What is copyright work?

Copyright work is defined in article 5 of the Copyright and Related Rights Act. A work is protected by copyright if the following conditions are met:

1. INDIVIDUALITY - the work must be the product of the author’s own creative imagination, such that a person with the same knowledge and experience could not produce an identical or substantially similar work.

2. INTELLECTUALITY- “the work must be the product of the author’s intellect and not merely the result of a mechanical or routine process.”

3. HUMAN AUTHORSHIP - for a work to be protected by copyright, it must be created by a human being. Works produced by machines or animals do not qualify.

4. The work must belong to the FIELD OF LITERATURE, SCIENCE, OR THE ARTS.

5. EXPRESSIVENESS - the work must be capable of being perceived by others. It does not have to be fixed in a material form; for instance, sound can also qualify for copyright protection. 

Most common copyright works are:

• spoken works, such as speeches, sermons, lectures;

• written works, such as works of fiction, articles, manuals, studies and computer programs;

• musical works with or without lyrics;

• theatrical, theatrical-musical and puppet works;

• choreographic and pantomime works;

• photographic works and works created using a process similar to photography;

• audiovisual works;

• fine art works, such as paintings, graphics and sculptures;

• architectural works, including sketches, plans, and completed designs in the fields of architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture;

• works of applied art and industrial design;

• cartographic works;

• presentations of a scientific, educational or technical nature (technical drawings, plans, sketches, tables, experts reports, model presentations, and similar works).