Copyright exists to make sure that creators are acknowledged for their works – being paid in some cases.
Most work that is created is covered by copyright or intellectual property rights
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literary works - books, journal articles, newspaper columns, personal letters, emails, computer programmes, song lyrics, handouts and leaflets etc.
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artistic works - paintings, photographs, illustrations, logos, maps etc.
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musical works - compositions, recordings, performances, etc.
Copyright items must be original, ‘fixed’ and show skill or judgement by the creator or creators – but they don’t need to have been published, registered or marked with a copyright symbol ‘©’.
It is the variety of sources, and the terms under which they are supplied, that makes it difficult to know what is allowed, what is forbidden, and what can be done by negotiation, licence or exception.