Copyrights Law in Colombia
Here’s a clear overview of Copyright Law in Colombia:
🔹 Governing Law:
Law 23 of 1982 (Primary copyright law)
Law 44 of 1993 (Strengthened copyright protections)
Law 603 of 2000 (Regulates collective management organizations)
Colombia is also subject to international treaties such as the Berne Convention, WIPO Copyright Treaty, and TRIPS Agreement.
🔹 What Is Protected:
Literary works (books, articles, computer programs)
Musical works (songs, compositions)
Dramatic works (plays, scripts)
Artistic works (paintings, sculptures, photographs)
Audiovisual works (films, videos)
Databases and multimedia products
Derivative works and translations
🔹 Rights Granted:
Economic rights:
Reproduction
Distribution
Public communication and performance
Adaptation and translation
Rental and lending rights
Moral rights:
Right to claim authorship
Right to object to distortion, mutilation, or modification that harms the author’s reputation
🔹 Duration of Protection:
Author’s lifetime + 80 years after the author’s death (this was extended from 50 years under recent legislation aligning with international standards).
For anonymous or pseudonymous works: 80 years from publication.
For cinematographic works, the term is 80 years from the date of first publication or communication.
🔹 Exceptions and Limitations:
Fair use provisions allow limited use for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, and research.
Private copying is permitted under certain conditions.
Quotation rights for purposes of analysis or critique.
🔹 Registration:
Copyright protection exists automatically upon creation and does not require registration.
However, voluntary registration can be done through the Dirección Nacional de Derecho de Autor (DNDA) for evidentiary purposes.
🔹 Enforcement:
Civil, criminal, and administrative penalties apply for infringement.
Remedies include injunctions, damages, seizure of infringing goods, and fines.
The DNDA oversees copyright enforcement and awareness.
🔹 International Treaties:
Colombia is a member of major international treaties including:
Berne Convention
WIPO Copyright Treaty
TRIPS Agreement
Marrakesh Treaty (for persons with print disabilities)
Summary:
Colombia provides strong copyright protection consistent with international standards, granting both economic and moral rights, with lengthy protection terms and enforcement mechanisms.
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