Copyrights Law in Serbia
Sure! Here's an overview of Copyright Law in Serbia as of the latest information available:
Copyright Law in Serbia
Legal Framework
Primary legislation: The main law governing copyright and related rights in Serbia is the Law on Copyright and Related Rights (Zakon o autorskom i srodnim pravima), adopted in 2004 and amended several times since.
Serbia is a member of international treaties related to copyright, including:
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Rome Convention
TRIPS Agreement (under the World Trade Organization)
It also aligns its law with the EU directives on copyright as part of its EU accession efforts.
Subject Matter of Protection
Copyright protects original literary, artistic, and scientific works, including:
Books, articles, and other written works
Musical compositions, lyrics, and recordings
Cinematographic works
Visual arts (paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs)
Software and databases
Architectural works
Rights Granted
Economic rights: Exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, display, broadcast, and adapt the work.
Moral rights: The right to claim authorship, the right to prevent distortion or modification that could harm the author's reputation.
Economic rights can be transferred or licensed; moral rights are generally inalienable and perpetual.
Duration of Protection
Copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years after their death.
For works of joint authorship, the term is 70 years after the death of the last surviving author.
For anonymous or pseudonymous works, 70 years from the date of lawful publication.
Related rights (performers, producers of phonograms, broadcasters) are protected for 50 years from the date of performance, fixation, or broadcast.
Exceptions and Limitations
Serbian law provides for certain exceptions similar to “fair use,” including:
Use for private, non-commercial purposes
Quotations for criticism or review
Use for educational and scientific purposes
Use by libraries, archives, and museums for preservation
These exceptions are generally narrowly construed.
Enforcement
Copyright infringement can lead to civil, administrative, and criminal penalties.
Civil remedies include injunctions, damages, and seizure of infringing copies.
Criminal sanctions can apply for willful infringement on a commercial scale.
Registration
Copyright protection arises automatically upon creation and fixation of the work; registration is not required but can be used as evidence in disputes.
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