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Copyright Dealing & Protection

Copyright can be a valuable asset for businesses and individuals, particularly in creative, digital, publishing, software and media-related work. These documents help copyright owners deal with copyright as a commercial asset: licensing it, assigning it, protecting it and enforcing it.

This collection includes copyright legal templates and guidance notes for common copyright transactions and protection issues, from straightforward licences and assignments to infringement notices and takedown procedures.

Licensing or transferring copyright

A copyright licence allows the owner to retain ownership while permitting another party to use the work on agreed terms, often in return for a royalty or licence fee. A copyright assignment is used where ownership of the copyright is being transferred.

The collection also includes more specific copyright licences for photographs, illustrations, quotations and extracts, helping users match the document to the type of work and intended use.

Protecting copyright and responding to infringement

The copyright protection documents support owners who need to identify infringement, send a first formal notice, or operate a notice and takedown process for online material.

These documents are aimed at practical first steps: understanding copyright enforcement, putting an alleged infringer on notice, and managing complaints about material hosted or published online.

Managing copyright inside a business

The Copyright Policy helps businesses set internal expectations for copyright created or used by employees, contractors and others working on their behalf.

Other intellectual property document templates available from Simply-Docs include those for trade marks and patents.

Copyright Dealing & Protection is part of Business . Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Business for 1 year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does copyright last? +
For literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, copyright generally lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years from the end of the year of death. Other categories, such as sound recordings, broadcasts and films, run for different periods. Because terms are long and depend on the type of work, check the position before assuming something is out of copyright and free to use.
I want to let someone use my copyright work but keep ownership. What do I need? +
Use a copyright licence. It lets another party use the work on agreed terms while you stay the owner, usually in return for a fee or royalty. A licence can be exclusive or non-exclusive and limited by time, territory, format or purpose, so you control exactly how the work is used. This is the right document where you want to permit use without giving up the copyright itself.
How do I transfer ownership of copyright to someone else? +
Use a copyright assignment. To be effective an assignment must be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the copyright owner. It can be partial, covering only some of the rights or only part of the copyright term, or it can transfer the whole copyright. Once assigned, the new owner holds the copyright, so be clear about exactly what is transferred before you sign.
Do I need to register my copyright in the UK? +
No. There is no copyright register in the UK. Copyright arises automatically when a qualifying original work is created and recorded, so you do not apply or pay a fee for it. Marking the work with the copyright symbol, your name and the year and keeping dated records of creation will help you prove ownership later if there is a dispute. Registration schemes you may see advertised are not a legal requirement.
Someone is using my work online without permission. What can I do? +
Start by putting the infringer on notice. A copyright infringement notice sets out your rights and requires them to stop, and for material hosted online a notice and takedown request can ask the host or platform to remove it. These practical first steps often resolve matters without court action. This sub-folder includes the notices and a takedown procedure, and you can escalate to a cease and desist letter or legal action if needed.
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