List of copyright acts

This is a list of copyright acts, which are laws enacting the copyright.

Afghanistan

Further information: Afghanistan and copyright issues

• The law on the support the right of authors, composers, artists and researchers (Copy Right Law) enacted in 2008. ^[1]

Argentina

Main article: Copyright law of Argentina

• Article 17º Constitution of Argentina, 1853
• National Law 9.141, 1913
• National Law 11.723, 1933

Australia

Main article: Australian copyright law

• Australian Copyright Act 1968 ^[2]

Austria

• Copyright law of Austria  [ de ]
• Urheberrechtsgesetz (Austria), the Copyright Act of Austria ^[2]

Azerbaijan

Main article: Copyright law in Azerbaijan

• Law on Copyright and Related Rights (Azerbaijan)

Canada

Main article: Canadian copyright law

• Copyright Act of Canada

Chile

Main article: Copyright law of Chile

People's Republic of China

Further information: Intellectual property in the People's Republic of China § Copyright law

• Copyright Law of the PRC

Croatia

• Copyright and Related Rights Act (2021) ^[3]

Czech Republic

• Copyright Act (Czech Republic). ^[4]

Egypt

• Copyright law of Egypt

El Salvador

• Copyright law of El Salvador

European Union

Main article: Copyright law of the European Union

• Computer Programs Directive (1991)
• Conditional Access Directive (1998)
• Counterfeit goods regulation (2003)
• Copyright in the Digital Single Market (2019)
• Copyright Duration Directive (1993)
• Copyright Term Directive (2006)
• Database Directive (1996)
• Enforcement Directive (2004)
• Electronic Commerce Directive 2000 (2000)
• Information Society Directive (2001)
• Resale Rights Directive (2001)
• Re-use of public sector information directive (2003)
• Rental Directive (1992)
• Satellite and Cable Directive (1993)

Finland

• Copyright in Finland  [ fi ]
• Copyright Act (Finland)
• Lex Karpela, the 2005 amendment to the Finnish Copyright Act and Criminal Code

France

Main article: French copyright law

• Code de la propriété intellectuelle, Intellectual Property Code
• DADVSI, law on authors' rights and related rights in the information society
• HADOPI law, law promoting the distribution and protection of creative works on the internet

Germany

• Urheberrechtsgesetz, the Copyright Act of Germany

Greece

• Copyright law of Greece

Hong Kong

Main article: Copyright law of Hong Kong

• Copyright Act 1956 (UK legislation, applies to works made before 27 July 1997)
• Copyright Ordinance 1997 (applies to works made after 27 July 1997)

India

• The Copyright Act, 1957

Iran

Further information: Iran and copyright issues

• Copyright Act (Iran)
• Act for Protection of Authors, Composers and Artists Rights  [ fa ] ^[2]

Ireland

Main article: Irish copyright law

• Copyright and Related Rights Act

Japan

Main article: Japanese copyright law

• Copyright Act (Japan)

Jordan

Main article: Jordanian copyright law

• Copyright Act (Jordan)

Malaysia

• Copyright law of Malaysia

Nepal

Main article: Copyright law of Nepal

• The Copyright Act, 2022 (1965)
• The Copyright Act, 2059 (2002), current copyright law of Nepal
  • Some Nepal Acts relating to Export and Import and Intellectual Property Act, 2063 (2006)

Netherlands

Main article: Dutch copyright law

• Auteurswet

New Zealand

Main article: Copyright law of New Zealand

• Copyright Act 1994

Pakistan

Main article: Copyright protection in Pakistan

• Copyright legislation in Pakistan

Philippines

• Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines

Poland

Main article: Polish copyright law

• Copyright Act (Poland)

Russia

Main articles: Copyright in Russia and Russian copyright law

Further information: International copyright relations of Russia and Copyright law of the Soviet Union

• Part IV of the Civil Code of Russia

Slovakia

• Copyright Act (Slovakia) ^[5]

Singapore

• Copyright Act (Singapore) 2014

Serbia

• The Law on Copyright and Related Rights (Serbia)

South Africa

• Copyright Act, 1978
  • Copyright Amendment Act, 1983
  • Copyright Amendment Act, 1984
  • Copyright Amendment Act, 1986
  • Copyright Amendment Act, 1988
  • Copyright Amendment Act, 1989
  • Copyright Amendment Act, 1992
  • Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Act, 1997
  • Copyright Amendment Act, 2002

Spain

Main article: Spanish copyright law

• Ley de Propriedad Intelectual

Suriname

• Law of 22 March 1913 laying down new rules on Copyright (G.B. 1913 No. 15), as it stands after the amendments thereto in G.B. 1915 No. 78, G.B. 1946 No. 2, G.B. 1946 No. 77, G.B. 1959 No. 76, S.B. 1980 No. 116, S.B. 23, 1981. ^[6]

