Which act governs copyright law in the UK?

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 is the primary legislation that governs copyright law in the UK. This act provides a comprehensive framework for the protection of original works, including literature, music, art, and certain other forms of creative output. It outlines the rights of authors and creators, detailing what constitutes copyright infringement and the duration of copyright protection.

The 1988 Act replaced earlier legislation and has been updated over the years to align with international agreements and advancements in technology. This includes provisions for digital works and the sharing of content through the internet.

Contrastingly, the other options represent either earlier frameworks or regulations that are not the primary source of copyright law in the UK. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1971 was superseded by the 1988 Act, while the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 mainly implement aspects of European Union directives relating to copyright but do not constitute the main governing act in the UK. The Intellectual Property Act 2014 includes provisions that relate to intellectual property but does not primarily govern copyright law itself. Hence, the 1988 Act remains the key legislation for copyright issues in the UK.