Canadian Legal FAQS- Copy-gen

Copy-gen

What is copyright?
What does copyright protect?
Why does the law recognize copyright?
What has to be done to create copyright?
Does copyright last forever?
Who does copyright belong to?
What about the materials I produce during my work day? Do I own the copyright in these?
Can copyright be transferred?
Who protects the copyright in a work? For example, if I hold the copyright in a short story, and someone else publishes it, will the government step in to protect my copyright?
Does copyright have to be registered to be protected?
I see various copyright notices on all kinds of materials. Does that mean that those materials have been registered or have some special protection?
What is a literary work?
What is a dramatic work?
What is a musical work?
If I told a movie producer about an idea I have for a screenplay, would my idea be protected by copyright law?
How can one work create different kinds of copyright?
Are there any requirements to be an author of a work protected by copyright?
I recently purchased a CD of a symphony orchestra playing classical music by Beethoven. Beethoven composed his symphonies more than 150 years ago. Does that mean that the copyright in his music has expired? Can I copy that CD recording and sell it?

Funding for this section was provided by the Sandra Garvie Memorial Fund.

More Copyright FAQs:

Retrieved from "http://www.law-faqs.org/wiki/index.php/Copy-gen"

Back

These FAQs cover the law at the time these questions were prepared. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of these FAQs. However, laws change and every situation is different, so do not take action using this information without consulting a lawyer.