Angola's Copyright Registration Process Explained

Copyright registration is a crucial step in protecting your creative work and intellectual property rights. While some countries offer automatic copyright protection upon creation, registering your copyright provides essential proof of ownership and makes it easier to take legal action in case of infringement. This is especially important in the digital age, where it is easy for others to copy and distribute your work without your consent. Angola, a member of the World Trade Organization and a signatory to various international treaties, offers copyright protection through specific laws and membership in the Berne Convention for Copyright. Understanding the copyright registration process in Angola is essential for creators and owners of original works to safeguard their intellectual property and ensure their rights are respected and protected.

International copyright agreements

Angola has one international copyright agreement and is a member country of the Berne Convention for Copyright. The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, usually referred to as the Berne Convention, is an international agreement governing copyright, first accepted in Berne, Switzerland, in 1886. The convention requires protection for all creative works in a fixed medium to be automatic and last for at least 50 years after the author's death, except for photographic and cinematographic works. Photographic works are tied to a minimum of 25 years, while cinematographic works are protected for 50 years after their first showing or 50 years after creation if they have not been shown within that time.

The Buenos Aires Convention, or the Third Pan-American Convention, was signed by most North and South American countries. It allows for the protection of all creative works as long as they contain a notice that the creator claims copyright on them. The convention also instituted the rule of the shorter term, where the length of the copyright term for the work in a country was whichever was shorter: the length of the term in the source country or the protecting country of the work. All Buenos Aires countries are now also parties to the Berne Convention, but elements from Buenos Aires are still used today, such as the rule of the shorter term.

The Universal Copyright Convention is another international treaty, although it has lost significance since almost all its members are also part of TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). The World Trade Organization (WTO) – Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) – is one of several international treaties that encourage reasonably coherent protection of copyright from country to country. They set minimum standards of protection, which each signatory country then implements within the bounds of its own copyright law.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information, and cooperation. The WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty are two other international copyright treaties.

Copyright protection

Angola is a member of the World Trade Organization and has been since 23 November 1996. The country is also a signatory to various other international treaties, including The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, usually known as the Berne Convention, which is an international agreement governing copyright. This means that any work originating in Angola, where the author of the work is an Angolan national, or the work was first published in Angola, is given the same copyright protection in each of the other Berne Convention member countries.

While in some countries, copyright protection is automatic as soon as a work is saved in material form, registering for copyright in Angola is important to provide proof of copyright ownership. This is because, in the digital age, it is easy for work to be copied and distributed, and having a registered copyright makes it easier to deter plagiarism and prove authorship in the event of a copyright dispute or infringement.

Copyright in Angola can be registered through organisations such as Copyright Index, which is recognised in Angola and other countries as a copyright authority providing official copyright registration. The benefits of registering with such organisations include official certification of your work, recognition as the owner and original creator/author, assistance with copyright disputes and infringements, and the provision of proof of copyright ownership to legal professionals and courts of law.

In addition to international copyright agreements, Angola also has specific laws and regulations pertaining to intellectual property, as outlined by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). These laws cover various aspects of copyright protection, including the duration of protection, protection for anonymous and collaborative works, and the types of works that are eligible for copyright.

Copyright registration

Angola has one international copyright agreement and is a member of The Berne Convention for Copyright. This convention ensures that any work originating in Angola or created by an Angolan national is given the same copyright protection in all other member countries. To register your copyright in Angola, you can use services like Copyright Index, which is recognised as a copyright authority in Angola and many other countries. They provide official copyright registration, deterrence against plagiarism, and support in copyright disputes and infringement cases.

Additionally, registering with Copyright Index offers benefits such as official certification of your work, recognition as the original creator, assistance with copyright disputes, and the ability to transfer rights to a third party if needed. They also provide tools like official stamps and logos to prove copyright and deter theft. The registration process is straightforward and offers lifelong protection for your work.

It is worth noting that Angola has specific copyright laws, such as Law No. 4/90 of March 10, 1990, on Author's Rights, and the more recent Law n.º 15/14, de 31 de julho - Lei dos Direitos de Autor e Direitos Conexos, which came into effect in 2017. These laws outline the duration of copyright protection for different types of works, including anonymous works, collaborative works, photographs, and applied arts.

Copyright infringement

The Constitution of the Republic of Angola protects intellectual property rights, with the fundamental framework provided by two main acts: the Legal Regime for the Protection of Copyright and Related Rights, and the Industrial Property Law. This means that creators can register their work and have it protected by law.

In Angola, copyright protection is automatic for original works that can be seen or heard, such as books, paintings, and music. However, registering for copyright is extremely important as it provides the copyright holder with proof of ownership. This is crucial in the event of copyright infringement, where someone accuses you of copying their work or vice versa.

Angola has one international copyright agreement and is a member of the Berne Convention for Copyright. This convention ensures that any work originating in Angola or created by an Angolan national is given the same copyright protection in all other member countries. Additionally, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) listed Law No. 4/90 of March 10, 1990, on Author's Rights as the main copyright law enacted by the Angolan legislature. This law is available on the WIPO Lex database.

In 2014, Angola updated its copyright law with Law n.º 15/14, de 31 de julho - Lei dos Direitos de Autor e Direitos Conexos, which came into effect on June 12, 2017. According to this law, copyright in Angola lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. Anonymous works are protected for 70 years after being published, while copyright for photographs and applied arts lasts for the life of the author plus 45 years. Unpublished works receive an additional 15 years of protection.

To protect your work in Angola, you can register with a service like Copyright Index, which is recognized in Angola and worldwide as a copyright authority. They provide official copyright registration and protection, deterring plagiarism and ensuring you have proof of authorship.

Copyright duration

Copyright in Angola is governed by the Lei n.º 15/14 de 31 de Julho (Angola Copyright Law), which came into effect on 12 June 2017. This law outlines the duration of copyright protection in the country.

The standard copyright term in Angola is the life of the author plus 70 years. This is in line with the requirements of the Berne Convention, which stipulates a minimum duration of life plus 50 years and of which Angola is a signatory.

For anonymous and collaborative works, the copyright protection lasts for 70 years from the date of publication. This is a common approach taken by many countries, as outlined in the list of copyright terms by country.

For photographs and applied arts, the copyright duration is the life of the author plus 45 years. This is a shorter term than that for other works and reflects the specific nature of these art forms.

Unpublished works in Angola receive an additional 15 years of protection. This is an important provision to encourage the eventual publication and dissemination of such works while still ensuring they are protected by copyright law.

It is worth noting that while copyright protection is automatic in Angola upon creation, registering for copyright is extremely important. This provides the copyright holder with proof of copyright ownership, which can be crucial in the event of infringement or disputes.

Frequently asked questions