What is copyright?
Copyright is an intellectual property right. These are laws that protect the ownership of your work and prevent others from copying them without permission.
What is protected under copyright?
The 1993 Copyright Act applies to literary, dramatic, artistic works, sound recordings, films, broadcasts or cable programme, typographical arrangements of published editions.
What is not?
Copyright does not usually protect titles by themselves, names, short word combinations, slogans, short phrases, methods, plots or factual information, ideas or concepts.
How can you copyright your work?
Your work is copyrighted when on completion of an original work, you place the copyright notice on it which is the word copyright or its symbol, ©, the date and your name as the creator.
This gives the public notice of your ownership. There is a simple and internationally-accepted way to keep a record of your work. You should keep a record by mailing a copy of your work to yourself by registered mail or the local post office. Keep it sealed and in a safe place.
Who can own copyright?
The author is the initial owner. All Jamaicans, citizens, habitual residents and corporate bodies established under Jamaican law can be owners. Works belonging to foreigners are also protected.
Are Jamaicans copyright-protected abroad?
Jamaicans are protected in at least 158 countries.
How long does copyright last?
Copyright in literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works lasts for the lifetime of the author and an additional 50 years after the author's death.
In cable programmes and broadcasts, copyright lasts for 50 years from the end of the year in which the programme was transmitted.
Copyright in a typographical arrangement of a published edition lasts for 25 years from the year in which the edition is first published.
How do you enforce copyright?
If your copyright has been infringed, you may refer the matter to the Dispute Resolution Foundation at the Peace Centre, 5 Camp Road, Kingston 4, tel. 906-2456. Alternatively you can take legal action.
If your work has been pirated you should reported it to the Organised Crime Investigation Divisiontel: 923-5626 or 922-
3771.
All information: The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO). Tel: 960-1852 www.jipo.gov.jm.
