Copyright is governed by the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 and is intended to protect against others copying and exploiting the form in which a copyright exists (a "work"). It does not, however, protect the idea behind the work.
The copyright, whether it be in a literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work or mechanical rights (sound recordings, film etc.) is generally owned by the author unless he assigns the rights to another. In addition to works already created, the author can agree to assign the rights of works to be created in the future.