About Intellectual Property IP Training Respect for IP IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships AI Tools & Services The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars IP Enforcement WIPO ALERT Raising Awareness World IP Day WIPO Magazine Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Finance Intangible Assets Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA UPOV e-PVP Administration UPOV e-PVP DUS Exchange Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Webcast WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO Translate Speech-to-Text Classification Assistant Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight
Arabic English Spanish French Russian Chinese
Laws Treaties Judgments Browse By Jurisdiction

Copyright Act, 2000 (Chapter 415, as amended up to Act No. IX of 2003), Malta

Back
Superseded Text  Go to latest Version in WIPO Lex
Details Details Year of Version 2003 Dates Entry into force: January 1, 2001 Adopted: August 14, 2000 Type of Text Main IP Laws Subject Matter Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits, Copyright and Related Rights (Neighboring Rights), Enforcement of IP and Related Laws, Traditional Cultural Expressions, IP Regulatory Body Notes This consolidated version of the Copyright Act, 2000 (also known as Act No. XIII of 2000) incorporates all the amendments introduced by the following amending Laws:
- Legal Procedures Act, 2001 (Act No. VI of 2001);
- Various Laws (Amendment) Act, 2003 (Act No. IX of 2003).

Available Materials

Main Text(s) Related Text(s)
Main text(s) Main text(s) English Copyright Act, 2000 (Chapter 415, as amended up to Act No. IX of 2003)         Maltese Att Dwar Id-Drittijiet Ta’ L-Awtur (Kapitolu 415, kif emendat bl-Atti IX tal-2003)        

CHAPTER 415

COPYRIGHT ACT

To make new provision in respect of copyright and neighbouring rights and certain “sui generis” intellectual property rights in substitution of the provisions of the Copyright Act, Cap. 196.

14th August, 2000; 1st January, 2001

ACT XIII of 2000, as amended by Acts VI of 2001 and IX of 2003.

1. The short title of this Act is the Copyright Act. Short title.

PART I

DEFINITIONS

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -Interpretation.

Amended by:“European Union” means the European Union referred to in the IX. 2003.92.

Treaty;

“artistic work” shall include, irrespective of artistic quality, any of the following, or works similar thereto:

(a)
paintings, drawings, etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, engravings and prints;
(b)
maps, plans, diagrams and three-dimensional works relative to geography, science or topography, but excluding semiconductor product topographies;
(c)
works of sculpture;
(d)
photographs not comprised in an audiovisual work;
(e)
works of architecture in the form of buildings or models; and
(f)
works of artistic craftsmanship, including pictorial woven tissues and articles of applied handicraft and industrial art;

“audiovisual work” means a work that consists of a series of related images which impart the impression of motion, with or without accompanying sounds, susceptible of being made visible and, where accompanied by sounds, susceptible of being made audible;

“author” means the natural person or group of natural persons who created the work eligible for copyright but in the case of an audiovisual work it includes the principal director but excludes the producer of the first fixation of the audiovisual work;

“Board” means the Copyright Board established under article 45;

“body of persons” means any company or association of persons whether corporate or unincorporated, whether vested with legal personality or not, and includes any other body however called having legal personality;

“broadcasting” means the transmission by wireless means for the public reception of sounds or of images and sounds or of the representations thereof, including transmission by satellite. Broadcast does not include a rebroadcast;

“broadcasting authority” means the Broadcasting Authority established by article 118 of the Constitution;

“broadcasting organization” means any broadcaster whether licensed under the Broadcasting Act or under any other law, and includes a broadcasting contractor operating in Malta;

“cable retransmission” means the simultaneous, unaltered and unabridged retransmission by a cable or any other material carrier for reception by the public of an initial transmission by wire or over the air, including that by satellite, of television or radio programmes intended for reception by the public, from within Malta or from a State in which the exclusive right to authorize cable retransmission of works eligible for copyright or neighbouring rights is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;

“collecting society” means any organization which manages or administers copyright or neighbouring rights as its sole purpose or as one of its main purposes as regulated by the provisions of this Act;

“collective work” means a work which has been created by two or more physical persons at the initiative and under the direction of a physical person or legal entity with the understanding that it will be disclosed by the latter person or entity under his or its own name and that the identity of the contributing physical persons will not be indicated in the work;

