KHARTOUM – Pursuant to the provisions of the Transitional Act No. 2005, Sudan’s President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir issued new Act for Protection of Copyrights, Neighboring Rights and Literary and Artistic Works No. 2013. The new Act enters into force as of the date of its signature.
The new Act repeals the Act for Protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights of 1996 and the Literary and Artistic Act of 2001.
The most important provision of the new Act is the establishment of “Council for Protection of Copyrights, Neighboring Rights and Literary and Artistic Works” that will serve as the advisory body in the country pertaining to copyrights, related rights and literary and artistic works.
According to the Act, the Council is responsible for setting the general policies, plans and programs that organize and promote innovation, creativity and publication in the field of culture.
The new Act allows the Secretary General of the Council to cease the copyright in case of violating the provisions of the Act. The necessary legal penalties shall apply whether imprisonment or fine.
Source: Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP), AGIP Bulletin May 2013
http://www.agip.com
