Copyright is an intellectual property right that protects creative works such as:
- Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, including illustration and photography
- Original non-literary written work, such as software, web content and databases
- Sound and music recordings
- Film and television recordings
- Broadcasts
- Layout of published editions of written, dramatic and musical works
Copyright arises automatically in the UK and gives the owner control over how their work is used. UK copyright infringement cases can be complex, particularly when alleged infringers challenge ownership or rely on legal exceptions. We help clients navigate this complex area of intellectual property and have extensive experience handling copyright infringement matters. Whether you are protecting your rights or responding to an allegation, our copyright team combines strong legal expertise with practical commercial understanding to support your interests.
We advise clients across many sectors on protecting their work and understanding their rights. If you are concerned that someone is using your copyright without authorisation, we can help you assess your position and your options.
We also defend parties who have been accused of using others’ copyright. If you are concerned that someone has wrongly accused you of using their copyright without authorisation, we can help you assess your position and your options.
Copyright infringement
Understanding copyright infringement is key to protecting your work. In broad terms, infringement is the unauthorised use of copyrighted material in ways reserved exclusively for the copyright owner. This may include reproducing, distributing, performing, broadcasting, adapting, or making the work available to the public without permission.
Examples include copying an entire book, lifting key paragraphs from an article, sampling music without consent, or using a photographer’s image online for commercial purposes. Intent is not required; accidental use can still amount to infringement if the legal criteria are met.
