Traditional Knowledge Laws: Angola

Subject Matter of Protection

Article 4 - Other definitions

(f) "folklore" means all literary, artistic and scientific works created on the national territory by authors presumed to originate in certain regions or ethnic communities, passed from generation to generation - anonimously or collectively or by other means - and constituting one of the basic elements of the traditional cultural heritage.

Article 6 - Original works

For the purposes of this Law, the following, in particular, are considered original works:
(m) works of folklore in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 and Article 15 of this Law.

Article 8 - Works of folklore

This Law also protects works of folklore together with collections, transcriptions and arrangements of such works, where they respect the authenticity of the works and show originality.

Beneficiaries or Rightholders

Article 15 - Works of Folklore

(1) Copyright in works of folklore of which the author is unknown shall belong to the State which shall exercise it through the intermediary of the State Secretariat for Culture.

Scope of Protection

Article 15 - Works of folklore

(3) Copies of works of Angolan folklore, as also copies of translations, adaptations, arrangements or other transformations of such works, made abroad without the authorization of the competent authority, may neither be imported nor distributed.

Exceptions and Limitations

Article 15 - Works of folklore

(2) However, works of folklore may be freely used by a public person for non-lucrative purposes.