Copyright Policy

Copyright is a valuable business asset and protects many different kinds of work including written works, artistic works, photographs, sound recordings, music, software and more.

This Copyright Policy is designed for use within a business and applies to the creation and use of copyright works by the business’s employees, contractors and others working on its behalf.

This policy raises awareness of copyright and sets out guidance on how to ensure that copyright is protected, enforced, and respected.

Key provisions in this policy template set out how copyright protection is established and explain the ownership of copyright. By default, an employer owns the copyright in works created by their employees. Contractors and other third parties will own the copyright in works created for the business, but it should be determined when commissioning such works whether the business will want them to be assigned or licensed to them.

Third Party copyright is addressed in some detail, with optional sections enabling you to set out the particulars of collective licences obtained by the business.

Further specific sections address software and copyright online with particular emphasis on the care required when sharing copyright material on behalf of the business, for example, on social media.

Copyright infringement and the handling of requests from third parties to use copyright works owned by the business are also covered.

Optional phrases / clauses are enclosed in square brackets. These should be read carefully and selected so as to be compatible with one another. Unused options should be removed from the document.

This Copyright Policy contains the following clauses:

1. Introduction
2. Scope of Policy
3. About Copyright
4. Establishing Copyright Protection
5. Ownership of Copyright
6. Third-Party Copyright
7. Software
8. Websites and Social Media
9. Notifying Copyright Infringement
10. Requests to Use Company Copyright
11. Implementation of Policy

Once you have purchased access to the appropriate document folder click on the “Download Document” link below. You will be asked what you want to do with the file. It is recommended that you save the document to a location of your choice prior to viewing.

Copyright Policy is part of Business Documents. Just £35.00 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Business Documents for 1 year.