NEW MOZAMBIQUE COPYRIGHT ACT
On 29 June 2022, the Assembly of the Republic approved the new Copyright Law of Mozambique, Law 9/2022. The new law came into force on 26 September 2022.
The new Copyright Act is aimed at promoting and safeguarding the protection of literary, artistic and scientific works. The scope of works eligible for protection has been expanded under the new Act. In terms of the Act, copyright belongs to the intellectual creator of the work and is recognized irrespective of registration, filing or any other formality.
Notably, disabled persons (whose activity is not aimed at commercial gain) may without authorisation and without making payment, create an accessible format version of a lawfully published literary work, reproduce it, distribute, make available, import and export it.
The duration for copyright protection has not changed and remains 70 years for literary works and 50 years for computer programs and phonograms or videograms . The penalties for infringement include obtaining an interim interdict, confiscation, destruction and criminal sanctions.
In addition to the national Copyright Legislation, Mozambique is also bound by international obligations for the protection of copyright under the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
For further information on the Act kindly contact Adams and Adams at mail@adams.africa
Robyn Müller-Mabuza
Key takeaways from Kenya’s new Intellectual Property Bill
The administration of intellectual property in Kenya is currently fragmented. The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (“KIPI”) administers patents, trade marks, utility models and industrial desig...
July 21 2026
Constitutional Court Delivers Landmark but Incomplete Copyright Ruling. Parliament Must Now Seize the Opportunity to Modernise South Africa’s Copyright Law for the AI Era
JOHANNESBURG — On 26 June 2026, the Constitutional Court of South Africa handed down its long-awaited judgment in Ex Parte President of the Republic of South Africa: In re Constitutionality of the C...
July 13 2026
Newsflash: First-Ever SEP Judgment in Africa – Moroccan Court Interdicts Transsion Smartphone Sales
The Casablanca Trade Court on 6 July 2026 handed down what appears to be Africa’s first standard essential patent (SEP) ruling, interdicting two Transsion Holdings subsidiaries, Tecno Mobile Lim...
July 09 2026