A property is simply defined as an asset that can be owned or legally claimed and maintained. Basically, there are two types of property, physical (tangible) and non physical (intangible), which is also called intellectual property. Examples of the former are houses, electrical appliances and other items, and examples of the latter are ideas enclosed or published in books and journals, including computer software and programmes (Taylor & Schaffer, n.d.).

Intellectual property (IP) is a complex issue. It is an asset that we can interact with both physically and mentally but is something that we can not feel, smell, or touch. It can be purchased and sold or temporarily rented out and this is called “positive rights”. Nevertheless, ownership consents to people to limit access to it and this is called “negative rights” (Taylor & Schaffer, n.d.).

Principally, there are many types of intellectual property including copyrights that can receive different legal actions. Copyright in its simplest sense refers to the official, lawful and legal protection of original works of authorship and ownership. This includes items such as fictional and non-fictional works, electronic software, pictures, movies, etc. According to The Copyright Council of New Zealand (2009), copyright is “a set of exclusive property rights given to owners in relation to their creations”.

According to Intellectual Property Office New Zealand (2009), copyright comes into existence every time a work is made, published. It protects literary works including multimedia works, computer programs, dramatic works, musical works, artistic, sound recordings, films, and communication works.

Astonishingly, copyright does not cover the ideas expressed in such activities and works. Nevertheless, it covers the ways ideas, notions and beliefs are expressed, planned, written and drawn. Copyright protections are by design, provided to the author of both published and unpublished. According to US Copyright Office (2009), the copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce, sell, lend, share, distribute copies out or transfer ownership.

According to New Zealand Copyright Council (2007), instructors and learners can make numerous copies of the whole or part of a work by hand as long as they are not reproducing the work by reprographicprocess. Reprography refers to the process of copying a work by photocopying, scanning including electronic files.

Owners have different ways of responses in terms of violations, depending on the type of intellectual property involved. Infringement can carry civil penalties. Serious cases of copyright infringement may also result in criminal prosecution. To be continued....

Reference

The Copyright Council of New Zealand. (2009).  An introduction to copyright in New Zealand. Retrieved  May 18, 2009, from   http://www.copyright.org.nz/ viewInfosheet.php?sheet=29 

Intellectual Property Office New Zealand. (2009). Copyright. Retrieved May, 18, 2009, retrieved from http://www.iponz.govt.nz/cms/copyright/what-is-copyright 

Taylor, J., & Schaffer, H. (n.d.).  Intellectual property. Retrieved  May 18, 2009, from http://faculty.chass.ncsu.edu/comstock/langure/modules/documents/Finaldraft.pdf

The Untied States Copyright Office. (2009). Copyright basics. Retrieved  May 18, 2009, from  http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.pdf