Copyright
Resources, guidance and information for education practitioners, learners, and families on copyright.
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What you need to know
Copyright is one of the main types of intellectual property. It allows the copyright owner to protect against others copying or reproducing their work. Intellectual property gives a person ownership over the things they create, the same way as something physical can be owned.
Copyright arises automatically when a work that qualifies for protection is created. The work must be original, meaning it needs to originate with the author, who will have used some judgement or skill in its creation.
Generative AI can create new material by processing huge archives of images and text. The legal implications of using generative AI are still unclear, particularly in relation to copyright infringement.
Primary copyright infringement occurs when a person copies a substantial part of the work without the consent or authorisation of the copyright owner. Certain acts committed without a copyright owner’s consent may be classed as criminal offences and may result in fines or imprisonment.
