There are five requirements for a person or company to claim ownership to copyright work. These can be stated in simple terms. Issues arise in their application to specific fact situations.
Copyright was orginally applied to "literary works" which by their nature had an element of creativity. Over time a very wide range of mundane work attracted copyright protection. Courts came to recognise the existence of copyright in phone directories, tickets, football league tables and other pedestrian materials.
Firstly in the United States, and now in Australia, the highest courts have heralded a shift back to original principles for literary works.
Perhaps you are thinking of selling, buying, investing or advising on a transaction in which valuation of intellectual property is required?
It's crunch time to get serious about electronic document management and retention if your company or organisation wants to win in litigation.
