UK Copyright Law for Artists (No Law Degree Required) | ArtLicenseStudio Blog

Copyright law sounds intimidating. It's not—at least, not the parts that matter for artists. Here's what you actually need to know.

Good News: You Already Have Copyright

In the UK, copyright exists automatically the moment you create original work. No registration, no paperwork, no fee. You make it, you own it.

This protection lasts your entire lifetime plus 70 years. (Your great-grandkids might appreciate it, who knows.)

"Moral Rights" — Your Secret Weapon

UK law gives you two extra rights that most artists don't even know about:

Right of attribution — You must be credited as the creator
Right of integrity — You can object if someone mutilates or distorts your work in a way that harms your reputation

The wild part: These rights can't be sold. Ever. You can waive them (choose not to enforce), but you can't transfer them. Even if you sell the copyright entirely, moral rights stick with you.

Licensing vs. Selling: Know the Difference

This is where people get confused:

Licensing = "You can use this artwork under these specific conditions. I still own it."
Selling (assignment) = "This is yours now. I have no rights to it anymore."

Most of the time, you want to license, not sell. You keep ownership, can license to multiple buyers (if non-exclusive), and maintain control over your work.

What Makes a Good Licence?

A proper licence answers these questions:

What can they do with it? (Web, print, merchandise, etc.)
For how long? (1 year, 5 years, perpetual)
Where? (UK only, worldwide, specific regions)
Is it exclusive? (Can you sell to others too?)
Do you get credit? (Attribution requirements)
How much? (Payment terms)

Vague licences = future disputes. Clear licences = everyone knows where they stand.

The TL;DR

You own copyright automatically when you create something
Moral rights are extra protections that can't be sold
Licensing = renting out usage rights. Selling = giving up ownership
Good licences are specific and clear

Art Licence Studio generates UK-compliant licences automatically. You focus on the art; we handle the legal paperwork. Deal?

"Moral Rights" — Your Secret Weapon

UK law gives you two extra rights that most artists don't even know about:

Right of attribution — You must be credited as the creator

Right of integrity — You can object if someone mutilates or distorts your work in a way that harms your reputation

The wild part: These rights can't be sold. Ever. You can waive them (choose not to enforce), but you can't transfer them. Even if you sell the copyright entirely, moral rights stick with you.

Licensing vs. Selling: Know the Difference

This is where people get confused:

Licensing = "You can use this artwork under these specific conditions. I still own it."

Selling (assignment) = "This is yours now. I have no rights to it anymore."

Most of the time, you want to license, not sell. You keep ownership, can license to multiple buyers (if non-exclusive), and maintain control over your work.

What Makes a Good Licence?

A proper licence answers these questions:

What can they do with it? (Web, print, merchandise, etc.)

For how long? (1 year, 5 years, perpetual)

Where? (UK only, worldwide, specific regions)

Is it exclusive? (Can you sell to others too?)

Do you get credit? (Attribution requirements)

How much? (Payment terms)

Vague licences = future disputes. Clear licences = everyone knows where they stand.

The TL;DR

You own copyright automatically when you create something

Moral rights are extra protections that can't be sold

Licensing = renting out usage rights. Selling = giving up ownership

Good licences are specific and clear

Art Licence Studio generates UK-compliant licences automatically. You focus on the art; we handle the legal paperwork. Deal?