Copyright exists automatically and is the only thing (in law) that one gets for nothing. In South Africa no registration procedure is possible.

Copyright exists in pictures, paintings, books, software, photos and similar works. Generally the owner of the copyright is the author of the work: with an exception: should the work, eg a drawing be created in the course and scope of employment that work will belong to the employer.

In order to protect copyright, one must be able to prove that one is the author thereof. It is therefore essential to retain all notes, advertising pamphlets and manuals showing the origination and or development of the work.

The symbol © serves to indicate that there is copyright in a particular work. If one wants to indicate that copyright exists in a work, this symbol should be used with the addition of the date on which the work was first published and an indication of the author or owner of the copyright.

Copyright gives the owner the right to stop others from reproducing or adapting (ie. copying) the work.