copyright

Definition: 'Property right which subsists in original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works' - which includes photographs, which are in turn defined as 'a recording of light or other radiation on any medium on which an image is produced or from which an image may by any means be produced, and which is not part of a film'. * It is the right of control over various uses of an artistic work which only the copyright holder can grant, sell or license to another person or undertaking. * The first owner of any copyright in photograph is 'the author' who is 'the person who creates it' e.g. the photographer, unless contracted otherwise.* The law also grants the first owner certain moral rights including right to object to derogatory treatment of work e.g. addition to, deletion from, alteration or adaptation that amounts to distortion or mutilation of work. * Copyright holder also has right of possession of the work. * Note: copyright does not in itself establish the right to publish, print, etc. * Copyright in photograph expires 70 years 'from the end of the calendar year in which the author dies'. (Quotes are summary extracts from Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended, and not a full statement of the law.)

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