Universal Copyright Convention, revised by the Paris convention on July 24, 1971

General Detail

General Information

  1. Type: Convention
  2. Date of signature:
  3. Place of signature: Paris, France
  4. Depositary:
  5. Date of entry into force: 10/07/1974

Category

Intellectual property

Sub category

Copyright

Groups

UNESCO

What is it about?

The Universal Copyright Convention was proposed by the UNESCO to ensure the protection of copyrights on literary, scientific and cultural works. It provides similar provisions compared to the Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Bern, 9 September 1886) concluded within the framework of WIPO. The provisions of the Universal Copyright Convention are, however, less stringent. The Convention requires that the minimum term of a copyright be the length of the life of the author plus 25 years. It also mandates that no nation may accord its own nationals stronger copyright protection than that given to nationals of other signatory parties, though a state may make exceptions under certain conditions. A formal copyright notice must appear in all copies of a work and consist of the symbol ©, the name of the copyright owner, and the year of first publication. A State Party, however, may require other formalities, provided domestic works are not favoured over foreign. The Convention was supplemented by two protocols adopted the same day. The first requires that stateless persons and refugees who have their habitual residence in a State party be assimilated to nationals of that State. The second extends the provisions of the Convention to works published by the UN, its specialized institutions and the Organization of American States.

Why is it relevant?

This instrument establishes the exclusive right of authors to use their literary, scientific and cultural works. By establishing norms slightly less severe than the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Bern, 9 September 1886), this instrument was signed by many American States and developing countries.

Additional Information

In the case of a conflict, the provisions of the 1886 Bern Convention prevail over the provisions of the present Convention if the conflicting States are State Parties to both Conventions.

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Country ratifications
CountryRatification date
Albania04/11/2003
Algeria28/05/1973
Australia29/11/1977
Austria14/05/1982
Bahamas27/09/1976
Bangladesh05/05/1975
Barbados18/03/1983
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)22/12/1989
Bosnia and Herzegovina12/07/1993
Brazil11/09/1975
Bulgaria07/03/1975
Cameroon01/02/1973
China30/07/1992
Colombia18/03/1976
Costa Rica07/12/1979
Croatia06/07/1992
Cyprus19/09/1990
Czech Republic26/03/1993
Denmark11/04/1979
Dominican Republic08/02/1983
Ecuador06/06/1991
El Salvador29/12/1978
Finland01/08/1986
France11/09/1972
Germany18/10/1973
Guinea13/08/1981
Holy See06/02/1980
Hungary15/09/1972
India07/01/1988
Italy25/10/1979
Japan21/07/1977
Kenya04/01/1974
Liechtenstein11/08/1999
Macedonia (The former Yugoslav Republic of)18/04/1997
Mexico31/07/1975
Monaco13/09/1974
Montenegro26/04/2007
Morocco28/10/1975
Netherlands30/08/1985
Niger15/02/1989
Norway07/05/1974
Panama03/06/1980
Peru22/04/1985
Poland09/12/1976
Portugal30/04/1981
Republic of Korea01/07/1987
Russian Federation09/12/1994
Rwanda10/08/1989
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines22/01/1985
Saudi Arabia13/04/1994
Senegal09/04/1974
Serbia03/07/1973
Slovakia31/03/1993
Slovenia05/11/1992
Spain10/04/1974
Sri Lanka25/10/1983
Sweden27/06/1973
Switzerland21/06/1993
Togo28/02/2003
Trinidad and Tobago19/05/1988
Tunisia10/03/1975
United Kingdom19/05/1972
United States of America18/09/1972
Uruguay12/01/1993
Venezuela11/01/1996
Treaties analysis
YearRatifications
19724
19735
19745
19756
19763
19772
19781
19794
19802
19812
19821
19833
19853
19861
19871
19882
19893
19901
19911
19925
19935
19942
19961
19971
19991
20032
20071
Total68
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