Höfundarrétturinn

Höfundarrétturinn, or copyright, is a legal right granted to creators of original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and certain other intellectual works. In Iceland, this right is primarily governed by the Copyright Act (Lög um höfundarrétt). This law protects the creator's exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works based on their original creation.

The protection afforded by copyright arises automatically upon the creation of an original work, and registration is generally not required for the copyright to be valid. The duration of copyright protection varies, but typically lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years after their death. For certain types of works, such as anonymous or pseudonymous works, the term may be calculated differently.

Copyright holders have the right to authorize or prohibit others from using their work. Infringement occurs when someone uses a copyrighted work without permission in a way that violates the exclusive rights of the copyright holder. Remedies for infringement can include injunctions, damages, and even criminal penalties.

There are exceptions and limitations to copyright, such as provisions for private copying, quotation, criticism, and educational use, provided these uses do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the copyright holder. The Icelandic copyright system aims to balance the rights of creators with the public interest in accessing and using creative works.