Legal Question in Intellectual Property in United Kingdom

What is the legal status of a pdf file which has been created from an out of copyright book? Does the fact that the book has been scanned into a computer and a pdf generated, give the creator of the pdf copyright of the created file?


Asked on 11/15/09, 3:52 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Richard Howard Richard Howard & CO

Whilst it is possible for copyright to be created in new arrangements of existing works, it is doubtful that merely making a pdf copy could give rise to a separate copyright as this isn't really a Typographical arrangement requiring skill.

It might be useful to look at Newspaper Licensing Agency v Marks & Spencer plc 2002 House of Lords decision as there is a discussion about similar issues in it.

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Answered on 11/17/09, 5:11 am


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