Frequently Asked Questions

Registration Questions

• Who can use this service?
  This service is open to any individual, organisation, or company wishing to provide independent evidence as to the registration of copyright material. Residents of the USA are advised to register with the U.S. Copyright Office.
• What type of work can be registered?
  Any original literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, film and sound recordings, including novels, poems, lyrics, songs, paintings, drawings, computer images, software, advertisements, logos, and even the rules of a game can be registered.
• How can I pay?
  Payment can be made by cheque or on-line by credit or debit card using the secure online payment system.
• Is there an annual fee?
  There is no annual fee. Once an item has been registered it will be held in the vault for a period of 5 years without incurring an annual charge.
• How do I register?
  Simply complete the Registration Form. You will be asked to specify your method of payment and whether you are submitting work on-line or by post.
• What if my work is lost in the post?
  It is important to send only a copy of your work and not the original or master copy. In the event that there is a problem with the post, a replacement copy can then be obtained. For added peace of mind you may prefer to send your work by registered post.
• Do you read or view my work?
  We do not read or view the contents of any work sent to us for registration. We assign the work a unique registration number and log the work in our database noting the date of receipt, and the format of the submission, e.g. manuscript, CD etc. See our Privacy Policy for further details.
• Can I make changes to my work after it is registered?
  Copyright Registration serves to evidence the existence of an item of work on a certain date. Amendments to that item of work should be separately registered, and will be issued with a separate Certificate of Registration. Where regular amendments are likely to take place, Frequent Use Registration, or Professional Use Registration may prove to be more economical.
• Can I remove my work from the vault?
  Work should only be removed from the vault at the end of the 5-year period of registration, if registration is not to be renewed, or in the event of a dispute, where it may be necessary to provide evidence of the content of your work in addition to the Certificate of Registration. In such circumstances we would recommend that you take advantage of our affidavit service. See Copyright Infringement.
• Where will my work be stored?
  All on-line submissions are backed up to a suitable media and stored along-with all postal submissions in a secure fire-proof vault at our storage facility within prestige premises in Liverpool, England, that are protected by 24 hour security.
• Do you make copies of the work?
  The only copies of work that are made are backup copies of computer files submitted on-line to enable separate storage within the vault. We ask you not to submit original or master copies to us. However should you require a copy of your registered work at any time this can be provided for a small fee. See Additional Services.
• How many pieces of work can I register?
  A Single Registration is for one registered item. However, there is no limitation as to how much work is included in a single item. For example a single CD can contain as many files or tracks as it can physically contain. Similarly, a 400-page manuscript may contain 1 or 400 pieces of work. It is possible to register more than one item. Indeed Copyrightvault.com caters for organisations and individuals who are likely to register items on a regular basis, by providing a Frequent Use Registration, and a Professional Use Registration.
• How long does my registration last?
  Registration lasts for a period of 5 years from the date on the Certificate of Registration, for each item registered.
• What happens when my registration expires?
  We will contact you one month before your registration is due to expire with the option of removing your work from the vault or re-registering for a further 5 year period.
• What happens after I register?
  Upon receipt of your work and payment, your work will be registered and a Certificate of Registration issued to you by First Class post. Work submitted on-line is immediately backed up to a suitable storage media. All Registered Work is stored in our secure vault. The registration is recorded on our database. See Privacy Policy.
• What format does my work have to be in?
  Most standard media formats, such as CD, DVD, Diskette, Zip Disk, VideoTape, AudioTape, Mini Disc, or paper media (up to 400 pages of A4) are acceptable.
• Can I register paper documents?
  Paper documents can be registered. Copyrightvault.com allows the registration of up to 400 pages of A4 as a single item. There is no limitation as to how much work is contained within the 400 pages. It may be anything from one piece of work to more than 400 pieces of work.
• Can I register by post?
  Yes, to submit work by post, simply print out the Registration Form and send it with a copy of the work to be registered, to Copyrightvault.com at the address on the form. It is important to only send a copy of the work and not the original or master copy.
• Can I submit work online?
  Yes, when submitting work online you will be asked to attach the computer files to be registered, following completion of the Registration Form. (Total file size of 10MB per Registration).
• What happens if someone breaches my copyright?
  If this happens and the other party disputes your copyright, then you have to prove that you produced the disputed work first. This is where Copyright Registration is important. The registration of copyright provides independent witness as to the existence of the work, at a clear point in time. A Certificate of Registration is usually sufficient evidence. However, in the event that further evidence is required, the process of copyright registration should, once again be able to provide this, in the form of a sworn affidavit. See Copyright Infringement.
• Do you provide legal advice?
  Copyrightvault.com does not directly provide legal advice. However we have a panel of solicitors who specialise in Intellectual Property Law, who can advise on all aspects of the law, including licensing your work, selling your work, publishing, entering into recording contracts etc. We can refer you to a solicitor in your area for a free 10-minute consultation. See Solicitors.
• I have 8 songs on 1 CD, does this count as 8 items or 1 item?
  This would count as one registered item, the CD. The fact that it contains 8 pieces of your work is irrelevant. It can contain as much work as you can physically fit on one CD. The important fact is that following registration that CD is stored in a secure vault. In the event of a dispute the CD can be withdrawn and the contents examined. The withdrawal of registered works for such purposes should be accompanied by a sworn affidavit. See Copyright Infringement.
• My manuscript is more than your 400 A4 page limit, how can I register it?
  You are still able to register your manuscript with Copyrightvault.com, but it will consist of more than one registration and be charged accordingly. Separate Certificates of Registration will be issued for each part registered. Alternatively if you have your manuscript in an electronic media format, such as a computer file or CD, you may be able to register it as one item. Total file size of 10MB per On-line Registration. See Copyright Registration.
• Can I register my Website?
  Yes, websites are exceptionally vulnerable to copyright infringement. You can submit the site online, up to a total of 10MB per registration, or by post in another media format. See Copyright Registration.
• What does the Certificate of Registration prove?
  The Certificate of Registration proves that on a certain date, the date of the certificate, you deposited the registered item with an independent witness agent, Copyrightvault.com, who specialise in the secure storage of copyright material, and who are willing to swear an affidavit that the item cannot have been interfered with by any interested party.
  

