How copyright protects your work
License and sell your copyright
You can license the use of your work if you own the copyright. You can also decide how your work is used.
You can register your work with a licensing body, for example a collecting society, who will agree licences with users for you and collect royalties for you.
Sell or transfer your copyright
You鈥檒l need to write and sign a document (sometimes called an 鈥榓ssignment鈥�) to show a sale or transfer has taken place.
Your copyright can be transferred by inheritance and will be valid as long as the work remains in copyright - check how long protection lasts.
Moral rights
You can keep or waive your 鈥榤oral rights鈥�, which include the right to:
- be identified as the author of your work
- object to how the work is presented, for example if you think it鈥檚 鈥榙erogatory鈥� or damaging to you or your reputation
- object to changes made to your work
Performers鈥� rights
You have rights in your performances separate to copyright if you鈥檙e a performer.
For example, if you鈥檙e an actor in a play you may have 鈥榚conomic rights鈥� in any recordings or broadcasts of their performance, even if the copyright is sold.