Copyright

if you put a copyright symbol on it and the date then it is your copyright, this does not cost money and still works.

no one, company, studio or agency can claim the work as their own unless they have a signed copyright assignation documents from the creator, prior to printing, duplicating or publishing the work, and that includes the internet.

if youre self employed, you usally own the interlectual property even if your work was commissioned by someone else - unless your contract with them gives them the rights.

The same goes both ways; never breach anothers copyright, it can cost you a lot of money and damage your reputation.

Public Domain: Generally speaking, artworks fall out of copyright and enter the

public domain in the UK 70 years after the death of the artist.

There are a few exceptions:

• Sound recordings, films, broadcasts and cable programmes are protected.

for 50 years from the date of making or the date of release if the release

occurs within 50 years of it being made.

• Engravings and photographs taken on or after 1 June 1957 that remained

unpublished on 1 August 1989 are protected until 2039, even if that is

longer than the life of the artist plus 70 years.

• Artworks that are made in an industrial process and marketed in sufficient

numbers may only be protected for a shorter period of 25 years

• Copyright in typographical arrangements of a published edition lasts for

25 years from the end of the year in which the edition was first published. 

Limitations: Meaning things that are NOT covered by personal copyright.

Facts.
Conceptual ideas not expressed in tangible form.
Public domain as mentioned. Expired items as also mentioned. 

Reproduction rights: What it is reproduced on.

On anything sold with your work applied. International reproduction.
Indemnity from those who incur you legal costs. ie: A child chokes on an item that carries
your work.
Bankruptcy of the users.
All advance payments of work cancelled to
be retained.
The right to have books audited on company failure.
No sub licensing of your work without permission and fee. Retention of all original works (if agreed) 

Liscencing your work: In some cases you may be asked to ‘licence’ your work.

ie: A stock illustration/image/design on which you may
wish to retain the copyright.

You can ‘limit’ the license you allow to that of single use, meaning that they can use it for a single time, as

opposed to using it on printed material, website and say, exhibitions as well. This mean you license and gain a fee for each use.

“If I paid for it... ...I must own it?”
Because you ‘physically’ own
the work,
it does NOT mean they

intellectually own it automatically unlessYOU have it assigned in writing to them. 

When you get a brief: When you get an enquiry that seems

to be heading towards a confirmed project and they send you a brief.
Acknowledge the receipt of the brief add some simple terms and conditions that will assure payment.
Keep it simple as some clients
are put off by ‘legalese’ and official looking contracts.
For example: I/we will undertake all work to the highest level possible. All work will be estimated and will only commence work on the full acceptance of said estimates.

All deadlines will be adhered to and you will be contacted in those rare cases that may delay any progress.
Any ‘New’ client will be expected to pay a deposit of (50%) of the estimated project prior
to commencement and full balance on supply of final files.
All payments will be transacted by Bank transfer and details will be supplied. Any copyright will be assigned on full and final payment of the brief.
Clients will be made aware of all licensing opportunities
that could be available.
Clients will issue a Purchase Order number prior to commencement of any work.

I/we look forward to commencing the project.

Sites and references: 

http://www.copyrighthub.co.uk/protect#
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/ how-agencies-are-cracking-down-creatives-who-post-unapproved-ads-164814
https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p10_duration