Why protected

Copyright protects the rights of the authors of literary and artistic works and ensures them the economic benefits and recognition thereby promoting creativity in literary and artistic fields and investment. Such creations enhances economic development, education, culture, and enjoyment of life.

What is covered

Copyright covers original literary and artistic works: writings such as books, computer programs, articles, oral works such as speeches and lectures, dramas, musical works, films, drawings, paintings and photographs. The woks such as databases and translations are also protected.

Formality free

protection is accorded without any formality such as registration in Sri Lanka.

Who owns

The author is the owner of economic rights but there are some exceptions such as a work created by an employee generally belongs to the employer. The economic rights can be assigned or licensed. The moral rights always belong to the author.

Duration

Copyright in Sri Lanka is generally protected during the life of the author and 70 years after his death.

Administration
You can administer your right individually. Alternatively, the owners can administer their rights collectively. The collective administration means that the owners form an organization which acts on their behalf in licensing the rights, collecting fees, monitoring use and infringement of rights and enforcement of rights.

Protection abroad

The woks of Sri Lankan authors are protected in all the member countries of the Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works under the national law of the particular country.

Folklore
The expressions of folklore of Sri Lanka are protected against the unauthorized use.

Regulation

Regulations made under the Intellectual Property Act have been published in Gazette Numbers; 1415/18 of 10th October 2005                                                                                                                                                  ( Sinhalese , Tamil , English ).