 |
A database can be protected as a literary work under the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
A database is also protected through the Copyright and Rights
in Databases Regulation 1997, which implements the EU Database
Directive.
This law provides
a ‘sui generis’ right to protecting databases irrespective
of whether there is copyright protection.
|
|
The ‘sui generis’ right exists where there is an investment
in the database.
A database right lasts for 15 years. However the extent and
scope of the ‘sui generis’ right is currently not
fully recognised, and many companies are losing out by failing
to protect their investments.
|
|
See News & Press
|
|
