Copyright ©: definition and difference from copyright

12,000 creative customers
+1,700,000 protected creations
Google rating : 4.5

Registration from 99€

Intellectual property protection solution

Copyright definition: what is copyright?

Copyright definition: Copyright refers to the monopoly that a natural or legal person has over the exploitation of a work. Copyright is most often indicated by this symbol ©. This Copyright logo may also be accompanied by additional notices such as All rights reserved orReproduction prohibited. These notices enable the author to inform third parties that a deposit has been made and that his work is protected by copyright.

Understanding copyright – the difference between the Anglo-Saxon system and French copyright – is essential to protecting your works.

Court-approved evidence

Recognized by courts worldwide.

Bailiff's certificates valid for life

You're building up proof that lasts a lifetime.

Your deposits valid in 11 languages

Your deposits are available in English, French, Italian, Chinese, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Spanish, Korean, Japanese and Russian.

Your proofs available 24/7

Deposit receipt available online 24/7.

How do I register & protect my designs with Fidealis?

1. Register

I register for free. No payment is required.

2. We guide you

I choose an offer adapted to my needs with an advisor.

3. We protect you

I upload my creations online. I'm protected!

What’s the difference between copyright and authors’ rights?

Although the Berne Convention has harmonized the protection of literary and artistic works between its member states, copyright and authors’ rights can be distinguished.

Copyright, as its name suggests, is mainly applied in Anglo-Saxon Common Law countries (United Kingdom, United States, Australia, etc.), but its use in France has a number of interests in terms of literary and artistic property, as well as industrial property (designs, trademarks, patents). Copyright, on the other hand, applies in civil law countries, mainly France. Copyright, on the other hand, applies in civil law countries, mainly in France. Copyright is a moral right, protecting the work while respecting the author’s spirit. In particular, it recognizes the author’s authorship of a work, and prevents it from being freely adapted without the author’s prior consent.

The difference lies not so much in the level of protection as in the philosophy of these two legal tools. Copyright protects the author’s economic investment rather than his attachment to the work, i.e. his moral rights. That’s why it’s so important to register a copyright to protect your works as a whole.

The legal value of copyright in France and around the world

In France, the Copyright symbol ©, used in Anglo-Saxon countries, has no legal value. In France, copyright protects intellectual works by default.

At international level, the Berne Convention, created in 1986, ensures the protection of works in 180 countries. In this way, the copyright that protects a work in France is valid in each of the signatory countries of this convention. While this significantly simplifies the procedures involved in protecting literary or artistic works outside France, the application of the Berne Convention has its own limitations.

On the one hand, it is sometimes difficult to prove authorship of a work by invoking copyright alone. Indeed, since copyright applies by default and no formalities are required, the date of creation of a work is sometimes difficult to prove. On the other hand, copyright applies only to works of the mind. It does not protect trademarks, designs or models. These elements must be protected by other means. These more time-consuming formalities must be carried out at the INPI.

To benefit from legal protection in France and internationally, it’s a good idea to register a copyright that is legally valid on national territory, as is the case with the one offered by Fidealis. With this solution, you can easily register, secure and prove your authorship of your creations, whatever their nature: logo, trademark, design, model, algorithm, idea or concept…

Fidealis, protection with peace of mind

A pioneering solution in the protection of designs and collections, combining electronic signature technologies, timestamping and blockchain. Your creative work is instantly officially certified and archived.

Find out how to register your copyright with Fidealis.

Find out more about the Berne Convention on the WIPO website.

Frequently asked questions