Re: copyright filing in other countries

On Wed, 23 Feb 2000, Karen Porter <porterk[_at_]cpcuiia.org> wrote:
>
> I work for a nonprofit educational organization that publishes
> textbooks and other material for the insurance and risk management
> business. As we get more and more into translations of our materials
> into other languages in other countries (usually at the behest of
> insurance organizations in those countries), I need to know more
> about copyright considerations for these situations. For example,
> if a translator in another country translates one of our books (and
> we retain the copyright), should we register a copyright in that
> country? I know this might vary from country to country, but I have
> no authority right now to search. Does Berne preclude that filing?
> I need not so much advice from the list, but some pointers toward
> some very good basic publications that my library might order to
> help me figure out what I need to do. We have a general insurance
> library, and I am trying to avoid buying a very expensive treatise
> or looseleaf service. (We do not have a law library.) Any advice?

I am a lawyer that has been practising IP law in China since 1987. Although China is a signatory to the Berne Convention, it is advisable that one files a copyright in China to pro-actively protect their work. It is also advisable to have the translator sign a release agreement from any perceived authorship rights that may vest with them due to their translations.

Edward Lehman, Attorney
L&A Law Firm, China Lawyers, Patent & Trademark Agents Beijing International Club, Suite 188
21 Jianguomenwai Dajie
Beijing 100020 China
elehman[_at_]chinalaw.cc
http://www.chinalaw.cc/ Received on Sat Feb 26 2000 - 03:05:36 GMT