Copyrighting your work in Namibia can be important to protect your intellectual property from being copied without your permission, but it’s also easy to do incorrectly. It doesn’t take a lot of knowledge of the law or time and effort to ensure that you’re doing it right and getting your work protected properly, but it can save you quite a bit of money and heartache if you learn how to avoid common mistakes! In this article, we’ll teach you why copyrighting in Namibia is so important and how much it costs to make sure that your work gets the protection it deserves.
What is copyright?
Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.
What does copyright protect?
The copyright protects original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and certain other intellectual works. In many countries like the United States, copyrights last for the life of the author plus seventy years. In Namibia, copyrights expire after fifty (50) years from publication or fifty (50) years from creation if unpublished.
How long does copyright last?
Copyright lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years. After that, copyright falls into the public domain, meaning anyone can use or re-use the content without seeking permission or paying royalties.
How can I get copyright protection?
Copyrights protect creative works from being used without permission. If you created a song, wrote a book, or made a video, copyright laws give you the right to use your work as you want. In order to get copyright protection for your work, you must register it with the U.S. Copyright Office before someone else does. The only exception to this rule is if your work has already been published before the date of registration and its content has not changed afterwards.
What are the benefits of copyright registration?
A copyright grants a creator of the original work exclusive rights to the work. A copyright can be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, or via the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) if you live outside of the U.S. Registration is not required for copyright protection, but doing so will give you benefits such as being entitled to damages from infringement of your work, getting legal assistance from federal courts, and getting a certificate from the Register of Copyrights attesting to your ownership of the copyright.
How much does it cost to register a copyright in Namibia?
Registering copyright in Namibia costs US$50, which is not bad at all considering that this registration protects your work for 70 years! Additionally, you can also register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office for a fee of US$35 if you choose to do so (but remember that registering with the U.S. Copyright Office does not protect your work from infringement by those outside of the United States). However, keep in mind that registering a copyright with the U.S.