For decades  Germans have been watching "Tatort" (in English "Crime Scene") on Sunday evenings. It is a famous crime series in which each episode shows a different crime movie of about 90 minutes. „Tatort“ is created by several different directors, and every one of them has created his own detective with his own personal work and lifestyle in one of Germany’s cities (similar to the much younger US series "CSI").  The „Tatort“ series has brought forward the talent of many directors and the G erman audience loved the various detectives and with which the different actors were associated with. Fact is, that  „Tatort“ has entertained many generations in Germany - watching detectives appearing, aging and retiring with the years. Weiterlesen über No money for the creator of the famous “Tatort“ opening scene.

Just a few days before Europe headed into the 2010 Christmas break the General Court released a range of decisions that had a very festive topic as if the Court had scheduled it right on time to get into the right Christmas mood. The Court dealt with the question whether the three-dimensional form of a chocolate object and/or its wrapping was suitable to be registered as a Community Trademark. In this specific case, the decisions dealt with a particular shape of a sitting chocolate Easter Bunny (Case No. T-395/08), the same bunny but in a golden wrapping and a red pleated ribbon with a bell around its neck (Case No. T-336/08), a reindeer, also in a golden wrapping with the same red ribbon and bell around its neck (Case No. T-337/08) and finally the red pleated ribbon with the bell itself (Case No. T-346/08). Weiterlesen über How distinctive is the Easter Bunny? Or Rudolph the red-nosed trademark?

Instead of the ©, there might be a reference to §§ 53, 54 UrhG, which regulate the admissibility of replication and the duty of compensation, and to § 106 UrhG, regulating the criminal liability of unauthorized use. Weiterlesen über What does the sign © mean?

1. Lingual works as writings, speeches, computer programs
2. Works of music
3. Pantomimical works and dance art
4. Fine arts, including architecture and applied art, as well as there outlines
5. Photographical works, including similarly constructed works
6. Film works including similarly developed  works
7. Scientific and technical representations e.g. drawings, plans, maps, outlines, etc.

The copyright comes into existance with the creation of the work, not depending on its publication. An unpublished manuscript contains the same copyright protection as a painting exhibited in a museum. In contrast to trademarks, designs and patents, the copyright does not have to be registered and no fees. Weiterlesen über What is a Copyright?