Copyright

What is Copyright?

Copyright is one's legal rights of exclusive use of materials given to its author. So once a material is copyrighted, it means, you cannot claim such material to be yours nor reproduce or distribute without prior permission from its author. It somehow gives you a protection from stealing your ideas and works.

How does Copyright works?

Every country have their own way of protecting a persons legal rights. And copyright is protected through each country's version of Copyright Law. Copyright Law's may vary from country to country but represent close to similar terms on protecting and defining an authors right on its creation.

Who is given Copyrights?

 First person given with this right, is the author itself. As for employer to contractor relation, The one with the copyright is the employer rather than its contractor.

How long will I have my rights?

For most countries, copyright starts from the day of the development until such time it is stated in the Copyright Law. Mostly its 70 years after the author is deceased.

How will I know if its Copyrighted? 

In every work that is copyrighted, there will be a copyright symbol © followed by the year it had started its development.

Copyright Infringement

There are several types of copyright infringement. It starts with unauthorized copying, distributing of audio videos like song albums and movies. Using trademark of well know dignitaries without prior permission. Patent Infringement or using of an invention that is prohibited to be used. So on and so forth.

Through the years, lots of copyright infringement had been filed. Most recent and popular was when Apple sued Psystar last 2008. Pystar that time was selling computers, or most call it "Open Computers" that allows Mac  OS Leopard which was developed by Apple to be installed to a personal computer. Also, they began to sell Mac OS that can be installed on a non Mac hardware home computer. Apple then sued Psystar for violating the end-user license agreement for Mac OS prohibiting third party installation. By then, Psystar counter-sued Apple for anti-competitive and copyright misuse. After several trials, Apple won and Psystar was forced to pay for damages.

Why should I be aware of this?

For you to know your rights and claim what is yours. Also, for you to know that copying from others intellectual that is copyrighted is strictly prohibited by law. By knowing our rights and other peoples rights, we can minimize the unfairness of rights in the world. We can avoid people or legislators to create laws that could endanger our rights. Just like what happen recently, the SOPA and PIPA issue. I believe it wouldn't have happened if we weren't ignorant enough of others rights.