MINISTER of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton has tabled a Bill seeking to amend the Copyright Act to protect copyright owners from Internet abuse.

The Bill, which was tabled last week during Hylton’s sectoral debate presentation, states that the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright treaty of 1996 and the Performances and Phonograms Treaty of 1996, which are together commonly known as “Internet Treaties”, provide the most comprehensive protection for copyright owners, namely, authors, publishers, producers and performers in the digital and electronic environment of the Internet.

“Currently, the Copyright Act does not explicitly protect intellectual property rights over digital networks. Therefore, without clear protection in the digital environment, e-commerce activities in Jamaica by musicians, performers, publishers and authors would be at risk, and the right holders would not be able to derive the potential revenue from this stream of commerce provided by the Internet,” the Bill points out.

It proposes to amend the current Copyright Act to implement provisions for Internet Treaties, and provide protection for right holders. In particular for copyright owners of work of corporate bodies and the crown in areas such as: establishing exemptions for access o copyright works to be hosted by the Jamaica International Copyright Office (JIPO); establishing a voluntary deposit system for copyright works to be hosted by JIPO; establishing the duration of the copyright; extending the rights of libraries and archivists to archive digital material; and protecting first importers of recorded music, by ensuring them first right to distribution of the product.

Yesterday marked the start of Intellectual Property Week, which JIPO is observing under the theme, ‘Creations of the Mind, Developing Humankind’. World International Property Day will be celebrated on April 26. JIPO is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

— Balford Henry