Traditional Knowledge Laws: Côte d'Ivoire

Subject Matter of Protection

Article 6

The protection of the rights of authors applies to all original works, regardless of the genre, merit, purpose or manner or form of expression thereof, including:
(12) works of folklore.

Article 7

The following shall be protected as original works, without prejudice to the rights of the author of the original work:
(2) works derived from folklore.

Article 8

Folklore is an original component of the national heritage. For the purposes of this Law:
— "folklore" means all literary and artistic productions handed down from generation to generation and forming part of the traditional Ivorian cultural heritage, the authors of the said productions being unknown but affording every reason to believe that they are nationals of Côte d'Ivoire;
— "work derived from folklore" means any work composed of elements borrowed from the Ivorian traditional cultural heritage;

Beneficiaries or Rightholders

Article 8

Authorization shall be granted against payment of a royalty, the proceeds from which shall be used for cultural and social purposes for the benefit of Ivorian authors.

Scope of Protection

Article 8 

- the right of exploitation of folklore shall be administered by the body of authors referred to in Article 62. The public performance of folklore and its reproduction with a view to profit-making exploitation require authorization by that body.