“commercial exploitation” in relation to semiconductor product topographies means the sale, rental, leasing or any other method of commercial distribution, or an offer for these purposes:

Provided that where exploitation takes place under conditions of confidentiality to the extent that no further distribution to third parties occurs there shall not be deemed to have been “commercial exploitation”;

“communication to the public” means the transmission of a work by wire or wireless means and for the purpose of article 7 includes the making available to the public of the work in such a way that members of the public may access the work from a place and at a time individually chosen by them:

The mere provision of physical facilities for enabling or making of a communication does not in itself amount to an act of communication to the public;

“communication to the public by satellite” means the act of introducing, under the control and responsibility of a broadcasting organization, the programme-carrying signals intended for reception by the public into an uninterrupted chain of communication leading to the satellite and down towards the earth and the State where such an act takes place shall be deemed to be the place of origin of that act of communication to the public by satellite:

Provided that if the programme-carrying signals are encrypted, then there is communication to the public by satellite if the means for decrypting the broadcast are provided to the public by the broadcasting organisation or with its consent:

Provided further that if the act of communication to the public by satellite takes place in a State other than Malta or other than a State in which the exclusive right to authorize or prevent the satellite broadcasting of a work eligible for copyright or neighbouring rights is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party, if the programme-carrying signals are transmitted to the satellite from an uplink station situated in Malta, that act of communication to the public by satellite shall be deemed to have occurred in Malta so that the rights provided for by this Act shall be exercisable against the person operating the uplink station, or else in the absence of an uplink station in Malta, if a broadcasting organisation established in Malta has commissioned the act of communication to the public by satellite, that act shall be deemed to have occurred in Malta and the rights provided for by this Act shall be exercisable against that broadcasting organisation;

“computer program” includes computer programs whatever may be the mode or form of their expression including those which are incorporated in hardware, interfaces which provide for the physical interconnection and interaction or the interoperability between elements of software and hardware and preparatory design material leading to the development of a computer program:

Provided that the nature of the preparatory design material is such that a computer program can result therefrom at a later stage;

“copy” means a reproduction in written or graphic form including digital reproduction, in the form of a recording or audiovisual work, or in any other material form, so however that an object shall not be taken to be a copy of an architectural work unless the object is a building or model;

“copyright” means copyright under this Act;

“database” means a collection of independent works, data or other materials arranged in a systematic or methodical way and individually accessible by electronic or other means without it being necessary for these materials to have been physically stored in an organized manner but does not extend to computer programs used in the making or operation of a database accessible by electronic means comprised within the term “computer program”;

“distribution” means the making available to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership;

“fixation” means the embodiment of sounds, images, or both, or digital representations thereof, in any material form, from which they can be perceived, reproduced or communicated through a device;

“lawful” means done in compliance with provisions of this Act, and “lawfully” shall be construed accordingly;

“lending” means making available for use, for a limited period of time and not for direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage, when it is made through establishments which are accessible to the public:

Provided that even when lending by such an establishment gives rise to payment of an amount, as long as this amount does not go beyond what is necessary to cover the operational costs of the establishment, there is no direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage within the meaning of this Act;

“licence” means a lawfully granted licence permitting the doing of an act controlled by copyright or neighbouring rights;

“literary work” shall include, irrespective of literary quality, any of the following, or works similar thereto:

(a)
novels, stories and poetical works;
(b)
plays, stage directions, choreographic works or entertainment in dumb show, film scenarios and broadcasting script;
(c)
textbooks, treatises, histories, biographies, essays and articles;
(d)
encyclopaedias and dictionaries;
(e)
letters, reports and memoranda;
(f)
lectures, addresses and sermons;
(g)
computer programs,

but save as provided in article 12 of the Statute Law Revision Act, 1980, does not include any written law, law report or judicial decisions;

“Malta” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it by article 124 of the Constitution of Malta;

“Member State” means a state which is a member of the European Union;

“Minister” means the Minister responsible for the protection of copyright and neighbouring rights and includes to the extent of the authority given, any person authorised by the Minister in that behalf for any purpose of this Act other than for the purpose of article 59;

“musical work” means any musical work, irrespective of musical quality, and includes works composed for musical accompaniment;

“owner of copyright” means the author who is first owner, an assignee or an exclusive licensee, as the case may be, of a copyright and in the case of a collective work, the first owner of copyright shall be the natural or legal person under whose initiative and direction the work has been created;

“perceptual disability” means a disability that prevents or inhibits a person from reading or hearing a literary, musical, dramatic or artistic work in its original format, and includes such a disability resulting from:

(a) severe or total impairment of sight or hearing or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes;

(b)
the inability to hold or manipulate a book; or
(c)
an impairment relating to comprehension.

