We started last month advising on various aspects of Intellectual Property Law. Intellectual Property Law (IPL) covers many areas and it is important that you consult with an attorney well versed in such matters to ascertain exactly which area of IPL you ned to be dealing with.
Copyright law
This month we are still focussing on Intellectual Property law and an integral part of this is Copyrights. What do these entail? Well, Copyrights essentially protect original works of authorship like literary, music, dramatic and choreographic works.
Copyrights can also include sculptural, pictorial, and graphic works, sound recordings, artistic works, architectural works and computer software. Copyrights must be thoroughly protected, so it is best to work with a Copyright Attorney to get advice on this.
For how long does copyright apply?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions as copyright protection is often a part of one’s legacy beyond death. Once copyright protection is obtained only the Author of the work has the right to change, distribute, perform, display and copy the work, but obviously there is a lifespan to this and that’s why we are so often asked for exactly how long copyright applies.
Copyright duration depends on a number of factors but, in general, literary, musical and artistic works, except for photographs, is fifty years in South Africa from the end of the year of the author’s death, or fifty years from publication if it is first published after the author’s death. Thereafter, however, it cannot be renewed.
The Father to Son legacy
On the subject of creating a legacy, we should always remember that all the hard work we put into protecting our intellectual property and our copyrights are pointless if the legacy we leave our children amounts to nothing in the end.
It is fitting that we celebrate Youth Day and Father’s Day in the same month – as Fathers are so critical to the well-being and upbringing of their young. It is also appropriate, therefore, that Fathers remember that the future of their children and their legacy is only as good as the Will that they have left behind.
Why is a Will so important?
There are untold complications, delays and unnecessary expenditure if no Will is found and this is certainly not something you want to leave your family to deal with once you are gone. Talk to us about drawing up a solid and uncomplicated Will today. The costs are minimal and the benefits massive!
We at Glenn Rooseboom Attorneys Inc. pay homage to both Fathers and our youth this month and wish to remind you that whenever rights need to be protected or fought for, we are there for you. View our wide range of services here – Services – Glenn Rooseboom Inc – Attorneys | Notaries | Conveyancers (grinc.co.za) – and remember that legal protection means peace of mind!