Switzerland

Main article: Swiss copyright law

• Urheberrechtsgesetz (Switzerland), the Copyright Act of Switzerland

Tajikistan

Main article: Copyright law of Tajikistan

• Law on Copyright and Related rights of Republic of Tajikistan

Thailand

• Copyright law of Thailand

Turkey

Main article: Turkish copyright law

• Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works

23, 1933

Ukraine

Main article: Copyright in Ukraine

• Law of Ukraine No. 3792-XII, on Copyright and Related Rights  [ uk ] (1993) ^[7]
• Law of Ukraine No. 2811-IX, on Copyright and Related Rights  [ uk ] (2022) ^[8]

United Kingdom

Main article: Copyright law of the United Kingdom

• Statute of Anne or Copyright Act 1710 (8 Ann. c. 21), the first copyright act of the United Kingdom
• The Copyright Acts 1734 to 1888 is the collective title of the following acts: ^[9]
  • The Engraving Copyright Act 1734 (8 Geo. 2. c. 13)
  • The Engraving Copyright Act 1766 (7 Geo. 3. c. 38)
  • The Copyright Act 1775 (15 Geo. 3. c. 53)
  • The Prints Copyright Act 1777 (17 Geo. 3. c. 57)
  • The Sculpture Copyright Act 1814 (54 Geo. 3. c. 56)
  • The Dramatic Copyright Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 15)
  • The Lectures Copyright Act 1835 (5 & 6 Will. 4. c. 65)
  • The Prints and Engravings Copyright (Ireland) Act 1836 (6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 59)
  • The Copyright Act 1836 (6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 110)
  • The Copyright Act 1842 (5 & 6 Vict. c. 45)
  • The Colonial Copyright Act 1847 (10 & 11 Vict. c. 95)
  • The Fine Arts Copyright Act 1862 (25 & 26 Vict. c. 68)
  • The Copyright (Musical Compositions) Act 1882 (45 & 46 Vict. c. 40)
  • The Copyright (Musical Compositions) Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 17)
• Copyright Act 1911 (1 & 2 Geo. 5. c. 46)
• Copyright Act 1956 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 52)
• Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48), current copyright law of the United Kingdom

United States

Main article: United States copyright law

• Copyright Act of 1790
• International Copyright Act of 1891
• Copyright Act of 1909
• Copyright Act of 1976
• Digital Millennium Copyright Act

See also

• Copyright law
• List of copyright case law
• List of countries' copyright length
• List of countries' copyright length based on publication and creation dates

References

1. "Law Supporting the Rights of Authors, Composers, Artists and Researchers (Copyright Law), Afghanistan". WIPO Lex . World Intellectual Property Organization . Retrieved 25 June 2025.
2. "Members' Profiles". WIPO Lex. World Intellectual Property Organization. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
3. "Copyright and Related Rights Act (Croatia)" (pdf). WIPO Lex. World Intellectual Property Organization.
4. "Act No. 121/2000 Coll., of April 7, 2000, on Copyright and Related Rights and on Amendments to Certain Acts (Copyright Act) (as amended up to Act No. 429/2022 Coll.), Czech Republic". WIPO Lex. World Intellectual Property Organization. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
5. "Slovakia: Copyright and Rights Related to Copyright". WIPO Lex. World Intellectual Property Organization. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
6. "WET van 22 maart 1913, houdende nieuwe regeling van het auteursrecht (G.B. 1913 no. 15), gelijk zij luidt na de daarin aangebrachte wijzigingen bij G.B. 1915 no. 78, G.B. 1946 no. 2, G.B. 1946 no. 77, G.B. 1959 no. 76, S.B. 1980 no. 116, S.B. 1981 no. 23" [Law of 22 March 1913 laying down new rules on Copyright (G.B. 1913 No. 15), as it stands after the amendments thereto in G.B. 1915 No. 78, G.B. 1946 No. 2, G.B. 1946 No. 77, G.B. 1959 No. 76, S.B. 1980 No. 116, S.B. 23, 1981.](PDF). WIPO Lex (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
7. "Ukraine, Law of Ukraine No. 3792-XII of December 23, 1993, on Copyright and Related Rights (as amended up to January 6, 2004)". WIPO Lex . Retrieved 2023-10-22.
8. "Ukraine, Law of Ukraine No. 2811-IX of December 1, 2022, on Copyright and Related Rights". WIPO Lex . Retrieved 2023-10-22.
9. Authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 2(1) and Schedule 2.