A copyright lawyer helps creators, developers and companies understand what their work protects, who owns the rights and how to act when copying is suspected. This page addresses Israeli law. The work also connects copyright with other intellectual property rights, such as trademarks, designs, patents and trade secrets.
What Israeli Copyright Law Protects
The Copyright Act 2007 protects original literary, artistic, dramatic and musical works that are fixed in any form, as well as sound recordings. A computer program is treated as a literary work under the Act.
The Act does not make registration a condition for copyright to exist. In practice, therefore, it is important to document the work and the date it was created. As a general rule, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. Special terms apply to certain types of works.
How a Copyright Lawyer Can Help
- Reviewing the rights: what exactly is protected, who the author is, who the owner is, and which documents prove it.
- Documentation: organizing evidence of the creation date and versions, including code, designs and content.
- Agreements: licences, assignments and commissioned-work agreements that state clearly who holds the rights and what may be done with the work.
- Suspected infringement: documenting the use, assessing the options, a warning letter and negotiation, and, where needed, support in proceedings.
- Other rights: checking whether a trademark, a registered design, a patent or trade secret protection should also be used.
When to Speak with a Copyright Lawyer
The best time is before signing with a developer, designer or content supplier. At that stage, it is easier to agree who will hold the rights. It also makes sense to seek advice before investors review ownership of your code or content.
However, if you discover that your work is being used without permission, document the use first. A quick reaction without checking ownership and evidence can weaken your position. For practical guidance on documenting works, see our page on copyright registration and fixation.
Copyright in Deals with Investors and Partners
Investors and partners want to know that the rights in the work sit with the company. Therefore, rights in works created before the company was formed, or by founders, employees or service providers, should be settled in writing. When you share content or code with a third party, a confidentiality agreement is also worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register copyright in Israel?
The Act does not make registration a condition for copyright to exist. Even so, clear records of the work and its creation date help prove ownership.
How long does copyright last?
As a general rule, for the life of the author plus 70 years. Certain types of works have special terms, so the type of work matters.
Is software code protected by copyright?
Yes, a computer program is treated as a literary work, subject to the conditions of the Act. Protection covers the expression of the code, so other forms of protection are also worth reviewing.
Sources: the Copyright Act on WIPO Lex (unofficial English translation) and the official Hebrew text published by the Knesset.
This page is general information and does not replace legal advice on the facts of a specific case.
If you are about to sign a development or commissioning agreement, or you have found your work being used without permission, an initial conversation can help clarify the situation and the options. Call +972-3-9711013.