Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988) is the primary UK legislation governing intellectual property, protecting original artistic works, as well as literary, dramatic, musical, sound recordings, films, and broadcasts. It grants creators exclusive rights to control copying, distribution, broadcasting, and adaptation, while also establishing moral rights and design rights. The act was designed to provide stronger protection against piracy, particularly for new media, and updated the legal framework for industrial designs. Key aspects of the Act of law include:
- Providing creators the right to be identified (paternity) and to object to derogatory treatment of their work (integrity), known as Moral Rights.
- Introducing a design right for original, non-registered designs, amending the Registered Designs Act 1949.
- Including fair dealing provisions for research, private study, criticism, news reporting, and education or exceptions.
- Automatically protecting original works upon creation, with duration typically lasting 50 to 70 years, depending on the type of work (copyright protection)
- Unauthorised copying, renting, lending, performing, or broadcasting of protected material are restricted acts and constitute infringement.
- In general the author is the first owner, but works created by employees in the course of employment belong to the employer.
For the full Act of law see Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988), up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 08 February 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.
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