Copyright

Introduction to Copyright

Copyright represents a collection of exclusive rights held by creators over their original works, including authority over how their creations are utilised and distributed.

The general principles related to copyright are specified in the Berne Convention, an international treaty which has been ratified by the vast majority of countries in the world and whose main purpose is to provide uniformity of copyright and similar rights across the globe.

By default, copyright functions under an “all rights reserved” model, restricting others from accessing, copying, modifying, or sharing work without explicit authorisation. Licences serve as the mechanism to grant these permissions.

Copyright at CERTH

At CERTH, employed personnel (including permanent researchers, engineers, and affiliated staff) typically have the works produced within the scope of their professional activities held by their respective CERTH Institute as the copyright owner, in accordance with Greek employment and intellectual property law.

Before publishing any work that incorporates third-party contributions, securing signed agreements or valid licences from the relevant copyright holders is essential. This applies equally to code, documentation, datasets, and design files.