FINNISH COPYRIGHT CASE

The IPKat learns from Helsingin Sanomat of a Finnish copyright case. The Finnish Court of Appeals found that Lasihelmi Filmi, producer of ‘Man Exposed’ infringed the copyright of screenwriter Veli-Pekka Hänninen. It appears that the producer had failed in his assignment to ensure that he had sufficient rights to change the screenplay in the way that he wanted to. When the screenwriter refused his later request to make the changes, the producer made them anyway. Said the court:

"transfer of copyright does not include a more extensive right to change the work than what is agreed in the contract".

The IPKat says, it’s common sense, but if you take an assignment or licence, make sure you have the rights to do what you need to in respect of the work in question.