Traditional Knowledge Laws: Afghanistan
Title | Law Supporting the Rights of Authors, Composers, Artists and Researchers (Copyright Law) |
Subject Matter | Traditional Cultural Expressions |
Issue(s) | Subject Matter of Protection; Beneficiaries or Rightholders |
Type(s) of Legislation | IP Law |
Subject Matter of Protection
Article 6 - Works to be protected
(1) The following works shall be protected:
- Innovative work which has been created based on the public culture (folklore) or national cultural heritage and art.
Article 3 - Terms and Expressions
Public Culture (National Folklore): is an expression which include characterized principles of traditional artistic heritage
originated or developed by a group of people in the State which reflect their artistic heritage and include the following expressions:
- Oral expressions such as tales, popular poetry and riddles
- Musical expressions: include popular songs accompanied by music or without music
- Motion expressions, include popular Atans (national dance), plays and other special popular artistic and ritual forms
- Identical expressions such as products or popular art such as drawings with lines and colors, engravings, statuary, pottery, needlework, woodwork, mosaic, metalwork, jewelry, knitting, carpet weaving and other textiles.
- Musical instruments;
- Different architectural works.
Beneficiaries or Rightholders
Article 45
National folklore shall be the public property of the State, the Ministry of Information and Culture, shall protect National Folklore by all legal means.