Can this be copyrighted?

daryl4356 · New Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Hi,
I was wondering if you can copyright the way a picture makes a phrase? for example if i was to use two pictures to make a phrase can you copyright the idea to that? or could anyone use different pics of the same thing to do the same?

also where is the best place to get things a copyright online, which site would you recommend to be the easiest and best value?

Thanks for your help

CopyrightAid · Site Admin Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 138

Hi

You cannot protect the 'idea' of something, copyright applies to tangible recorded works - a painting, a photo, a document, etc.

If you create your own images (i.e. if you take a photo), that image will be protected by copyright as an work of artistic content. Similarly if you combine 2 pictures you have taken to create another item (which I think is what you mean - sorry if I misunderstood), that would also be subject to copyright as an artistic work.

As to where I would register - I would always use the UKCS as they have the most comprehensive registration facilities I know of (certainly better and faster than the US Copyright Office).
Their site is at http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/ - and on your earlier point, they also have a fact sheet explaining the situation with ideas.

daryl4356 · New Member Joined: 17 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Hi, Thanks for your response, and advice where to register the copyrights, i have looked through the site and it is just what i was after. I was just hoping you could clarify one point regarding my intitial post. i was wondering if i was to use say two pieces of clipart, i will use an example of a picture of an eye and a picture of pea pod, put the pictures together and they would spell out Eye & Pod or Ipod, I am hoping to use two pictures to spell out certain words/phrases and get these copyrighted, I used Ipod above which is already a copyrighted word but the words phrases i will be creating wont be copyrighted products terms or phrases in anyway. can this be done?

Thanks

CopyrightAid · Site Admin Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 138

You will have copyright to the artwork that you created.

Words and phrases are not subject to copyright in their own right though - i.e. you cannot have copyright on the word 'iPod' (that would be covered by passing off legislation, and in the case of 'iPod' probably trademark too), but you will be the copyright owner to the original artwork that you create.

P.S. You only have copyright to work that you create. You mention clipart - the copyright of this will of course belong to the clipart creator.