FAQS
Frequently Asked Questions
What are intellectual properties?
Intellectual property refers to intangible property or assets that one’s mind or one‘s intellect creates. It refers to works of art, designs, symbols, images, names, songs, which may be used commercially.
There are various types of intellectual property, however the most recognized ones include:
- Copyright
- Patent
- Trademark
- Design
- Trade Secrets
Copyright in literary and artistic work refers to rights that creators or authors have over their literary or artistic works. These works include books, music, paintings, sculpture, and films, to computer programs, databases, drawings, etc.
What specific rights does copyright gives you?
When your work is copyrighted, there are basically two basic rights you enjoy by virtue of that copyright viz:
- Economic rights – in this case the author of a copyrighted piece enjoys the right to derive economic benefit from his works, through reproduction, distribution and use of the work in accordance with the copyright laws.
- Moral right- the author or creator of a work enjoys the right attached to him by identifying him or her as the creator of a piece and has the right to oppose any changes on the piece that may harm his reputation.
What are intellectual properties?
Intellectual property refers to intangible property or assets that one’s mind or one‘s intellect creates. It refers to works of art, designs, symbols, images, names, songs, which may be used commercially.
There are various types of intellectual property, however the most recognized ones include:
- Copyright
- Patent
- Trademark
- Design
- Trade Secrets
Copyright in literary and artistic work refers to rights that creators or authors have over their literary or artistic works. These works include books, music, paintings, sculpture, and films, to computer programs, databases, drawings, etc.
Can a copyright owner gain economic benefit in his work?
A copyright owner can receive remunerations from the management of his copyright which subsists in his creative works by the following means:-
- Collective Management Organization (CMO)
- Self or personal management of his work
- Digital and online service providers
- Exclusive and Non Exclusive Licensing to third parties
What then is collective management?
Collective management is simply a situation where authors and creators of works form an organization to advance the cause of protection of the ownership and proprietary interest engage CMOs (collective management Organizations) to manage the usage of their copyrighted works by other persons; The CMOs facilitate the usage of the rights in the interest of both parties and ensure economic reward for rights holders. In real sense it is physically impossible to be in different places at the same time; in the same vein artists creators and authors of work may not be able to track down or know every person that is using their copyrighted works, this is where the CMOs come in, they are in charge of monitoring the usage of this works, they negotiate between the owner and user; they in turn license the usage and then collect fees from the users and turn it over to the owners of the work. Basically, the CMOs act as the middle men between owners of copyrighted materials and users of such copyrighted works. They ensure that the owner does not lose his economic right on his copyrighted works. Licensing
Can Ideas be copyrighted?
Your ideas, innovations, etc. cannot be copyrighted unless they are reduced to written works, artistic works, and then can they be copyrighted