Industry Practice - Week 13:


In this blog I will be talking about what copyright and Intellectual Property is, how it works and what you can get protected by these. I will also share what our team discussed regarding the concept art we needed to finalise.

How copyright works in the uk:

In the uk copyright protection works differently to other places in the world as we automatically get protection when creating items that fall under the copyright protection. There isn't a need to apply for copyright protection and there isn't a fee to pay either. You can gain copyright protection when you create any original artwork or written piece, software or any web content, sounds and music, film and tv, broadcasts and other written pieces. (How copyright protects your work)  

How does copyright protect your work:

Copyright protects your work by preventing other people from being able to use your work in a range of different ways such as copying work, distributing your work, showing your work in public, making adaptations of your work or even putting it on the internet. (How copyright protects your work)

How long does copyright last:

Copyrights lasts for different amounts of time depending on the type of product produced. For written, dramatic, musical and artistic work the copyright lasts for 70 years after the author's death however for sounds and music the copy right only lasts for 70 years from when it's first published. Below is the list of how long copyrights usually lasts:

- Written, dramatic, musical and artistic work: 70 years after the author's death
- Sounds and music recording: 70 years from when it's first published
- Films: 70 years after the death of the director, screenplay author and composer
- Broadcasts - 50 years from when it's first broadcast
- Layout of published editions of written dramatic or musical works: 25 years from when it's first published

These times can be different depending on other things however these are the usual copyright times.
(How long copyright lasts)

What is an infringement of copyright:

Infringement of copyright is where someone uses your work without your permission to be used however there are exceptions to copyright such as for research for a university course for example however acknowledgement is needed to be able to use the work in an essay or any work that they are researching it for.

Another interesting example of an exemption for copyright is for disabled people as it allows someone to create accessible copies of works that are copyrighted on behalf of disabled people such as remaking a book however using braille so that visually-impaired people can still read the book. Below is a list of exceptions that are included under making accessible copies of copyrighted work:

- Making braille, audio or large-print copies of books, newspapers or magazines for visually-impaired people
- Adding audio-description to films or broadcasts for visually-impaired people
- Making sub-titled films or broadcasts for deaf or hard of hearing people
- Making accessible copies of books, newspapers or magazines for dyslexic people
(Exceptions to copyright)

How copyright protects your work [online]. Gov.uk: Patents, trade marks, copyright and designs. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/copyright#:~:text=You%20automatically%20get%20copyright%20protection,work%2C%20including%20illustration%20and%20photography [Accessed 17 February 2025]

How long copyright lasts [online]. Gov.uk: Patents, trade marks, copyright and designs. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/copyright/how-long-copyright-lasts [Accessed 17 February 2025]

Exceptions to copyright [online]. Gov.uk: Copyright. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright [Accessed 17 February 2025]

What is a trademark:

A trademark is used to protect your work and brand but there are different things that can be registered as a trademark to do with businesses such as words, logos, colour combinations and others however they all need to be unique. (citma)

What is Trademark [online]. CITMA: Trade marks & IP. Available at: https://www.citma.org.uk/trade-marks-ip/what-is-a-trade-mark.html [Accessed 17 February 2025]

There are quite a few restrictions with what you can't register. With there being several different things that you can't register it makes it hard to find something that is unique whilst also sticking to the rules of what can't be registered.


Register a trade mark [online]. Gov.uk: Patents, trade marks, copyright and designs. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark [Accessed 17 February 2025]

How is trademark different to copyright:

Trademark protects words, logos, colour combinations and other aspects but copyright protects the creativity and work that your business creates. Trademarks need to be applied for but copyright doesn't and is automatically protected however this only applies to the uk as other countries may have to apply for it.

Dopson, E., 2024. Trademark vs Copyright: How to Choose and Key Differences [online]. Shopify: Blog. Available at: https://www.shopify.com/uk/blog/trademark-vs-copyright [Accessed 17 February 2025]

What is fair use:

Fair use allows the use of copyright work without the copyright owners permission such as changing the purpose of it, changing what the work is being used for, changing the work enough from the original and if you are making money off the work or not.

Williams R., 2025. 13_IP_RENPY [online]. NTU Now: Industry Practice. [Accessed 17 February 2025]

For our project:

We could trademark our logo and game studio name however if we were to we would need to think about the pros and cons of having them trademarked.