Why copyright matters!

Imagine you are a YouTuber. You have posted many videos and now have many subscribers. All of a sudden, another video with exactly the same resolution, the same props and the same faces appear in YouTube. This video has more viewers than yours! How will you feel?

What is copyright?

Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work in a tangible form of expression. It protects original literary, musical, artistic and dramatic works and a host of other subject matter. It confers owners the exclusive right to prevent unauthorised dealings with his work.

Which works are deemed to be protected by copyright laws?

No matter digital or hard copy, all works made by anyone are protected with copyright laws. Those with the copyright symbol (C) are just there to remind people that copyright laws does apply to this work. Don't worry, all rights reserved for what you have created!

What is not protected by copyright laws?

Ideas that are not patented and/or recorded, such as dance moves, are not protected with copyright laws.

In other words, copyright protects expression and never ideas, procedures, methods systems, concepts, principles or discoveries.

The © symbol

The copyright or © symbol is merely a notice by the owner that copyright exists. The absence of the symbol does not mean that the copyright owner has waived the rights.

General “Fair Use” defence

• Fair dealing ≠ infringement

• Includes making a copy of a reasonable portion of a work for research or study

• All other cases - the court will take into account the following factors in deciding if the dealing was fair

• Purpose and character of dealing

• Nature of the work

• Amount and substantiality of the part taken in relation to the whole work

• Effect of the dealing upon the potential market for, or value of, the work

• Possibility of obtaining the work within a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial price

What is copyright infringement?

It is when the creator of the work, no matter physical or online, has not authorised the replication or use of his or her work to another person's project, of any act compromised in the copyright laws, subjected to exceptions and defences, in Singapore.

Benefits of copyright

1. It protects one's work

Do you like others copying what you have done after spending so much time and effort on it? Absolutely not! Content creators' works are definitely worth the copyright protection. Content creators should only be the ones who have the exclusive rights towards duplicating their work.

2. It promotes creativity

What will a world be like without copyright laws? The same content or product produced again and again and again! It would be such a dull world.

3. It allows content producers to earn a living

Want to support your favourite content producer? Watch his/her videos on YouTube or purchase his/her work. If the world is without copyright, anyone else could also make similar content, giving them a disadvantageous position towards sustaining a livelihood.

Conclusion

This sums up my blog about why copyright matters. Let me know what are your thoughts in the comments section below. Do frequent this website often as I will upload content everyday. Thank you for your support! See you soon :)