Copyrights Law in Bahamas
Here’s an overview of Copyright Law in the Bahamas:
Copyright Law in the Bahamas
Legal Framework:
Copyright in the Bahamas is governed by the Copyright Act, 1991, along with various amendments.
The Bahamas is a party to major international treaties including the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
Protected Works:
The law protects original works in a fixed form, such as:
Literary works (books, articles, poems)
Musical works and lyrics
Artistic works (paintings, sculptures, photographs)
Cinematographic films and broadcasts
Sound recordings
Computer programs
Architectural designs
Rights Granted:
Copyright owners have exclusive rights to:
Reproduce and distribute the work
Perform or communicate the work publicly
Make adaptations or translations
Rent or lend the work (for certain categories)
Moral rights protect the author’s right to attribution and integrity of the work.
Duration of Protection:
Generally, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 50 years after death.
For anonymous or pseudonymous works, 50 years from publication.
Cinematographic works and sound recordings have a term of 50 years from publication or creation.
Exceptions and Limitations:
Fair dealing provisions allow limited use for criticism, review, news reporting, teaching, and research, provided it does not harm the copyright owner’s interests.
Libraries and educational institutions have specific permitted uses.
Enforcement and Remedies:
Infringement cases are handled in the Bahamian courts.
Remedies include injunctions, damages, seizure and destruction of infringing copies.
Customs authorities assist in preventing importation of infringing goods.
Registration:
Copyright protection is automatic upon creation; registration is not mandatory but may be useful as evidence in disputes.
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