LEARN THE WORDS
-
ADAPTATION: Generally understood as the modification of a pre-existing work from one genre of work to another, such as cinematographic adaptations of novels or musical works. Adaptation may also consist in altering the work within the same genre to make it suitable for different conditions of exploitation, such as rewriting a novel for a juvenile edition. Adaptation also involves altering the composition of the work, unlike translation, which transforms only the form of expression thereof. Adaptation of another’s work protected by copyright law is subject to the authorization of the owner of the copyright in the work.
-
ADDRESS: Generally understood in copyright laws as meaning a formal discourse, delivered on a special occasion. The protection under copyright of an address made in public is generally restricted to the right of publishing it in collections of such works.
-
AUTHOR: A person who creates a work.
-
AUTHORIZATION: The permission (consent) given in the case of the use of a work by the author or other owner of copyright to another person to use the work in a definite manner and under specific conditions. The right of authors to authorize the use of the work constitutes the practical essence of copyright, enabling the author to exploit the work. The authorization should be requested in advance; its acquisition constitutes an agreement. In certain cases, international conventions allow the replacement of such agreements by compulsory or statutory licenses. Specified uses of performances, phonograms and broadcasts are likewise subject to authorization where the law provides for the protection of performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organizations.
-
AUTHORSHIP: Generally understood, from the copyright aspect, as the state of being the creator of a given work. The particular interests of the author resulting from the imperishable link between copyright creator and creation are reflected in several laws by the special bundle of so-called moral rights.
-
BOOKS: Published forms of writings and/or pictures consisting of a number of pages assembled in a volume and usually produced as copies of an edition of them. In many copyright laws, a book is understood as being a kind of work. According to Unesco’s statistical standards. a book should contain at least 49 pages to be regarded as such.
-
BROADCAST: Usually means any program transmitted by broadcasting. It is often understood also as a synonym for broadcasting.
-
CATALOGUE: A list of items selected for a common purpose, such as the enumeration of articles offered for sale by a firm or of pieces of art exhibited on the same occasion. Catalogues often also contain particulars on each item. Most of the copyright laws grant copyright in catalogues in consideration of the originality, if any, of the selection, arrangement and text.
-
CHRESTOMATHY: A collection of selected parts of various writings: it is usually intended for educational purposes. The editor of the chrestomathy enjoys copyright therein, provided that the compilation of the material shows originality; with regard to teaching purposes, some copyright laws contain special provisions to facilitate the inclusion of parts of protected works in chrestomathies.
-
CO-AUTHOR: Usually understood as meaning a joint or associate author of a work.
-
COMPILATION: A synonym of collection.
-
COMPOSER: In the case of a musical work, the author of the work.
-
COPYRIGHT: A type of protection provided to “original works of authorship” that are “fixed in a tangible form.” Copyright protection is available to certain categories of works including musical, literary, dramatic, choreographic, and audiovisual works. Copyright protection provides various exclusive rights to the copyright owner.
-
DESIGN: Understood in the broadest sense of the concept as meaning all arrangements of the elements constituting an artistic work and also preliminary sketches of works to be accomplished. As a rule, however, in copyright laws this term refers to industrial designs in the proper sense of the word.