Copyrights Law in Suriname
Certainly! Here’s an overview of Copyright Law in Suriname:
Copyright Law in Suriname
Legal Framework
The main legislation regulating copyright in Suriname is the Copyright Act of 2004 (Wet op het Auteursrecht, 2004).
Suriname is a party to several international copyright treaties, including:
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Rome Convention
The country also aligns with TRIPS Agreement standards through its WTO membership.
Subject Matter Protected
Copyright protection applies to original works such as:
Literary works (books, articles, software)
Musical compositions and lyrics
Artistic works (paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs)
Cinematographic works and audiovisual creations
Sound recordings
Broadcasts and other related works
Rights Granted
Economic rights: Include reproduction, distribution, public performance, broadcasting, rental, and making adaptations.
Moral rights: Include the right to be identified as the author and to object to modifications that harm the author’s reputation.
Economic rights may be assigned or licensed; moral rights are typically inalienable.
Duration of Protection
Copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years after the author’s death.
For anonymous or pseudonymous works, protection is 70 years from the date of publication.
Related rights (performers, producers, broadcasters) are protected for 50 years from the date of fixation or performance.
Exceptions and Limitations
Suriname law provides limited exceptions, including:
Use for private, non-commercial purposes
Quotation for purposes of criticism or review
Use in education and research
Library and archival use for preservation
Exceptions are applied carefully and do not undermine the rights holder’s interests.
Enforcement
Copyright infringement can lead to civil remedies such as damages, injunctions, and confiscation of infringing copies.
Criminal sanctions apply in cases of willful infringement on a commercial scale.
Enforcement can be pursued through the courts.
Registration
Copyright protection arises automatically on creation of the work; no formal registration is required.
Registration, if available, may serve as evidence in disputes but is not mandatory.
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