Protecting your copyright abroad

Summary:

The UK is a member of several international conventions in the field of copyright, including the Berne Convention, Rome Convention, WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, WIPO Copyright Treaty, and Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This means that copyright material created by UK nationals or residents is automatically protected in each member country of the convention. Most countries belong to at least the Berne Convention and/or TRIPS. While registration is not essential, it is possible to mark work with the international u00a9 symbol and register with an official register in countries like the USA.