Data base rights, ownership and duration

22 March 2010

Data base rights, ownership and duration

By Paul Bicknell

Section 3A(1) of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 defines a database as a collection of independent works, data or other materials that are arranged in a systematic or methodical way and are individually accessible by electronic means.

The first owner of the database right is the person who created it.

The right lasts for 15 years starting from the end of the calendar year in which the data base is completed or first made available to the public.

By Paul Bicknell assistant to Izaz Ali (izaz.ali@lawdit.co.uk) Izaz Ali is a commercial Solicitor Advocate who specialises in information technology law and intellectual property law with an emphasis on IT, escrow and buying and selling online businesses.