Copyrights Law in Réunion (France)
Réunion, as an overseas department and region of France, is fully integrated into the French legal system. Therefore, French copyright law (which is harmonized with European Union directives) applies in Réunion without any modification.
Here is a summary of the copyright laws applicable in Réunion:
📚 Governing Law:
Code de la propriété intellectuelle (Intellectual Property Code of France)
EU Directives on Copyright
International Treaties (Berne Convention, TRIPS, WIPO Copyright Treaty)
🧑🎨 What Copyright Protects:
French copyright law (and by extension, Réunion) protects:
Literary works (books, articles, software code)
Musical compositions
Cinematographic works
Photographs
Visual arts (paintings, drawings)
Software
Databases (with conditions)
⏳ Duration of Copyright:
Author's lifetime + 70 years after death
For anonymous or pseudonymous works: 70 years from publication
For collective works and certain other categories: 70 years after publication or creation
🧾 Moral Rights (Droit Moral):
France has strong moral rights, which:
Are perpetual, inalienable, and imprescriptible
Include:
Right of paternity (authorship)
Right to integrity of the work
Right to disclosure
Right of withdrawal
These rights cannot be waived or sold, even if economic rights are transferred.
💸 Economic Rights:
The author has the exclusive right to:
Reproduce the work
Distribute the work
Perform or display the work publicly
Adapt or modify the work
These rights can be transferred or licensed to others.
🧑⚖️ Enforcement in Réunion:
Enforcement occurs through French courts
Actions can be brought in local courts in Réunion, which are part of the national judiciary
Infringements can lead to:
Civil penalties (damages)
Injunctions
Criminal penalties in some cases
🇪🇺 European and International Context:
French copyright law is aligned with EU law
France is party to major international conventions (Berne, TRIPS, WIPO), so rights are respected across many jurisdictions
🤝 Collecting Societies in France:
SACEM (music rights)
ADAGP (visual arts)
SACD (dramatic and audiovisual works)
These organizations manage rights and enforce copyright on behalf of creators, including in Réunion.
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