This guide is created for information only and does not constitute legal advice.
This guide was co-created by Kimmy, Debby and Afida.
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Copyright is a collection of rights automatically granted to someone who creates an original work like a text book, a song, a movie, a game, or an app. The copyright owner is granted exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, perform, communicate, and adapt their work. These rights are granted even if the copyright symbol © does not appear on the work.
(Adapted from the definition by the Copyright Alliance and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore) |
Copyright protects the expression of ideas in tangible form. In Singapore, an author automatically enjoys copyright protection as soon as they create and express their work in a tangible form. No registration is required to get copyright protection.
The following are protected by copyright law:
Content creators are the default copyright owners. However, the content creator can sign an agreement giving another party the copyright.
For instance, the author may transfer their rights to a publisher as a condition of publication - in which case the publisher owns the copyright of that work. For example, many journal publishers hold the copyright to the articles they publish.
In general, the copyright protection periods in Singapore are as follows:
Source: IPOS Copyright Fact Sheet
Works in the public domain can be freely used, adapted, and built on by everyone without obtaining permission. The following are a few types of work in the public domain:
Please note that the issue of public domain is not always clear-cut. For example, George Romero's cult film classic, The Night of the Living Dead, is in the public domain but the music from the film is not.
Moral rights are a set of non-transferrable rights that are normally included within the bundle of rights under copyright. These rights exist to protect the creator for ethical reasons. There are three types of moral rights:
Performers and authors of literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works have the right to be identified whenever their work or performance is used. This is known as the Right of Attribution and it lasts for the duration of the copyright protection period. The moral right of attribution requires, at the very least, that the author be named.
Intellectual Property (IP) is made up of Copyright and Industrial Property.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) - the legal rights given to a person over their creations, and divided into 2 main areas: |
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Copyright | Industrial Property |
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Royalty Free is not the same as Copyright Free.
Royalty Free
Copyright Free