IPO Belize Copyright : Intellectual Property Office

Organization : Belize Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
Facility : Copyright
Country : Belize
Website : https://www.belipo.bz/copyright/

What is Copyright?

Copyright is the legal protection given to the creator of an original work. It is the legal term used to describe the rights given to creators for their literary and artistic works. Copyright is the exclusive right granted by the law to the creator of an original work (or his or her assignee such as a publisher) to do, authorize, or prohibit certain acts in relation to such work.

Related / Similar Facility : IPO Belize Industrial Design

Why Protect Copyright?

Works protected by copyright include novels, poems, plays, reference works, broadcasts, newspapers, and computer programs; databases; films, musical compositions, and choreography; artistic works such as paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculpture; architecture; and advertisement, maps, and technical drawings. Copyrighted works are usually identified by the sign ©, the name of the author, and the year of publication.

FAQ On Belize Copyright

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ On Belize Copyright

What types of works are protected by copyright?
Works protected by copyright include novels, poems, plays, reference works, broadcasts, newspapers, and computer programs; databases; films, musical compositions, and choreography; artistic works such as paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculpture; architecture; and advertisement, maps, and technical drawings. Copyrighted works are usually identified by the sign ©, the name of the author, and the year of publication.

What are the exclusions from copyright protection?
Copyright does not apply to literary, dramatic, or musical works that are not written down, recorded, or otherwise fixed in a material form. A copyrighted work is not infringed by the use of the work for purposes of research, private study, criticism, review, reporting, education, and parliamentary or judicial proceedings.

Who is the owner of a copyright work?
The general rule is that a person who creates an original work is the first owner of copyright in the work. This rule also applies to commissioned works, the creator of a commissioned work is also considered as the owner of copyright in the work, in the absence of any written agreement to the contrary. An exception to this rule is a work created by an employee in the normal course of employment, in such cases, the employer is considered as the copyright owner

What are the rights of a copyright owner?
The creators of original works and their heirs have certain important economic rights. First, the right to reproduce the work in various forms, such as printed publication or sound recording. Second, the public performance right. Third, the right of broadcasting the work, by radio, cable, or satellite. Fourth, the right to translate the work into other languages. Fifth, the right of adaptation of the work, such as adapting a novel into a movie. Sixth, the right of distribution.

What are moral rights?
Creators of original works also have moral rights in their works. Moral rights include the right of an author to claim ownership in his or her work (the paternity right), and the right of the author to oppose changes to the work that could have a negative effect on the author’s reputation (the integrity right).

With regard to the paternity right, the creator should be identified clearly and prominently in or on each copy of the work or in any other way that is sufficient to bring the identity of the creator to the attention of any person who acquires a copy of the work. In the case of the integrity right, the author’s work must not be treated in any way that involves an addition, deletion, alteration or adaptation that amounts to distortion or mutilation of the work or that is otherwise prejudicial to the honour or reputation of the author or the director.

What are related rights?
While copyright protects the rights of authors, another set of similar rights, known as “related rights” or “neighbouring rights”, protects the rights of other owners of rights, namely, performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organisations. Related rights belong to the intermediaries in the production, recording or diffusion of the works of copyright owners. These intermediaries (performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organisations) facilitate the intellectual creation process by assisting authors to communicate their works to the public.

Is registration of a copyright work required?
The Belize Copyright Act does not require the registration of a work as a precondition for securing copyright protection. Copyright protection is automatic upon creation of a work. No formalities are required in order to obtain copyright protection in Belize. However, the Belize Intellectual Property Office provides depository facilities for copyright owners. The cost of a copyright deposit is BZ$50.00.

What is the duration of protection?
The duration of protection of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works is the life of the author plus fifty years. The duration of protection of sound recordings, films, broadcasts, and cable programmes is fifty years from the end of the calendar year in which such works were made.

Who are the members of collective management organizations?
Owners of copyright or related rights can become members of a collective management organization.