EU) No 1095/2010, (EU) No 806/2014, (EU) 2021/523 and (EU) 2024/1620 regarding reporting requirements in financial services and investment support (otherwise known as the Better Data Sharing Regulation). The regulation introduces new information sharing obligations between EU financial authorities including the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), Single Resolution Board (SRB), European Central Bank (ECB) and the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA), implementing a 'report once' principle whereby authorities must request information from other authorities rather than directly from financial institutions where possible. The regulation requires European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) to prepare a feasibility study for a cross-sectoral integrated reporting system within 60 months, establish a permanent single contact point for reporting duplicative requirements, and grants authorities discretionary powers to share anonymised information with researchers for innovation purposes. The regulation also changes InvestEU Programme reporting frequency from biannual to annual and mandates authorities to review and propose removal of redundant reporting requirements within 24 months.

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