The Universal Copyright Convention (UCC), adopted in 1952, is one of the main international treaties governing copyright. It is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The UCC provides two main types of copyright protection:
1. Copyright protection for works originating in countries that are party to the Convention (known as member countries or contracting states); and
2. Copyright protection for works published in a country that is not a party to the Convention (known as an unpublished work).
The UCC defines a work as any literary, scientific or artistic production in any medium, whether published or unpublished.
The Convention requires member countries to provide copyright protection for works originating in other member countries. This protection is automatic and does not require the author to register the work or to comply with any other formalities.
The Convention also requires member countries to provide copyright protection for unpublished works, such as manuscripts and letters. This protection is not automatic and the author must comply with certain formalities in order for the work to be protected.
The UCC is important for publishers because it requires member countries to provide copyright protection for works originating in other member countries. This protection is automatic—no registration or other formalities are required. In addition, the UCC provides for certain rights of reproduction and distribution, which are important for publishers in the digital age.
The UCC is also important for libraries and archives. Under the UCC, libraries and archives are allowed to make copies of copyrighted works for the purpose of preserving them or making them available to the public.
The UCC is important for authors and publishers because it provides a uniform set of copyright rules that are recognized by all signatory countries. This means that an author’s copyright is protected in all UCC countries, and a publisher can confidently print and distribute a book without fear of infringement. The UCC also provides for the enforcement of copyright laws, which is important for preventing piracy.