Copyrights Law in Artsakh
The Republic of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, was a self-declared independent entity in the South Caucasus. It declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991, but was not internationally recognized. In September 2023, following a military offensive by Azerbaijan, the president of Artsakh signed a decree to dissolve all of the republic's institutions by January 2024, effectively bringing its existence to an end
🧾 Copyright Law in Artsakh
Artsakh enacted its own copyright law in 2002. Article 27 of this law established the following terms for copyright protection
Standard works: 50 years after the author's death.
Anonymous works: 50 years after publication.
Posthumous works: 50 years after publication.
Collective and audiovisual works: 50 years after publication, unless the authors were identified. In such cases, the identified authors exercised rights over their specific contributions .
Despite Azerbaijan extending the copyright term to 70 years in 2013, Artsakh's law maintained the 50-year term, and it is presumed that authors agreed to the uncopyrightability of their works based on Artsakh's law .
🚫 Works Not Protected
Similar to Azerbaijan and Armenia, Artsakh's copyright law did not protect certain types of works, including:
Communications on daily news or current events that are press information.
Official documents (laws, decisions, decrees, etc.) and their official translations.
State emblems and signs (flags, coats of arms, medals, monetary signs, etc.).
Results obtained by technical means without human creative activity .(
🏛️ Current Status
Since Artsakh is no longer a functioning entity and has been absorbed into Azerbaijan, its copyright laws are no longer in effect. Currently, the laws of Azerbaijan apply to works created or published in the territory that was once Artsakh. Azerbaijan's copyright law, enacted in 1996 and amended several times, governs the protection of copyrights and related rights within its jurisdiction
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