“performance” means the direct rendition of the work to a public which takes place under such circumstances that the works performed can be perceived by the public without any intermediate communication;

“performers” includes singers, musicians, actors or other artists who sing, deliver, declaim, play in, act in or otherwise perform literary, musical and artistic works or expressions of folklore and includes also singers, musicians, actors or other artists who sing, play in or perform in variety, circus and folklore shows or exhibitions;

“person” includes a body of persons;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under article 59;

“rebroadcast” means simultaneous broadcasting by one broadcasting organization of the broadcast of another broadcasting organization not under its control, whether situated in Malta or abroad, and “rebroadcasting” shall be construed accordingly:

Provided that “later rebroadcast” shall mean only any such subsequent broadcast and “later rebroadcasting” shall be construed accordingly;

“rental” means making available for use, for a limited period of time and for direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage;

“reproduction” means the making of one or more copies in any material form of a literary, musical or artistic work, audiovisual work or sound recording and includes storing such work in any medium by electronic means;

“rights-management information” means any information provided by rightholders which identifies the work or other subject-matter referred to in this Act, the author or any other rightholder, or information about the terms and conditions of use of the work or other subject-matter, and any numbers or codes that represent such information;

“satellite” means any satellite operating on frequency bands which, under international telecommunications law are reserved for the broadcast of signals for reception by the public or which are reserved for closed, point-to-point communication. In the latter case, however, the circumstances in which individual reception of the signals takes place must be comparable to those which apply in the first case;

“semiconductor product” means the final or an intermediate form of any product consisting of a body of material which includes a layer of semiconducting material, having one or more layers composed of conducting, insulating or semiconducting material, the layers being arranged in accordance with a predetermined three-dimensional pattern and intended to perform, exclusively or together with other functions, an electronic function;

Cap. 460.

Works eligible for copyright.

“semiconductor product topography” means a series of related images, however fixed or encoded, representing the three dimensional pattern of the layers of which a semiconductor product is composed and in which series, each image has the pattern or part of the pattern of a surface of the semiconductor product at any stage of its manufacture;

“sound recording” means the fixation of a sequence of sounds or of a digital representation of sounds capable of being perceived aurally and of being reproduced, but does not include a soundtrack associated with an audiovisual work;

“technological measures” means any technology, device or component that, in the normal course of its operation, is designed to prevent or restrict acts, in respect of works or other subject-matter, which are not authorised by the rightholder of any copyright or neighbouring right or the sui generis rights as provided for by this Act. Technological measures shall be deemed “effective” where the use of a protected work or other subject-matter is controlled by the rightholders through application of an access control or protection process, such as encryption, scrambling or other transformation of the work or other subject-matter or a copy control mechanism, which achieves the protection objective;

“the Treaty” has the same meaning assigned to it by the European Union Act;

“work of joint authorship” means a work produced by the collaboration of two or more authors in which the contribution of each author is not separable from the contribution of the other author or authors.

(2) For the purposes of this Act the following provisions shall apply with respect to publication:

(a)
a work shall be deemed to have been published if copies thereof have been made available in a reasonable quantity for sale, rental, lending or in any other manner sufficient to render the work accessible to the public;
(b)
where in the first instance a part only of a work is published, that part shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as a separate work;
(c)
a publication in any country shall be treated as being a first publication notwithstanding that there has been an earlier first publication elsewhere, if the two publications took place within a period of not more than thirty days.

