Copyright law of Zambia

The Copyright law of Zambia is a firmly established by the Copyright and Performance Rights Act , Chapter 406 of the Laws of Zambia another closely related act is the Registered Designs Act, Cap 402. The Act tries to encourage the creation of art and culture by rewarding authors and artists with a set of exclusive rights. The concept of copyright ownership of architectural designs is very clear in itself but not clearly defined in the law.

Works subject to copyright law

The Zambian copyright law protects "original works of authorship," fixed in a tangible medium including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and other intellectual works.

Duration of copyright

Copyright protection generally lasts for a period of fifty years from the end of the calendar year in which the author dies. If the work is of unknown authorship, the copyright in the work shall expire at the end of the period of fifty years from the end of the calendar year in which the work is first published, unless the identity of the author of the work becomes known before that date.

Infringement

Copyright infringement occurs when someone violates one of the exclusive rights listed in Commonly, this involves someone creating or distributing a "copy" of a protected work that is "substantially similar" to the original version. Infringement requires copying. If two people happen to write exactly the same story, without knowledge of the other, there is no infringement.