Chapter I: Nature of copyright

The author of a work of the mind enjoys, by the sole fact of its creation, an exclusive intangible property right enforceable against all. This right comprises attributes of an intellectual and moral nature as well as attributes of an economic nature, which are determined by Books I and III of this Code. The existence or conclusion of a contract for the hire of work or service by the author…

The work is deemed to have been created, independently of any public disclosure, by the sole fact of the realisation, even unfinished, of the author’s conception.

Intangible property as defined by Article L. 111-1 is independent of ownership of the tangible object. As a result of this acquisition, the acquirer of this object is not invested with any of the rights provided for by this Code, except in the cases provided for by the provisions of the second and third paragraphs of Article L. 123-4. These rights subsist in the person of the author or his…

Subject to the provisions of international conventions to which France is a party, in the event that, after consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, it is established that a State does not provide works disclosed for the first time in France in any form whatsoever with sufficient and effective protection, works disclosed for the first time on the territory of that State do not benefit from the protection recognised…

Subject to international conventions, the rights granted in France to authors of software by this code are granted to foreigners on condition that the law of the State of which they are nationals or on the territory of which they have their domicile, registered office or effective place of business grants protection to software created by French nationals and by persons having their domicile or effective place of business in…