Who owns copyright?
Answer
The copyright in a work initially belongs to the author(s) who created that work. When two or more authors create a single work with the aim of merging their contributions into interdependent parts of a unitary whole, the authors are considered joint authors and have a joined interest in the work as a whole. By contrast, if multiple authors contribute to a collective work, each author’s individual contribution is separate and distinct from the copyright ownership in the collective work as a whole.
Exceptions
- Work created during the course and scope of employment under contract of service or apprenticeship
- The commissioning of certain specified works e.g. photographs, the painting or drawing of a portrait
- Author is employed by newspaper, magazine or similar periodical and an artistic or literary work is made for the purpose of publication in such periodical
- Works made under the direction or control of the State or such International organisation