upphovsrättslagen

Upphovsrättslagen, or the Copyright Act, is the Swedish legislation that governs the protection of literary and artistic works. It establishes exclusive rights for creators over their original works, preventing unauthorized reproduction, distribution, and public performance. The law aims to encourage creativity and innovation by ensuring that creators can benefit from their work.

The scope of copyright protection under Swedish law covers a wide range of works, including books, music, films, paintings, photographs, software, and architectural designs. For a work to be protected, it must be original, meaning it originates from the author and is not a copy of another work. There is no formal registration process required for copyright protection in Sweden; it arises automatically upon the creation of the work.

The rights granted by copyright are typically divided into economic rights and moral rights. Economic rights allow the creator to control the commercial exploitation of their work, such as making copies or distributing it. Moral rights, on the other hand, protect the author's personal connection to their work, including the right to be attributed as the author and to object to any distortion or mutilation of the work.

The duration of copyright protection in Sweden generally extends for 70 years after the death of the author. Once the copyright expires, the work enters the public domain and can be used freely by anyone. There are certain exceptions and limitations to copyright, such as provisions for private use, quotation, and educational purposes, which are designed to balance the rights of creators with the public interest. Enforcement of copyright is handled through civil and criminal proceedings.