About Copyright

There isn't an official registration procedure or place to register your copyright ownership, as copyright is an unregistered right requiring no official action to effect.

Copyright comes into effect immediately as soon as something is created, and whilst registering your ownership isn't necessary it's a good idea to mark your work with a copyright symbol ©.

How do I copyright my work?

Copyright is automatic in the UK. Unlike some other forms of intellectual property, you don't have to apply for it and there's no register of copyright holders.

In practice, however, it can be difficult to enforce legally.

It's a good idea to mark your work with the international copyright symbol © followed by your name and the year of creation. This can:

• have a deterrent effect on potential infringers

• help your case in any future infringement proceedings

Other ways in which you can help prove your authorship of an original work, and so underpin your copyright, are:

• leaving a dated copy of your work with a bank or solicitor

• posting a copy of your work to yourself by special delivery and leaving the dated package unopened