Copyrights Law in Maldives
Sure! Here’s an overview of Copyright Law in the Maldives:
📘 Copyright Law in the Maldives
🔹 Governing Law
The main legislation governing copyright in the Maldives is the Copyright Act of Maldives (Law Number 2/2009), which provides protection for intellectual property rights, including copyright.
🔹 What is Copyright?
Copyright in the Maldives protects original works including:
Literary works (books, articles, computer software)
Artistic works (paintings, sculptures, photographs)
Musical works and lyrics
Cinematographic works and audiovisual material
Sound recordings
Broadcasts
🔹 Duration of Copyright
General rule: Protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years after their death.
For works created by legal entities (e.g., corporations), copyright lasts for 70 years from the date of publication.
🔹 Rights of Copyright Holders
The exclusive right to reproduce and distribute the work
The right to perform or display the work publicly
The right to create derivative works or adaptations
The right to authorize others to use the work
🔹 Registration
Copyright protection in the Maldives arises automatically upon creation; registration is not mandatory.
However, the Maldives Intellectual Property Office (MIPO) offers voluntary registration as evidence of ownership which can assist in legal disputes.
🔹 Infringement & Enforcement
Unauthorized copying, distribution, public performance, or adaptation of copyrighted works constitutes infringement.
The law provides for both civil remedies (damages, injunctions) and criminal penalties (fines and imprisonment).
Enforcement actions can be taken through the courts and administrative bodies.
🔹 Exceptions / Fair Use
The law allows limited exceptions for:
Personal use and private study
Criticism and review
Reporting news
Educational purposes
Use must be reasonable and not harm the interests of the copyright owner.
🔹 International Treaties
The Maldives is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and is a party to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which mandates minimum copyright standards and automatic protection.
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