ACCESSION TO THE WIPO COPYRIGHT TREATY AND WIPO PERFORMANCES AND PHONOGRAMS TREATY
On 16 March 2023, Tunisia acceded to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, both of which will enter into force in the Republic of Tunisia on 16 June 2023.
According to the WIPO website, the WIPO Copyright Treaty is a special agreement under the Berne Convention which deals with the protection of works and the rights of their authors in the digital environment. In addition to the rights recognized by the Berne Convention, they are granted certain economic rights. The Treaty also deals with two subject matters to be protected by copyright: (i) computer programs, whatever the mode or form of their expression; and (ii) compilations of data or other material (“databases”).
The WIPO website goes on to provide that the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty deals with the rights of two kinds of beneficiaries, particularly in the digital environment: (i) performers (actors, singers, musicians, etc.); and (ii) producers of phonograms (persons or legal entities that take the initiative and have the responsibility for the fixation of sounds).
It appears that Tunisia is signalling to foreign stakeholders its commitment to the digital economy as potential investment and growth by bringing it in line with global standards.
Source: Accession CT, Accession PPT, CT Details, PPT Details
