Copyright arises whenever a work is created under qualifying conditions. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA) defines eight types of work (see Figure 2.1). EU law has reduced the significance of these definitions.

Works qualify for protection with reference to the nationality of the author or the place of publication—most countries of the world are qualifying countries.

Copyright is infringed by copying, broadcasting, etc the whole or a substantial part of a work (primary infringement) or dealing in infringing copies of a work (secondary infringement).