PART II

COPYRIGHT

3. (1) Subject to the provisions of this article the following works shall be eligible for copyright:

(a) artistic works;

(b)
audiovisual works;
(c)
databases;
(d)
literary works;
(e)
musical works.
(2)
A literary, musical, or artistic work shall not be eligible for copyright unless the work has an original character and it has been written down, recorded, fixed or otherwise reduced to material form.
(3)
A work shall not be ineligible for copyright by reason only that the making of the work, or the doing of any act in relation to the work, involved an infringement of copyright in some other work.
(4)
A database shall not be eligible for copyright unless by reason of the selection or arrangement of its contents, it constitutes the author’s intellectual creation. Moreover the copyright conferred to a database shall not extend to its contents and shall be without prejudice to any rights subsisting in such contents themselves.

4. (1) Copyright shall be conferred by this article on every work eligible for copyright of which the author or, in the case of a work of joint authorship, any of the joint authors, is, at the time when the work is made:

(a)
an individual who is a citizen of, or is domiciled or permanently resident in Malta or in a State in which copyright is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;
(b)
a body of persons or a commercial partnership constituted, established, registered and vested with legal personality under the laws of Malta or of a State in which copyright is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party.

(2) The terms of copyright protection conferred by this article shall be calculated according to the following table:

TABLE

Type of Work Date of Expiration of Copyright

(i) Literary, musical Seventy years after the end of the or artistic works and year in which the author dies, database irrespective of the date when the work

is lawfully made available to the public. (ii)Audiovisual works Seventy years after the end of the year in which the last of the following person dies: the principal director, the author of the screenplay, the author of the dialogue and the composer of music specifically created for use in the audiovisual work.

(3) In the case of an anonymous or pseudonymous literary, musical or artistic work, or in the case of a collective work, the

Qualification for copyright protection by virtue of authors.

Qualification for copyright protection by reference to country where work is made or published.

Copyright works of Government and international bodies.

copyright in the work subsists until the end of the expiration of 70 years from the end of the year in which it was lawfully made available to the public or after the end of the year in which the work was made if it has not been made available to the public:

Provided that when the pseudonym adopted by the author leaves no doubt as to his identity or in the event of the identity of the author becoming known during the period referred to in the preceding paragraph of this sub-article or where in the case of collective works by a body of persons the natural persons who have created the work are individually identifiable in the versions of the work made available to the public the terms of copyright protection shall be calculated in accordance with the provision of paragraph

(i)
of the last preceding sub-article.
(4)
In the case of joint authorship reference in the preceding table to the death of the author shall be deemed to refer to the joint author who dies last, whether or not he is a qualified person in terms of article 4(1).
(5)
In the case of a person who for the first time lawfully publishes or lawfully communicates to the public a previously unpublished work the copyright protection of which has expired, he shall benefit from a protection equivalent to the economic rights covered by copyright but limitedly for a period of twenty-five years from the time when the work was first lawfully published or lawfully communicated to the public.
(6)
Where a work is published in volumes, parts, instalments, issues or episodes and the term of protection runs from the time when the work was lawfully made available to the public, the term of protection shall run for each such item separately.

5. (1) Copyright shall be conferred by this article on every work which is eligible for copyright and which is made or first published in Malta or in a State in which such works are protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party and which has not been the subject of copyright conferred by article 4.

(2) Copyright conferred on a work by this article shall have the same duration as is provided for in article 4 in relation to the same type of work.

6. (1) Copyright shall be conferred by this article on every work which is eligible for copyright and which is made by or under the direction or control of the Government of Malta and also such governments of other States, international bodies or other intergovernmental organisations as may be prescribed by the Minister responsible for the Industrial Property Office.

(2)
Copyright conferred by this article on databases or on a literary, musical or artistic work shall subsist until the end of the expiration of seventy years from the end of the year in which it was first published.
(3)
Copyright conferred by this article on an audiovisual work shall have the same duration as is provided for by article 4 in relation to the same type of work.
(4)
Article 4(5) shall apply in like manner to works eligible for copyright to which this article applies which, having been unpublished, are lawfully published or lawfully communicated to the public for the first time after copyright protection has expired.
(5)
Articles 4 and 5 shall not be deemed to confer copyright on works to which this article applies.

