Copyright symbols and other copyright notices

How do you deal with a copyright symbol©, a watermark, a notice such as “all rights reserved” or with similar markings? Such distinctive signs on works often cause uncertainty as they give the impression that the work is protected by copyright due to these markings....

Protection outside copyright

Copyright is not the only legal aspect which must be considered when you want to use the content of a work. There are other statutory, contractual or ethical regulations which can play a role irrespective of whether a work is protected by copyright or not and whether...

1.5-1 A professor teaching at the University of Neuchâtel and Lyon wants to publish a photo that he took of Zurich station and which features the Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture on his French-language blog on railway history. How should this be approached?

The lecturer’s blog can be considered as aimed at French and Swiss audiences, which implies that France and Switzerland can be considered as the places where the work can be accessed. While the use of the photo may not cause any problems in Switzerland (here...

Connecting factor of an “online” offence

For example, as defined in disputes, French case law has retained the operative factor criteria, i.e. the place the work was published online (Cass., Civ. 1, 30 January 2007, no.03-12354), the place where the damage took place (TGI Paris, chapter 3, section 2,...

1.4-2 A French translator living in France signs a contract with the University of Geneva to transfer the copyright for a translation. They do not stipulate the applicable law. Suppose the Geneva courts would be competent, which law applies?

As the translator is transferring her copyrights, the court in Geneva will apply the Swiss international private law (IPLA).This stipulates in Art. 122.1 IPLA that the law of the country of residence of the translator (hence the person that transfers its copyrights)...

1.4-1 A French national living in France but studying in Switzerland is mandated by his university to translate a German novel. They stipulated in the contract that Swiss law is applicable. Is this mandatory for everybody, even for third persons?

Within the contractual relation between the student and the University Swiss law will be applicable, because the parties used their “contractual autonomy” and chose the applicable law (Art. 116 IPLA). Conversely, in dealings with third persons (not involved in the...

Mandatory provisions

Even in cases where foreign law would be applicable, but the national law provides a mandatory provision in this situation, the competent courts have to apply this provision instead of the applicable foreign law. In Switzerland, this is fixed in Article 18 ILPA. Thus...