Berne Convention

The Berne Convention is an international copyright treaty that requires member countries to protect literary and artistic works originating in other member countries, without formalities.

National treatment: A rule requiring a country to treat foreign works or people from treaty partners at least as favorably as its own. The convention makes each member protect works from other members under its own copyright law.
Statute of Anne: A 1710 English law that established a statutory copyright system for authors and booksellers. It is an early national model of author-centered copyright that preceded Berne.
Copyright registration: A formal process for recording a work or claim with a government copyright office. Berne generally prevents registration from being a condition of copyright protection.
Universal Copyright Convention: A 1952 copyright treaty designed to provide an alternative framework for countries not joining the Berne Union. It offered a route to international copyright cooperation with different requirements.
Berne Union: The union of countries bound by the Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works. Membership in this union determines which states owe one another Berne protections.
Automatic copyright: Copyright protection that arises without registration or another required formality. Berne bars members from making protection of covered works depend on formalities.
Victor Hugo: A French writer and politician whose advocacy helped build support for international literary copyright protection. His influence helped advance the movement that produced the convention.
Copyright term extension: A change that lengthens the period of copyright protection under national law. Berne’s minimum term has influenced countries that extended their terms beyond the treaty floor.
TRIPS Agreement: A World Trade Organization agreement requiring members to follow specified standards for intellectual-property protection. TRIPS incorporates many Berne obligations while adding trade-based enforcement requirements.
Territoriality of copyright: The principle that copyright is governed and enforced under the law of each territory where protection is claimed. Berne coordinates national protection without creating a single worldwide copyright.

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