What is copy right?

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1. noun
noun: copyright; plural noun: copyrights
1. 1.
the exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed
number of years, to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic,
or musical material.
"he issued a writ for breach of copyright"
a particular literary, artistic, or musical work that is
covered by copyright.
adjective
adjective: copyright
2. 1.
protected by copyright.
"permission to reproduce photographs and other copyright material"
verb
verb: copyright; 3rd person present: copyrights; past tense:
copyrighted; past participle: copyrighted; gerund or present participle:
copyrighting
3. 1.
secure copyright for (material).
"copyrighted music downloaded illegally from the Internet"

Copyright is like a form of protection, which is automatically given to

authors or creators of works. It means that only you can do the following
to/with your work:
Make copies for your work
Distribute copies of your work
Perform your work publicly (such as advertisement, play, films, dance or
music)
Display your work publicly (such as advertising, artworks, or stills from
audio-visual works, or any material used on the internet or television)
Make derivative works (including making modifications, adaptations or
other nre uses of work, or translating the work to other medias.

But there are limitations to what you can stop being done to your creation,
this is called the doctrine of fair use.
Copyright also has some control over what you can do with software; who
you can give it to
When you buy software, for example copyright law forbids you from:
Giving a copy to a friend
Making a copy and then selling it
Using the software on a network (unless the license allows it)
Renting the software without the permission of copyright holder

The law that governs copyright in the UK is called the Copyright,

Designs and Patents Act 1988.
In order for your work to have copy right applied to it the work must meet
minimal standards of originality and this copyright will expire after a set
amount of time although it can be extended if required. Different
countries have different criteria to judge if the work meets the minimal
standards of originality, in the UK the criteria is: Skill, labour, and
judgement that has gone in to it.
Copyright law recognises the right of an author based on whether the
work actually is an original creation, rather than based on whether it is
unique: two authors may own copyright to two substantially identical
works, if it is determined that the duplication was coincidental, and
neither was copied from the other.

Why is Copyright important?

Copyright is needed essentially to protect the author or creator of their
own personal creative property whether that is a book, painting, drawing
or an audio account. When the author or creator declared that their
creation is finished copyright is automatically assigned. Without copyright
people would steal others intellectual and creative outcomes, Copyright
is essentially protection from others toward the subject

How has the digital realm affected copyright issues?

Copyright law faces major challenges keeping up with technological

advancement. Although there is no separate body of copyright law
created specifically to cover technological works, the application of
copyright law is distinctive with respect to copyright protection of
computer programs, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and international
enforcement.
Copyrights and Software Programs
The advent of computer technology forced the U.S. legal community to
determine whether software programs should be protected by patent law,
copyright law or trade-secret law. After years of uncertainty, courts
determined that software programs qualified for copyright protection as
"works of authorship."
The digital environment no a days has created a whole new problem
within copyright, some softwares, apps social media sight automatically
get permission from the poster to access and use their images, whether
the poster wants them to or not. The fact that people all around the
world are potentially using your images proves that the small print needs
to be read thoroughlyyour photographs are never safe even with copy
right.

As a photographer how does copyright impact on you and your

practice?
As a photographer a number of different ways can prevent people from
using and claiming that your images are theirs; simply re size images to a
smaller dimension before publishing online, this allows the beholder to
only view at a size you set. If they view it any bigger it becomes pixelated.
(Restrictive imagery)
Water marking on images is also a very popular way to show copyright
and essentially damaging the image, this restricts people from
taking/claiming images.

What is Creative Commons and how might it help you in your

practice?
What is Creative Commons?
Creative Commons helps you share your knowledge and creativity with
the world.
Creative commons develops, supports and stewards legal and technical
infrastructures that maximize digital creativity, sharing and innovation.
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that enables the sharing
and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools.
It is free, copyright licenses provide a simple way to give public
permission to share and use your creative works.
Creative Commons is not an alternative to Copyright, but works alongside
Copyright.

How might Creative Commons help you in your practice?

Creative Commons allows you to have some control over your creative
works, you can give people the right to share, use and build upon a work
you have created. E.g.; You can choose to allow non-commercial users.
If people do use your work they do not have to worry about Copyright,
they are under conditions that have been set by you