Guidelines and procedures
Works protected by copyright
There are four categories of works:
Literary Works (including computer programs)
- journal articles, books, novels, poems, essays, short stories, song lyrics, technical reports, tables, training manuals, instruction manuals etc.
- the material does not necessarily have a ‘literary’ quality. Compilations such as anthologies, directories and, databases are also protected.
Dramatic Works
- plays, film scripts, screenplays and other work intended to be performed such as choreography, mime etc.,
Musical Works
- both the written musical notes (a musical work) and the words (a literary work).
Artistic Works
- paintings, drawings, cartoons, sculpture, craft work, photographs, design drawings, maps and plans.
- the material does not necessarily have an 'artistic' quality.
There can be several levels of copyright within one item. In a book there is the text (one or more literary works), drawings, illustrations or photographs (artistic works) and the typography and layout (published edition).
Usually the author of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work owns the copyright in the work, unless the rights have been transferred. There are some exceptions, e.g. when an author creates a work in the course of their employment, then the employer owns copyright.