IP/N/1/MUS/4  
IP/N/1/MUS/C/2  
 
18 August 2015  
(15-4196)  Page: 1/2  
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
   
 
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 
 
MAURITIUS: THE COPYRIGHT ACT 2014 
Notifying Member 
 MAURITIUS  
 
Details of the notified legal text  
Title  
 The Copyright Act 2014 
 
Subject matter  Copyright 
Nature of 
notification  Main dedicated intellectual property law or regulation  
  Other law or regulation 
 
Link to legal text https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/IP/MUS/15_3080_00_e.pdf  
 
Notification status  First notification 
 Amendment or revision to notified legal text 
 Replacement or consolidation of notified legal text(s) 
 
Previous 
notification(s) 
referred to IP/N/1/MUS/C/1 
"https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?DataSource
=Cat&query=@SymbolMatc h=IP/N/1/MUS/C/1&Language=English&Context
=ScriptedSearches&languageUIChanged=true# " 
 
Brief description of the notified legal text  
 The purpose of the Copyright Act 2014 is to provid e for more effective protection of copyrights and 
related to rights holders. Its main objectives are to: 
  (i) be compliant with the WCT and the WPPT; 
 
 (ii) address the issues related to the internet and piracy;   (iii) provide for protection to performers , producers of phonograms and broadcasting 
 organisations and computer software and databases in addition to the current 
 protection afforded to authors of artistic, literary or scientific work or of a derivative  work; 
 
 (iv) provide for limitations and exceptions in specific circumstances;  
 (v) review the role and functions of the Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA) which has 
 been replaced by the Rights Management Society; 
  (vi) provide for quick remedies to authors, composers and other copyright holders in 
 cases of infringements; 
 IP/N/1/MUS/4 • IP/N/1/MUS/C/2 
 
- 2 - 
 
   
 (vii) provide for anti-circumvention measures and make provisions for ephemeral 
 recordings. 
 
Another novelty which has been brought by the Act is the provisions for visually impaired persons. The volume of reading materials available for the visually impaired persons is less than 5%. The Act 
makes provisions for adaptation of works in line with the Treaty on Visually Impaired Persons which 
was adopted in 2013.  
Language(s) of notified text English  
Date of adoption 
 April 2014 
Entry into force 
 The Act shall come into operation on the date of Proclamation (31 July 2014)  
 
Notification details 
 
Submission date 
of notification  5 August 2015 
Other information  
 The Copyright Act 1997 is repealed. 
Agency or 
authority 
responsible Authority responsible for overseeing the Copyright Act is as follows: 
 
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts and Culture (responsible for policy 
issues regarding Copyright) 
 
Right Management Society, set up  under the Copyright Act 2014 is 
responsible, inter alia , to collectively manage rights of author or other owner 
to authorize:  
- Reproduction of a work; 
- Translation of a work;  
- Adaptation, arrangement or other transformation of a work including 
cinematographic adaption;  
- Distribution to the public of the original or a fixed copy of a work; 
- Public performance of a work; 
- Broadcasting of a work;  
- Other forms of communication to public of a work and  
- Related rights.  
 
Commissioner of Police  
- Policing of criminal offences regarding breach of Copyright 
 
The responsibility of Intellectual proper ty falls under the Intellectual Property 
Office of the Ministry of Foreig n Affairs & International Trade.