Copyright

Copyright protects artistic works such as music, film and literature. Protection cannot be applied for, but arises automatically when you create a work.

Photographer looking at images stored on a single-lens reflex camera.

What does it mean to have copyright?

If an invention, a design or a trademark has the characteristics of something original and is the result of an individual creative effort, it is automatically protected under the Copyright Act.

Having copyright means that you have exclusive rights to how a work is to be used.

The main rights that come with copyright include:

Right to make copies of the work.

Right to distribute copies of the work to the public.

The right to perform the work in public, such as playing a song or showing a film to the public.

Right to display the work publicly, particularly relevant for audiovisual works such as films or TV programmes.

Right to create derivative works or modifications based on the original work.

Is about the right to be recognized as the creator and the right to oppose any deformation or improper use of the work that may damage the creator's honor or reputation.

Right to transfer the work to the public.

© is the symbol for copyright

Person browsing a book protected by copyright.

What is protected by copyright?

Copyright protects original and creative works within the following categories.

Includes books, articles, poetry, and other written works.

Musical works with or without text.

This includes paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other visual art.

Protects scripts, characters, scenographies and other elements of theater and film productions.

Code and programming are also protected by copyright.

The design of buildings may be subject to copyright protection.

Original choreographies can also be protected.

This includes TV programmes, commercials and other audiovisual content.

How long does copyright last?

An intellectual work is protected for the lifetime of the creator, and 70 years after the end of the year of the creator's death.

Why is copyright important?

Copyright gives the right holder control over how the work is used. It also provides the opportunity to make money from the work through licensing or selling the rights. You can both inherit and "sell" copyright by entering into a usage agreement.

The role of the Norwegian Industrial Patent Office

Within copyright, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO) has two roles - supervision for the collective management of copyright and related rights, and approval authority for organizations that wish to enter into agreements with contractual license effect.

Current regulations

Relevant articles

See all articles
Read more about The music is protected – but is the band name?
Rockeband på scenen med masse folk
  • Articles
  • Trademark
  • Copyright

The music is protected – but is the band name?

When a band or artist starts to gain attention, there is often one thing that the audience notices first: the name. It is on the concert poster, on digital platforms and social media, and on the t-shirts in the merch booth. The music is of course the foundation, but the name is what is repeated in all contexts. Yet far too few artists and industry players think about the fact that the name is actually a right that can, and should, be protected.

Published on 16. may 2025

Read more about Generative Artificial Intelligence vs. Copyright
AI robot pointing at a symbol for a legal clause on a 3D background
  • Articles
  • Copyright

Generative Artificial Intelligence vs. Copyright

At the turn of 2022/2023, the company OpenAI firmly placed artificial intelligence (AI) on the public agenda with the launch of ChatGPT. AI brings both challenges and opportunities, and many have likely heard everything from doomsday predictions to bold promises about the technology's potential.

Published on 23. september 2024