  Copyright Questions

• What is covered by copyright?
  Any original literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, films and broadcasts are protected by copyright.
• Does copyright have to be registered?
  No, copyright does not have to be registered. However in the event of a dispute, a successful outcome will depend on proving ownership and content of the work at a particular point in time. Registration proves that on a certain date you deposited the registered item with an independent witness agent, Copyrightvault.com, who specialise in the secure storage of copyright material, and who are willing to swear an affidavit that the item cannot have been interfered with by any interested party.
• Can I prove ownership of copyright by posting a copy of my work to myself?
  In the event of a dispute, a successful outcome will depend on proving ownership and content of the work at a particular point in time. The frequently quoted method of posting a copy of your work to yourself, in theory would appear to provide proof of ownership. However, due to its lack of impartiality and ease of falsification, it could prove unreliable in a court of law.
• Do I have to mark my work with the copyright symbol ©?
  The symbol © is the international copyright mark. It is not essential in the UK, or in most other countries, to mark your work with the symbol. However, although it is not essential, it is advisable to mark your work with the word Copyright, followed by the symbol ©, the name of the copyright owner, and the year of first publication. Marking your work in this way, not only acts as a deterrent, but may also assist should copyright infringement occur.
• How long does copyright last?
  The duration of copyright varies with regard to the nature of the work. Copyright in literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, generally last up to 70 years after the death of the author. Copyright in film, again generally lasts up to 70 years after the death of the last surviving principal director, author, or soundtrack composer. For sound recordings and broadcasts, the duration of copyright is generally 50 years after release of the recording. For typographical works, such as published editions, magazines, periodicals and newspapers, copyright generally lasts for 25 years from the date of first publication.
• Is my copyright protected outside the UK?
  There are several international conventions covering copyright, of which the UK is a member. The most notable convention is the Berne Convention, which provides copyright protection for the works of UK nationals or residents by the national law in each member state of the convention.
• Can I copyright an idea?
  No, there is no copyright in ideas. However, if you write down your ideas, in the form of sketches, drawings, plans, or notes, they are capable of being copyrighted.
  
• Does copyright apply to the Internet?
  Yes, UK law provides copyright protection for material published on the Internet, distributed over the Internet, or stored on web servers. Copying or distributing such information without permission is an infringement of copyright.
• How is copyright different to a trademark?
  A trademark is a registered "badge" identifying the origin of a product. It may do this in the form of words, symbols, shapes, logos, colours, or pieces of music. Trademarks can be registered forever. For further advice on registering trademarks, contact either, the UK Patent Office, or one of the Solicitors on our panel, who specialise in Intellectual Property Law.
• How is copyright different to a patent?
  Patents protect the creators of inventions, whereas copyright protects the original author of any literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, film and sound recordings. A new invention can get patent protection for up to 20 years. For further advice on patents, contact either, the UK Patent Office, or one of the Solicitors on our panel, who specialise in Intellectual Property Law.
• Can inventions be copyrighted?
  No, you will need to apply for a patent. For further advice on patents, contact either, the UK Patent Office, or one of the Solicitors on our panel, who specialise in Intellectual Property Law.
• Can a name be protected by copyright?
  No, there is no copyright in a name. However if the name is capable of identifying the origin of a product, it may be eligible for registration as a trademark. For further advice on registering trademarks, contact either, the UK Patent Office, or one of the Solicitors on our panel, who specialise in Intellectual Property Law.
• What constitutes a copyright infringement?
  Copyright is deemed to have been infringed or breached when a party copies, publishes, performs, broadcasts, uses on-line, or adapts, all or a significant part of the work, without the permission of the creator of the work.
• What action can I take if my copyright is infringed?
  The ultimate recourse will be through the courts where you may seek a range of remedies including injunctions to prevent further use of the work, damages for infringement, and possibly recovery of infringing goods. Difficulties arise where each party claims to have produced the work before the other and thereby be the originator of the work. Without independent evidence a court will have to rely upon the rather more subjective evidence of the parties. The registration of copyright provides independent witness as to the existence of the work, at a clear point in time.
• Who decides who the original owner of a work is?
  Ultimately the courts will decide who is the original owner of the work. Without independent evidence a court will have to rely upon the rather more subjective evidence of the parties. The registration of copyright provides independent witness as to the existence of the work, at a clear point in time.
• How can I prove that I am the original owner of a work?
  Registration proves that on a certain date you deposited the registered item with an independent witness agent, Copyrightvault.com, who specialise in the secure storage of copyright material, and who are willing to swear an affidavit that the item cannot have been interfered with by any interested party.
• Can copyright be passed to someone else?
  Copyright is intellectual property, and as such can be bought, sold, transferred and inherited.

The information set out above is not legal advice but merely a brief overview of the law of copyright. We do not accept any legal responsibility or liability for those who rely on this information. For independent legal advice, you should contact a solicitor.