This is the third of a series of articles on basic law for web designers. The first two articles were on contractual issues. This article focuses on intellectual property and, in particular, on copyright.

The article answers the questions:

= What is intellectual property?

- What is copyright?

- What are moral rights? and

- What are related rights?

It considers what is protected by copyright, the works in which copyright can subsist and the nationality and residence qualifications for the subsistence of copyright.

The article also discusses the sources of law, namely the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and the international conventions to which HM government is party.

It covers the formalities for the subsistence of copyright, ownership, duration of copyright, how copyrights are infringed and enforcement.

Finally, it gives web designers four top tips:

1. Be careful what you copy

2. Plan for enforcement litigation

3. Assert your copyright, and

4. Take timely professional advice.