Dinner for two?

01-02-2011

Kristine S. Snyder

The popularity and globalisation of reality television programmes has increased the value of television formats. However, such formats or concepts regularly are not protected by copyright law.

Norwegian district court rules against copyright protection for television format

The popularity and globalisation of reality television programmes has increased the value of television formats. However, such formats or concepts regularly are not protected by copyright law. Television programmes may therefore be produced or copied without a licence granted by their inventor.

A recent decision made by the Oslo District Court confirmed that television formats typically are not works that receive copyright protection. The case is the first in Norway to address this question, one that has been troubling the courts in many other countries for some time.


Television, copyright protection

WIPR