Copyright in Literary work Literary works is protected by copyright law as they are present in physical form. Literary works include anthologies, novels, books, magazines, newspapers, journals computer software and programmes, letters, e-mails, poetry, lyrics of songs, tables and compilations. Literary works are not only limited to the above-mentioned material but also an abstract, encyclopaedia entries, dictionary meanings and individual poems are also protected under copyright laws.
Duration of Copyright
In a case of copyright-related to literary work both published as well as unpublished the creator/author owns the protection under copyright which extends to their lifetime in addition to 60 years after his demise.
2. Copyright in dramatics
Dramatics includes dance, mime covering screenplays, ballets, operas etc. Copyright in the field of dramatic protects the creators, composers, choreographers, dramatists, poets, author and other from duplication of their work.
The different types of published and unpublished work may be submitted for registration under copyright law including pantomimes, treatments, plays, choreography and scripts prepared for radio, cinema and television. It may be with music or without music.
In usual, dramatic scripts are intended to be performed involving spoken text, plot and direction of action etc. Therefore, it needs to be understood that all the dramatic work can’t be registered for copyright. A few dramatic works are an exception to it as mentioned:
To get the copyright of a dramatic work, a copy of:
All these are treated as a physical script. The registration of these work gets effected from the day from when all the above-mentioned material is submitted in the Copyright Office in the prescribed format.
3. Copyright in Musical Work
Musical work as the term suggests a work which consists of music and for the work to be musical it requires a mixture of graphical notations. However, it excludes any actions or words which are required to be sung/ spoken with the music.
Composer
The author of the musical work is called composer. A composer is a person who composes the music irrespective of the fact that the music is recorded in any of the suitable form of graphical notations or neither of them.
Duration of copyright
The copyright protects the musical work which extends to the lifetime of the author/owner in addition to the 60 years after the owner dies. Whatever, in case of joint authorship the same duration is counted after the death of the last owner.
4. Copyright in cinematograph films
Cinematograph films include many of activities as mentioned:
Stages of protection of cinematography under copyright law.
Pre-production
Before any film is produced a large number of preparations is being done which included casting and crewing, shoot schedule, location, rehearsals, scripting, screenplay etc. and therefore it needs very stringent rules and a legal regulation such that nothing can be duplicated.
Post-production
Once the film is released it becomes the prime necessity to protect it from duplication.
Rights of the owner
Another interesting fact in this topic is related to piracy which is called as ‘copyleft’. The owner has the right to avoid it and sue the person who conducts the work of piracy.
