How to Copyright a Drawing or Sketch?

Copyright is an intellectual property right which arises automatically once you have created your work. There is a wide range of works which attract copyright protection, however we will be concentrating on drawings and sketches in this article. Contrary to what many people believe, in the UK we do not have a registerable copyright system unlike what can be found in the USA. Therefore, it is important to remember that as soon as you have created your drawing or your sketch, copyright shall vest it in, and as the author of that drawing, you will be the copyright owner.

The threshold for copyright protection in the UK is low. Meaning that copyright protection is not subjective, and even a drawing by an artist and a 5 year old child will still have the same enforcement rights so to protect their works.

It is important to remember that although copyright arises automatically in your drawing, and although you will be able to enforce your rights against a potential infringer, you will need to show proof that you are in fact the owner of copyright. It is suggested to always ensure you have a detailed and dated log of your drawings. This will help you in the long run in the unfortunate event you do need to rely on copyright protection. If you have any questions about the duration of copyright protection, please see my article titled “How Long Does Copyright Last?”.

If you require assistance in respect of a copyright infringement matter, do feel free to contact one of our expert solicitors on info@briffa.com.

Written by Tom Staveley – Solicitor