Copyright is the most powerful protection most creators already have — and it costs nothing. If you write, design, photograph, compose, code or make anything original, this is for you.
Copyright is automatic — there’s nothing to register
Unlike patents and trade marks, UK copyright happens automatically the instant you create an original work and record it in some form (on paper, on a screen, in a file). There is no UK copyright register, no application, and no fee. See do you need to register copyright?
What copyright protects — and for how long
It covers original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, plus software, sound recordings, films and typography. For most works it lasts the creator’s lifetime plus 70 years. It protects the expression of an idea — the actual words, images or code — not the underlying idea itself.
Three simple steps to protect yours
- Mark it. Add ©, your name and the year (e.g. © Jane Smith 2026). Not legally required, but it warns others and helps prove ownership.
- Date your evidence. Keep originals, drafts and files with reliable dates — emailing a copy to yourself, or saving to dated cloud storage, all helps show you made it first.
- Licence it in writing. When someone uses your work, a short written licence sets out what they can do. If you’re paying someone to create work for you, get the copyright assigned to you in writing — otherwise the creator usually keeps it.
If someone copies you
Copyright is yours to enforce. A letter or a takedown often settles it without court — see someone copied my work: what to do.
That’s the eLitigant way: the tools to protect what’s yours, without handing it to an expensive middleman.
Not sure which protection you need? See our overview: Patent vs Trademark vs Copyright vs Trade Secret →
Last reviewed: June 2026 · For use in England & Wales. eLitigant is a Community Interest Company (No. 16566612), not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Always confirm current rules and fees on gov.uk.