INFO
Advice on copyright and protection of artistic expressions
The realization of works of a creative or intellectual type – such as literature, music, visual arts, architecture, theatre, film, software – automatically generates intellectual property rights for the author. Unlike trademarks and patents, copyright does not require, in principle, any formal registration.
Nonetheless, it is possible to register certain types of works with the competent authorities (in Italy with the Ministry of Culture), as proof of having completed the opus at a given date.
The intermediation activity for the management of copyright, the issuing of authorizations for the use of protected works, the collection of royalties for copyright and the distribution among the entitled parties is currently carried out by the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE), while to the Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM) are assigned specific functions regarding the protection of copyright and intellectual property with regard to electronic commerce and digital environment, as well as the supervision of collective management organizations and independent management entities and other collective management organisations.
In our role as consultants in all matters relating to intellectual property, we consider the following an integral part of our service:
- copyright protection, in case of a dispute in which the rights of the holder are infringed by the actions of others;
- drafting of contracts related to copyrights;
- registering of works protected by copyright with the competent authorities.