The subject of copyright protection in municipal offices

Purpose: Copyright management and protection are an essential element of the activities and development of municipal offices. As part of their functioning, various solutions are created and applied in the field of products of human creative activity, subject to legal protection, which results in the need to ensure proper protection of copyright for authors. The scope and subject of this protection are determined by the provisions of the Act of 4 February 1994 on Copyright and Related Rights (The Act, 2022, Item 2509). The aim of this article is to answer the question of what are the main categories of works created, used and distributed in municipal offices. Design/methodology/approach: The basis for the considerations is the subject literature and the analysis of the legal provisions in force in the area discussed. Findings: Copyright protection plays an important role in the activities of the municipal office. In order to ensure the proper functioning of local government units (at all levels), knowledge of copyright protection is a key element. Municipal offices use not only works to which they have exclusive rights, but also those to which other entities (e.g. contractors or parties to administrative proceedings) have copyright. Knowledge of the principles of protection of a work under copyright law can contribute to better implementation of tasks by local government units. Practical implications: It would be beneficial if local government units raised their awareness of copyright to works both created within these entities and used by them. Raising consciousness and knowledge of respecting copyright can minimize the number of disputes in this regard. Originality/value: This article addresses the issue of managing intellectual property rights in an organization, which is an important aspect from the perspective of the municipality. Keywords: intellectual property, copyright, municipal office, work. Category of the paper: viewpoint, literature review.