Copyright is a property right, giving the holder the
exclusive right to control reproduction or adaptation
of their work for a certain period of time.
Copyright law protects against unauthorised use and
provides a business framework for dealing in intellectual
property.
Copyright law applies globally and is regulated by
a number of international treaties and conventions,
so wherever you are in the world, and however you
wish to reproduce the material, you must obtain the
prior, written consent of the rights holder or their
agent.
Using material without prior consent exposes you to
legal action from the rights holder. A breach of copyright
can lead to severe financial penalties and in some
cases criminal liability, no matter how innocuous
the use may seem.
Whether you wish to reproduce content for commercial
purposes or personal use the same rules apply.
All Guardian, Observer and Guardian Unlimited content
is copyright, whether marked © or not and the syndication
department will advise on any possible reproduction.
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