Copyright protects the work itself.

Copyright arises automatically when an original work is created and fixed in a material form. There is no application to file before protection begins. In practice that means ownership is settled by facts and by contracts rather than by a register — which is exactly why it is so often disputed, and so often discovered too late.

At COEUR IP we advise creators, publishers, broadcasters, agencies, software developers and brand owners on who owns what, what has been licensed, what may be exploited and on what terms, and what to do when a work is used without permission.

Where a jurisdiction provides for voluntary deposit or registration, we advise on whether it is worth using and handle the filing. Where royalties are involved, we deal with the collective management organisations that administer them.

• Ownership & subsistence — Advice on whether copyright protects a work at all, and on who owns it.
• Assignments & licences — Drafting and negotiating copyright assignments, licences and commissioning terms.
• Staff & freelancers — Making sure work created by employees, contractors and agencies belongs where you think it does.
• Voluntary registration — Deposit and registration in jurisdictions that provide for it.
• Collective management — Dealing with collecting societies and royalty arrangements.
• Infringement & enforcement — Takedowns, cease-and-desist and copyright proceedings before the courts.