| Many people are surprised to learn there is | | | | |
| no international copyright law. Yes, that is | | | | Someone who works in international copyright |
| right. There is not an international | | | | law will tell you that it is different than |
| copyright law that will protect your work on | | | | most other sectors of law. It involves |
| the other side of the world. However, it is | | | | knowing the copyright law of two or more |
| important to note that most countries do | | | | countries. Every country has their own way of |
| offer some form of protection known as | | | | granting and protecting someone's copyright. |
| "foreign" works. | | | | The individual criteria of each country must |
| | | | be taken into consideration when you are |
| International conventions and treaties have | | | | dealing with international copyright law. |
| done a lot to protect owners of copyrights | | | | Some countries do not have any intellectual |
| around the world. With the world seemingly | | | | property rights and some countries even grant |
| becoming smaller every day, the United States | | | | more copyright protections than the United |
| took a look at its stance on the European | | | | States. International copyright laws involve |
| copyright treaty known as the Berne | | | | understanding international treaties and |
| Convention. Basically, the Berne Convention | | | | conventions, like the Berne Treaty and WIPO |
| of 1886 involved European nations coming | | | | Copyright Treaty. If you are interested in |
| together to seek a uniform copyright law to | | | | pursuing a degree in law, you may want to |
| keep their copyright owners from having to | | | | explore the international copyright law |
| register for copyrights in individuals | | | | sector. With the world becoming one big |
| European countries. The United States signed | | | | neighborhood, you will probably not lack |
| on to the Berne Convention introduced made it | | | | work. |
| into a U.S. law known as the Berne | | | | |
| Implementation Act of 1988. | | | | People with copyrighted works need to be |
| | | | aware that there are differences in the |
| If you are seeking to have your work | | | | copyright laws in some nations. While it is |
| protected in a particular country, you need | | | | true the United States has signed treaties |
| to find out what kind of protection foreign | | | | with some nations, your work will not be |
| authors have in that country. Some countries | | | | protected in every country of the world. As |
| offer little or no protection to foreign | | | | stated, the United States is a member of the |
| authors. The U.S. Copyright Office is not | | | | Berne Treaty. In addition, the United States |
| allowed to give authors recommendations or | | | | is a member of the WIPO Copyright Treaty. |
| the names of attorneys or agents that could | | | | This treaty works in conjunction with the |
| help them understand foreign copyright laws. | | | | Berne Treaty, yet it also covers and gives |
| However, with a little investigation it is | | | | protection to databases and computer |
| not hard to find someone who is an expert on | | | | programs. If you would like more information |
| foreign copyright law. These individuals can | | | | on international copyright law, you should |
| help you learn more about copyright | | | | check with an attorney who specializes in |
| protection and how your work is deemed in a | | | | international copyright law. |
| foreign country. | | | | |