Page:Copyright Act 2021.pdf/95

96 Assignment—assignment of future copyright

140.—(1) A future copyright may be assigned by the person who would be the copyright owner when the copyright comes into existence.

(2) Where a future copyright is assigned, the copyright will, when it comes into existence—
 * (a) vest in the assignee or the assignee’s successor in title, as the case may be; and
 * (b) not vest in the person who would otherwise be the first owner under section 133, 134, 135 or 136.

(3) In this section and section 141, “future copyright” means a copyright that will come into existence in the future.

Licences—licence of future copyright

141.—(1) A licence may be granted in respect of a future copyright by the person who would be the copyright owner when the copyright comes into existence.

(2) Section 143 applies to a licence of a future copyright as it applies to the licence of a subsisting copyright.

Licences—formalities for exclusive licence

142. An exclusive licence of a copyright is valid only if it is—
 * (a) made in writing; and
 * (b) signed by or on behalf of the owner or prospective owner of the copyright.

Licences—licence binds successors in title to copyright except bona fide purchaser

143. Where the owner of a copyright grants a licence of the copyright—
 * (a) in the case of a licence granted on or after 1 July 2004 to the Government or a public body—the licence binds every successor in title to the copyright; and