Authoritative References With Regard To Copyright Law.
For those who wish to delve into copyright more deeply, we offer the following links to public authority and other reputable websites in various countries, which give more precise detail on copyright law. Refer to these references for your own edification, but if you have a copyright problem we suggest you contact a copyright lawyer who has tried cases in your locale for advice.
(We would be grateful for contributions or corrections to this section, specifically current links to the Copyright or Intellectual Property offices of specific countries.)
Supra National Authorities
Attempts to obtain standardisation in copyright laws have led to the adoption of many international treaties among many countries. Many of these treaties and statements of intent do allow for considerable variation in how they may be interpreted by sovereign governments. The most important treaties and statements are listed below.
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
See European Convention on Human Rights, Article 8, Right to Respect for Private and Family Life, and Article 10, Freedom of Expression, have particular relevance for photographers. See Article 8 with relevance to the Moral Right concerning privacy. Article 10 provides for freedom of expression and can be used to resist censorship.
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In particular, note Article 12, the Right to Privacy, and Article 27 (2), the Right to Freedom of Expression. These are relevant for the same reasons mentioned above with regard to the EU Convention On Human Rights.
Copyright Rules by Territory
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Copyright_rules_by_territory
List of Countries’ Copyright Lengths
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries%27_copyright_lengths
Links to Copyright Resources in some Individual Countries (2020)
Australia
- Australian Copyright Act 1968
- Australian Copyright Council – An independent non-profit organisation offering fact sheets and guidance on Australian copyright law.
Belgium
Canada
China, Peoples Republic of
- Images Copyright Society of China
- Copyright law of The Peoples Republic of China (pdf) via WIPO.
- Intellectual Property Rights in China (pdf) – A guide a guide published by the UK Intellectual Property Office.
Denmark
- Ministry of Culture Denmark – English version, listings of the search item, “copyright”.
Eire
France
- Code de la propriété intellectuelle (official site, in French)
- French Intellectual Property Code (semi-official translation)
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Japan
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
- Kopinor, Norwegian Reproduction Rights Organisation – (Norwegian language)
- Copyright Laws and Regulations – Norway
Philippines
Russia
Spain
Sweden
- Swedish Artists’ and Musicians’ Interest Organisation (SAMI) – (Swedish language)
- Copyrights in Sweden – Lexology story about recent developments in copyright (June, 2019).
Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property with access to full legislative detail on copyright.
United Kingdom
- Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 Note that this primary act has been amended by many successive Statutory Instruments and a list of those can be found on Wikipedia.
- UK Intellectual Property Office The UK governments official body responsible for Intellectual Property, of which copyright is a part. Guidance and explanation of copyright law in the UK.
- Design and Artists Copyright Society DACS is a membership based organisation representing 36,000 fine artists and 16,000 photographers, illustrators, craftspeople, cartoonests, architects, animators and designers, including some of the biggest names in contemporary visual arts. Their website has many useful articles and publications relating to copyright.
- United States Copyright Office Comprehensive guide to copyright law in the United States, including how to register photographs.