Copyright is an exclusive rights to every creator granted under copyright law. The main body of the copyright is the author, and that is the copyright owner; whereas copyright object is the works of the author and they are protected by law. Copyright is for the protection of each author's original concept which is expressed in words and transformed into works.

Works refer to the fact of original and can be made copies in a tangible form, from an idea to the storyline, written down by writing into text work, paintings or comics. Works of literary, musical, drama, photography, work of art or architecture; product designs and computer programme are included.

In general, whether or not to register a copyright is a private decision. Copyright law does not require the registration of copyright works, as they are automatically copyrighted upon their completion. It is not necessary to register a copyright in Hong Kong, but in China . However, we encourage owners of copyright works to file applications for certificates of registration to facilitate future processing of following issues such as infringement, copyright transfer, change, cancellation and licensing. Services of copyright registration in Mainland China or the United States are provided by IPAS.

In order to protect IT programmes created, software programmers can register their written IT programmes through the software copyright registration

The copyright is effective from the date of completion of the work without any publication. In general, the copyright is protected for the lifetime of the author or creator and for a period of 50 years after his or her death.

For a collaborative work, it is known as a joint work and is created when two or more people contribute copyrightable authorship to a project. All the people who create a joint work own copyright of the work together. The term of protection of copyright for collaborative work is the life of the last author plus 50 years after his or her death. For the copyright to an entrusted work, it is in accordance with the form of contract; or it will under the copyright law to enforce if there is no contract obtained.

Where a copyright is sold or assigned, a related assignment must be signed by both parties concerned and be recorded with the Copyright Office, so as to protect both parties.