1.3 Global aspects of copyright

Globe [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] by Steve Cadman is licensed CC BY-SA 2.0

Copyright laws vary from country to country, yet we operate in a world where media is global. Over time, there has been an effort to standardise copyright laws around the globe.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this section of the course, you will be able to:

  • describe how the copyright laws of your country may differ from those of other countries
  • identify major international treaties and efforts to harmonise laws around the world.

Reflection

When you publish or reuse something online, have you ever thought about what law applies to you? Does it make sense to you that different people should have different limits to what they can do with your work based on their geographic location? Why, or why not?

The 2019 Copyright Act

Overview