Protection of technical projects in copyright

Streszcz. ang. s. 38

The paper analyses a different approach to the originality of technical drawings, the delineation of protected subjects by copyright in the field of technics and focuses on the scope of protection awarded to technical drawings. The paper argues that the copyright protection of engineering drawings should be restricted to the exclusive right to reproduce them in a form of drawings, and not extend to prohibition of the production of the device or the construction of real technical subjects on the basis of the drawings. The author highlights the main differences between the patent and copyright laws and examines the main purpose of and related policy implications of each of those fields. The author argues that too far-reaching copyright protection of technology-related categories of works would be detrimental to circulation and dissemination of innovation. The purpose of the paper is to stimulate debate on originality in copyright and the scope of copyright protection of technical and technological subjects taking into consideration that the nature of technical works affords adequate protection.