1 Copyright Law
Let’s start at the beginning with Copyright law. Copyright is protecting, quite literally, the right to copy, and is acknowledged almost everywhere in the world, thanks to most states signing on to the Berne Convention. While the Berne Convention gives general principles or minimum expectations, what makes copyright actually enforceable are national laws. This means there are slight differences between countries in the rights that are protected, for how long they’re protected, and in what ways they are protected. Continue reading for more information about the purpose of copyright.
Comic Version
Text Version of the Comic
Image of blue cartoon robot in a fighting stance in front of two yellow bunnies. Robot says “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!”, while one bunny says “Did you call copyright?” and the other says “No, did you?*” Caption below begins with the * and says “Copyright is applied automatically in most jurisdictions, whether the creator wants it or not”.
Text block: Copyright law exists to protect original, creative works, such as literature, music, visual arts, translations, databases, software, and more! It is literally protecting the right to copy – which includes adaptations, publications, translations and more.
Text block: Protections are intended to incentivize new creations by protecting the economic-, and in many places moral-, rights of creators.
Image of blue cartoon robot fist punching upward beside a copper and a green coloured robot fist which are making the same gesture. Above them is a banner that reads “INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEFENDERS LEAGUE”.
Text block: Copyright law is only one of many Intellectual Property defenders. Two of the others are Trademark Law & Patent Law, which are also intended to protect the rights of creators, giving them power to decide what can be done with their creations. In some cases a work can be protected in multiple ways (ex. A mascot’s image could be protected by both copyright- and trademark-law), but all of these laws are protecting different rights.
Image of blue cartoon robot talking to one of the yellow bunnies. Robot says “Are you sure you don’t need my protection right now?”, and the bunny replies “We’re ok! Education & satire are our friends!” while the other yellow bunny is playing with a jester dressed in an orange and pink costume.
Text block: Copyright law is always there, but over time (and through challenges in court) it has realized that not all situations are dangerous to the works – these are Exceptions & Limitations. Depending on jurisdiction, they include: research, education, satire, criticism, news reporting, and modifying to make the work accessible for a person with a disability.
Image of blue cartoon robot waving goodbye to the yellow bunnies, who are hopping past a sign that reads “You are now entering Public Domain … we’re so glad you’re here!”
Text block: As the creative works get older, copyright law realizes they no longer need protection, and they enter the *Public Domain*. In the public domain anyone can interact with the works without restriction.