What does the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 protect?

The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 primarily protects intellectual property rights, particularly focusing on the rights of creators and owners of original works. This includes literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, as well as film and sound recordings. By securing these rights, the Act ensures that creators have control over the use of their works and can benefit financially from them.

This focus on intellectual property rights encompasses the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display artistic works, which are fundamental to the creative industry. The law empowers creators to license or sell their work, thereby enabling them to receive recognition and economic benefits.

Other options, such as advertising rights, trade secrets, and public domain works, do not fall under the specific protections offered by this Act. Advertising rights typically deal with the promotion of products and services rather than the ownership of creative works. Trade secrets protect confidential business information, while public domain works refer to materials not owned or controlled by anyone, which are freely accessible to the public. Therefore, the act's main emphasis on protecting intellectual property rights makes it clear why this is the correct answer.