What si the status of Copyrights in Sri Lanka

National Intellectual Property Office – Sri Lanka

The National Intellectual Property Office of Sri Lanka established under the Intellectual Property Act No 36 of 2003 is mandated with the administration of the intellectual Property System in Sri Lanka. It was first established on January 1, 1982 with the same mandate under the provisions of Code of intellectual property Act no 52 of 1979.

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What is copyright
Copyright means the rights given by law to the creators for their literary and artistic works. The rights takes two forms (a) economic rights and (b) moral rights. The economic rights include the right to reproduce, sell, rent, distribute, communicate to the public, translate etc whereas the moral rights cover the right to claim the authorship and right to oppose distortion or mutilation of the work.

Why protected
Copyright protects the rights of the authors of literary and artistic works and ensures them the economic benefits and recognition thereby promoting creativity in literary and artistic fields and investment. Such creations enhances economic development, education, culture, and enjoyment of life.

What is covered
Copyright covers original literary and artistic works: writings such as books, computer programs, articles, oral works such as speeches and lectures, dramas, musical works, films, drawings, paintings and photographs. The woks such as databases and translations are also protected.

Formality free
protection is accorded without any formality such as registration in Sri Lanka.

Who owns
The author is the owner of economic rights but there are some exceptions such as a work created by an employee generally belongs to the employer. The economic rights can be assigned or licensed. The moral rights always belong to the author.

Duration
Copyright in Sri Lanka is generally protected during the life of the author and 70 years after his death.

Administration
You can administer your right individually. Alternatively, the owners can administer their rights collectively. The collective administration means that the owners form an organization which acts on their behalf in licensing the rights, collecting fees, monitoring use and infringement of rights and enforcement of rights.

Protection abroad
The woks of Sri Lankan authors are protected in all the member countries of the Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works under the national law of the particular country.

Folklore
The expressions of folklore of Sri Lanka are protected against the unauthorized use.

Regulation
Regulations made under the Intellectual Property Act have been published in Gazette Numbers; 1415/18 of 10th October 2005