We provide information, advice and training about copyright in Australia. We also produce publications, do research, and make submissions on copyright policy issues.

The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) was established at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law in the fall of 2003. It is the first legal clinic of its kind in Canada.

This site endeavours to provide access to national copyright and related rights legislation of UNESCO Member States.

This site endeavours to provide access to national copyright and related rights legislation of UNESCO Member States.

Creators and users of copyrighted works should be aware of the differences in intellectual property law between nations. Many works are now distributed internationally or use components from authors in other nations. No international copyright law exists that will protect a work in every country of the world. However, several key international treaties that the US has signed protects works from and within member nations.

This paper examines emerging constitutional doctrines that emphasize the relevance of international copyright relations to the constitutionality of domestic copyright law. One line of judicial reasoning suggests that legislation that protects the interests of foreign authors is consistent with copyright's quid pro quo bargain. Another suggests that rational basis scrutiny can be satisfied by a sufficient showing that the challenged legislation advances the bargaining position of the United States in negotiations over the content of foreign copyright laws.

Full text of the Copyright Treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organization.

The U.S. Copyright Act is found in Title 17 of the U.S. Code and contains the federal statutes governing copyright law in the United States. This index contains links to each of the sections of the Copyright Act found in Title 17.

Copyright law in the U.S. is governed by federal statute, namely the Copyright Act of 1976. The Copyright Act prevents the unauthorized copying of a work of authorship.

The Copyright Society of the USA (CSUSA) is dedicated to advancing the study of copyright law and related rights in literature, music, art, theater, motion pictures, television, computer software, architecture, and other works of authorship, distributed via both traditional and new media.

Signed in Script Type by George Washington. Appearing in The Columbian Centinel of July 17, 1790.

Here is the fundamental legal principle under United States copyright law, by Ivan Hoffman, B.A., J.D.

In 1672 Massachusetts introduced the first copyright law in what was to become the United States of America when it prohibited the making of reprints without the consent of the owner of the copy. As in England, copyright was granted to the printer, not the Creator. Thus the printer John Usher received the first copyright in America granting him the sole right and privilege of publishing the laws of Massachusetts.

A polite assumption would be that people are not aware that copying is unlawful: it is a violation of copyright laws and the property rights of authors. This document gives a brief sketch of the nature of the rights protected by copyright law.

The Copyright Office is proud to be part of a long tradition of promoting progress of the arts and protection for the works of authors.

CopyNight is a monthly social gathering of people interested in restoring balance in copyright law. We meet over drinks once a month in many cities to discuss new developments and build social ties between artists, engineers, filmmakers, academics, lawyers, and many others.

APIC World Wide is dedicated to the continued education of Internet copyright law and enforcement of such law through the co-operation of international, domestic, federal, state, and local statutes, laws, and ordinances.

This paper briefly discusses the role that copyright law might play in the development of China’s creative industries, with reference to China’s own legal and creative traditions, as well as the experiences of people working in today’s domestic film and music industries. The scope of the present law is outlined and the relevance of alternative protection models such as ‘open content licensing’ is considered.

Copyright Research and Infomation Center

Adopted at the Fifteenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on 7 September 1990, and revised in accordance with the Decision on the Amendment of the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on 27 October 2001.

CRIC (Copyright Research & Information Center) was established in 1959 as a public service corporation authorized by the Government, and has been developing its activities and programs on author's right and neighboring rights, coping with social/economic changes. Our services now cover such areas as public awareness raising, information services, seminar/training programs, research/survey, and international cooperation.

These implementing Regulations are formulated pursuant to the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China.

Japanese copyright laws consist of two parts: "Author's Rights", and "Neighboring Rights", and as such, "copyright" is a convenient collective term rather than a single concept in Japan. While, for the most part, Japanese copyright laws are similar to those of other countries, there are some subtle differences.

In 1988, Professor Karjala of Arizona State University and I wrote a long article titled “Fundamental Concepts in Japanese and American Copyright Law”. Therein we took up similar cases in both countries and did a comparative study. We concluded that although there are some differences in reasoning, the courts in both countries reach more or less the same results. Fifteen years have passed, and we found the same conclusions in many cases, but different conclusions in some cases.

Presentation given at the Trading Ideas Symposium, Sydney 29 January 2007.

Since early 2002, ABA Rule of Law Initiative Asia Division has been working to promote good governance and increase public interest advocacy in China. A specific focus of the Asia Division’s early work was to enhance public participation in environmental decision-making.

Copyright and related rights provide an incentive for the creation of and investment in new works and other protected matter (music, films, print media, software, performances, broadcasts, etc.) and their exploitation, thereby contributing to improved competitiveness, employment and innovation. The field of copyright is associated with important cultural, social and technological aspects, all of which have to be taken into account in formulating policy in this field.

The copyright law of the European Union has arisen in an attempt to harmonise the differing copyright laws of European Union member states. It is comprised of a number of Directives, which the member states are obliged to enact into their national laws, and by the judgments of the European Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance.

The Copyright law of the Russian Federation became effective on August 3, 1993. It completely replaced the older Soviet legislation that had been in effect until then. The new Copyright law of 1993 was based upon WIPO model laws and followed the continental European tradition: it clearly separated economic and moral rights, and it included detailed provisions for neighbouring rights.

The droit d'auteur (or French copyright law) developed in the eighteenth century at the same time as copyright developed in the United Kingdom. Based on the "right of the author" (droit d'auteur) instead of on "copyright", its philosophy and terminology are different from those used in copyright law in common law jurisdictions. It has been very influential in the development of copyright laws in other civil law jurisdictions, and in the development of international copyright law such as the Berne Convention.

Version published on 9 September 1965, as last amended on 8 May 1998. Translation provided by the International Bureau of WIPO.

This chapter explores the current level of harmonisation in copyright and related rights law as resulting from the action of the European legislator in order to establish a legal framework fostering production and distribution of contents, and promoting the cultural industries growth. From the survey of the community directives constituting the current aquis communautaire and the analysis of their implementation emerging trends and pitfalls raise doubts as to the consistency of the assumptions underlying the current copyright law policy of the European Union (EU).

Spanish copyright law governs copyright in Spain. It was first instituted by the Law of 10 January 1879, and, in its origins, was influenced by French copyright law and by the movement led by Émile Zola for the international protection of literary and artistic works. As of 2006, the principal dispositions are contained in Book One of the Intellectual Property Law of 11 November 1987 as modified. A consolidated version of this law was approved by Royal Legislative Decree 1/1996 of 12 April 1996.

This guide sets out what copyright law covers and the level of protection it gives. It tells you what to do if you think there has been a copyright infringement and explains the importance of respecting other people's copyright.

The UK copyright law fact sheet outlines the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the principal legislation covering intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom and the work to which it applies.