IP/N/1/SYC/1  
IP/N/1/SYC/C/1  
IP/N/1/SYC/E/1  
 
9 May 2016  
(16-2533)  Page: 1/3  
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
   
 
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 
 
SEYCHELLES: THE "COPYRIGHT ACT, 2014" 
Notifying Member 
 SEYCHELLES  
 
Details of the notified legal text  
Title   The "Copyright Act, 2014" 
Subject matter 
 Copyright and related rights, Enforcement 
Nature of 
notification  Main dedicated intellectual property law or regulation 
  Other law or regulation 
 
Link to legal text http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2016/IP/SYC/16_1752_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 Not applicable 
Brief description of the notified legal text  
 
The "Copyright Act 2014" was adopted following  the repealed and replaced of "Copyright 
Act 1984".   
The provisions of this Act shall apply to works, performances, phonograms and broadcasts created 
before or after the commencement of this Act, provided that the period of protection had not expired under the laws of Seychelles or the laws  of the country of origin of such works, 
performances, phonograms or broadcasts that are to  be protected under an international treaty to 
which the Republic of Seychelles is a party. 
 The "Copyright Act 2014" provides protection of an eligible work by an exclusive right conferred to 
the author or another person for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years in Seychelles or 
elsewhere, on all or any part of the copying,  reproduction, communication to the public or 
broadcasting of the work.  
 
Eligible work included: literary works: musical works: artistic works: performance of literary or musical works: films; sound recordings and broadcasts.  
The "Copyright Act 2014" also provides for the pr otection of computer programs (whether in 
source or object code); and compilation of data (whether in machine readable or other forms and, which by reason of selection or/and management of their contents, constitute intellectual 
creation). 
 IP/N/1/SYC/1 • IP/N/1/SYC/C/1 • IP/N/1/SYC/E/1 
 
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  Prevention of the abuse of intellectual property rights 
 Relevant provisions had been incorporated in to the "Copyright Act, 2014" Section 31, which 
governed the control of potential abuse of  intellectual property rights (IPRs). 
 Civil judicial procedures and remedies 
 
Provisions with respect to administrative procedures and remedies, provisional measures and special border measures, as required by the TRIPS Agreement, is incorporated into the Seychelles 
Intellectual Property Legislation, i.e. the "Cop yright Act 2014" and the "Industrial Property 
Act 2014".   Under the Seychelles' Civil Code, the violation of th e exclusive rights of the owners of copyright, 
trademark or patent resulted in civil liability by the offenders in the form of both compensation for 
the damages suffered by the proprietor, and the i mmediate prohibition of the illegal usage of the 
rights.  
 
Prohibition, referred to in-land prohibitions only (i.e. in the territory of Seychelles).   
Any infringement of intellectual property rights could result in: (I) a Supreme Court injunction to 
cease the infringement that the remedies stipulat ed in Seychelles' Civil Code were available to 
both Seychellois and foreign nationals.   
Provisional judicial measures 
 The "Copyright Act 2014" and the "Industrial Prop erty Act 2014" incorporated provisions of the 
TRIPS Agreement with respect to provisional measures. 
 Special requirements related to border measures 
 
Relevant provisions in the "Copyright Act, 2014” and Chapter 13 of the consolidated "Customs Management Regulations 2014", i.e. the “Customs Management (Border Measures) 
Regulation 2014" make provisions in relation to border measures for the protection of intellectual 
property rights. 
 Criminal procedures 
 
The Copyright Act, 2014 comprised provisions with  respect to criminal sanctions for copyright 
infringements. Under the "Copyright Act 2014", the provisions foresaw a fine of up to SR 50,000 
and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years.  
 Any administrative procedures and remedies not covered above  
The "Copyright Act 2014" and the "Industrial Proper ty Act 2014" contained specific provisions with 
respect to administrative procedures and remedies and are in full conformity with the TRIPS Agreement. 
 
Language(s) of notified text English 
Date of adoption 21 April 2014 
 
Entry into force 21 April 2014 
 
 Notification details  
Submission date of notification  24 March 2016 
Other information  
 http://www.seychellestradepo rtal.gov.sc/content/pu blications/copyright-
act 
 IP/N/1/SYC/1 • IP/N/1/SYC/C/1 • IP/N/1/SYC/E/1 
 
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  Agency or 
authority 
responsible The Attorney General's Office 
National House 
Mont Fleuri 
Mahé 
Republic of Seychelles 
 
Tel:  +248 438 3000