Auteursrecht
Copyright
Copyright is the exclusive right of the maker of an original work of literature, science or art to reproduce and make that work public.
Copyright arises by operation of law upon the creation of a work and requires no registration or other formalities. It protects the author against unauthorised reproduction, distribution and adaptation of the work, and subsists, in principle, for the author’s lifetime plus seventy years after their death.
The right is of considerable importance in the modern economy, where creative content is rapidly disseminated in digital form. Authors may license, assign or enforce their copyright through civil proceedings in the event of infringement.
In practice, copyright is frequently invoked in disputes relating to software, music, photographs, books and online content, with lawyers regularly acting for both authors and users.
“The photographer invoked his copyright when the newspaper published his photograph without permission.”
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