In today’s digital age, applications (Apps) have become an indispensable part of people’s daily lives, from shopping, payment, to entertainment and education. However, with the rapid development of the application industry, protecting the intellectual property rights of the authors who create these software is becoming increasingly important. Registering copyright for applications not only helps protect the legitimate rights of individuals and organizations that produce and develop Apps, but also encourages innovation and creativity in the technology industry. So how to register copyright for Apps? Follow the article of VCD below.
1. What is App copyright?
App is an abbreviation of the word application translated into Vietnamese as application. This is a type of program that helps devices such as computers and mobile phones operate and directly perform a task according to the user’s purpose. For example, Apps such as shopping, payment, entertainment, games, etc.
Copyright, also known as authorship, is a term in the field of Intellectual Property. Copyright is the right of an individual or organization to a work they create or own. Individuals and organizations holding copyright have the right to own and exploit benefits related to the work. Therefore, the law protects their basic rights to the work.
Application copyright (App) is understood as the act of individuals and organizations that create or legally own a copyright to register the copyright so that the law can protect their rights to that App.
2. How to register copyright for applications (Apps).
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 6 of the current Intellectual Property Law, copyright arises from the moment a work is created and expressed in a certain material form, regardless of content, quality, form, means, language, whether published or not, registered or not.
Thus, according to the provisions of the law, copyright registration for the App is not mandatory. This application will be automatically protected when it is created and expressed in a certain material form. However, to proactively protect their property in case of a dispute, the authors and owners of the App should register the copyright for the App as a basis for legal proof.
Registering the copyright of the App by registering the copyright is intended to confirm ownership of the registered work in order to create a legal basis to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of the author and owner of the App.
According to Article 22 of the current Intellectual Property Law, computer software is a type of work protected by copyright. Copyright for software includes personal rights (naming, ownership, protecting the integrity of the software) and property rights (copying, distributing, transferring, leasing). An App is a type of work in which the application software is included in computer programs. So, registering copyright for an App is similar to preparing a file to register copyright for computer software.
The file to register copyright for an App includes:
- Application form for copyright registration for an App.
- ID card of the author who created the work.
- Business registration of the company if the owner belongs to the company.
- 02 printed copies of the App code.
- 02 CDs with the name of the work.
- Power of attorney if the submitter is an authorized person.
- Documents proving the right to submit the application if the applicant enjoys that right from another person due to inheritance, transfer, or succession.
- Written consent of co-authors if the work has co-authors.
- Written consent of co-owners if the copyright is related to joint ownership.
- In addition, there are other documents such as: Design rental contract, work assignment decision, declaration, etc. (if any).
Individuals and organizations submit software copyright registration applications to the Copyright Office at the following addresses:
- Copyright Information Office – No. 33, Lane 294, Kim Ma, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi;
- Representative Office of the Copyright Office – No. 170 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City;
- Representative Office of the Copyright Office – No. 58 Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City.
Applications can be submitted directly to the Copyright Office or by post. The Copyright Office will review the application to ensure that the source code and accompanying documents meet the protection requirements.
After the application is approved, the Copyright Office will issue a Certificate of Copyright Registration for the application software, helping to confirm the author’s legal ownership.
Above is the article “How to register copyright protection for applications (Apps)?” sent to you by VCD. We hope this article is useful to you.
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