IPR
Intellectual Property (IP) is any tangible result of having an idea and can be protected for the owner under a number of different IP rights (IPR) including patent, design, trademark and copyright law. Information about the types and scope of IPR can be found at the UK government’s Intellectual Property Office web site.
The JISC funded Web2Rights project has considered the use of Web 2.0 technologies in Higher and Further Education and the implications they might have on IPR and other legal issues. The Web2Rights project site is an excellent resource for understanding IPR in the developing digital world, and includes animations, podcasts, diagnostic kits and flow charts.
Web2Rights – the animation. Check out this JISC funded animation: Intellectual Property Rights in the Web 2.0 world also available on the JISC website. The six-minute animation is accessible and colourful, portraying in a light-hearted way some of the issues involved via three typical case studies: a researcher, a lecturer and a student. These examples pinpoint areas where confusion exists, or even where many may not consider IPR to be an issue at all, and signpost back to the online diagnostic tool for further guidance and information. (from Web2Rights)
Copyright
Copyright is granted automatically and does not involve an application process. Copyright protects the skill and effort expended in creating something new, and protects literary works, images, music, moving images, films, TV and radio broadcasts, sound recordings and databases, amongst others. Copyright and/or the closely related database right protect all Web sites. The lifetime of copyright is typically 70 years after the death of the creator. Unlike the other forms of IPR, there are significant exceptions to the monopoly rights enjoyed by a copyright owner, allowing third parties to copy, adapt and disseminate copyright materials under certain controlled circumstances, e.g., for non-commercial research or private study. There are a number of other rights traditionally associated with copyright but which are distinct from it, including database rights, performers’ rights and moral rights. (from Web2Rights IP and Web 2.0 Factsheet at http://www.web2rights.org.uk/documents.html)
A factsheet summarising the key aspects of copyright law in very accessible language can be found at Fact sheet P-01: UK Copyright Law. The duration of protections specific to the type of work can be seen in section 6 of the fact sheet. Restrictions to what may be done with a work, for example copying or broadcasting are prohibited, can be seen in section 7, and allowed uses including time shifting of broadcasts or making backup copies of computer programmes are listed in section 8.
If you work or study at Plymouth University then Graham Titley, the Document Delivery & Copyright Librarian, Learning and Research Support, is available to “provide advice, guidance and training to all staff and students on Copyright”.
The content of this page is for information and guidance only. It does not constitute legal advice.