Copyright and Your Drawing

• An artist’s observations on copyright

Copyright regulates how you share drawings (or books, films, CDs etc.).

Ideas can not be copyright protected. Drawing itself is not regulated by copyright.

All your drawings are your copyright. This includes drawings you make using software. As soon as you publish your drawing (online or on paper) you assert your copyright in it. It’s not necessary to register your drawings for copyright protection unless it’s a design.

If you would like to allow others to use your drawings without first seeking your permission, you should apply a Creative Commons (CC) license to your work. To do this simply choose the type of CC licence you would like and apply it to your works (you can copy and paste the CC logo from their website you still do not need to register your drawing).

• Types of creative commons licences

As the creator of your work you have a legal right to share it under any copyright license. The University normally doesn’t assert ownership of your work.

If your drawings of people presents readily identifiable individuals then there might be a data protection issue. This would only arise if a claim were to be made by the individuals.

There is no copyright in a face (like no copyright in an idea or a fact).

When adapting other’s works in your drawings you are making the images your own.

The Act which regulates copyright doesn’t proscribe “Artistic Works” (includes drawings) in the sections relevant to adaptation Ss.21 Infringement by making adaptation or act done in relation to adaptation.

What are the issues between consent and drawing?

Students drawing anatomical still life from deceased subjects may have to consider contractual obligations surrounding the donation of the body.

For more information please read the IPO’s guidance on Copyright, Digital Images, Photographs and the Internet

Please ask if you have questions or would like formal guidance on the Uni website.