Information: Advertisements

Original graphic works, including advertisements, are protected by copyright (see Information Sheet 14 Graphic Designs).

Advertisements are likely to be ‘composite’ works in that they may include more than one copyright work, e.g. artistic works in the photographs, illustrations and graphic designs, literary works in the form of text and they may also be protected as typographical arrangements. They may also include logos and registered trade marks.

Copyright in an advertisement may belong to more than one person or company e.g. advertising client, advertising agency or design company, designer or photographer. It is rare that copyright in advertisement will belong to the magazine or newspaper in which it appears.

Permission is needed from the copyright owner or owners before an advertisement may be reproduced in any form.

IS210412