7. (1) Copyright in an audiovisual work, a database, a literary, musical or artistic work shall be the exclusive right to authorise or prohibit the doing in Malta in respect of the protected material in its totality or substantial part thereof, either in its original form or in any form recognisably derived from the original of any of the following:

(a)
the direct or indirect, temporary or permanent reproduction by any means and in any form, in whole or in part;
(b)
the rental and lending;
(c)
the distribution;
(d)
the translation in other languages including different computer languages;
(e)
the adaptation, the arrangement and any other alteration and the reproduction, distribution, communication, display or performance to the public of the results thereof;
(f)
the broadcasting or rebroadcasting or the communication to the public or cable retransmission;
(g)
display or performance to the public:

Provided that the right to authorise or prohibit the cable retransmission of a television broadcast shall be exercisable only through a collecting society.

(2)
The right to authorise or prohibit cable retransmission shall not apply when the transmission is made in Malta:
(a)
if the retransmission is in pursuance of a “must carry” requirement as per article 40 of the Broadcasting Act; and
(b)
if and to the extent that the transmission is made for reception in the area in which the cable retransmission may be received.
(3)
The right to authorise or prohibit the cable retransmission of a television broadcast shall be exercisable only through a collecting society.
(4)
In the case provided for in subarticle (2) where a rightholder has not transferred the management of his rights to a collecting society, the collecting society which manages rights of the same category shall be deemed to be mandated to manage his rights. Such rightholder shall have the same rights and obligations resulting from the agreement between the cable operator and the collecting society which is so deemed to be mandated to manage his rights as the rightholders who have mandated that collecting

Nature of copyright in an audiovisual work, database, literary, musical and artistic work.

Substituted by:

IX. 2003.93.

Cap. 350.

Exhaustion of the distribution rights.

Substituted by:

IX. 2003.94.

Restriction with regard to certain works.

Substituted by:

IX. 2003.95.

society and he may claim such rights within a period of three years from the date of the cable retransmission which includes his work or other protected subject-matter.

(5) Where no agreement is concluded regarding authorization of the cable retransmission of a broadcast, either party may call upon the assistance of one or more mediators appointed by the chairman of the Malta Arbitration Centre, unless otherwise agreed to by all the parties. The tasks of the mediators shall be to provide assistance with negotiation. They may also submit proposals to the parties. It shall be assumed that all the parties accept a proposal as referred to in this subarticle if none of them expresses its opposition within a period of three months. Notice of the proposal and of any opposition thereto shall be served on the parties concerned by judicial act, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The mediators shall be so selected that their independence and impartiality are beyond reasonable doubt.

8. (1) The first sale or other transfer of ownership in the market of the original work enjoying copyright or copies thereof, when such sale is effected by or with the consent of the copyright owner himself, shall exhaust the exclusive distribution right in respect of that work or its copy.

(2) For the purposes of this article “market” means the market in Malta and as from the 1st May 2004 the European Union.

9. (1) Copyright in an audiovisual work, a database, a literary work other than in the case of a computer programme, a muscial or artistic work shall not include the right to authorise or prohibit

(a)
temporary acts of reproduction, which are transient or incidental and an integral and essentail part of a technological process and whose sole purpose is to enable:
(i)
a transmission in a network between third parties by an intermediary, or
(ii)
another lawful use of a work or other subject-matter to be made, and which have no independent economic significance;
(b)
reproductions on paper or any similar medium, effected by the use of any kind of photographic technique or by some other process having similar effects, with the exception of sheet music, provided that the rightholders received fair compensation;
(c)
reproductions on any medium made by a natural person for private use and for ends that are neither directly nore indirectly commerical, on condition that the rightholders receive fair compensation which takes account of the application or non-application or technological measures referred to in article 42(3) and
(4) to the work or subject-matter concerned;
(d)
specific acts of reproduction made by publicly accessible libraries, educational establishments or
COPYRIGHT [CAP. 415. 11
museums, or by archives, which are not for direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage;
(e) ephemeral recordings or works made by broadcasting organisations by means of their own facilities and for their own broadcasts:
Provided that any reproduction of a work made under this paragraph may, if it is of exceptional documentary character be preserved in official archives;
(f) reproduction of broadcasts made by social institutions pursuing non-commercial purposes, such as hospitals or prisons, on condition that the rightholders receive fair compensation;
(g) the performing, playing or showing of a work in a place where no admission fee is charged in respect of such an act by any club whose aim is not profit-making;
(h) the reproduction, translation, distribution or communication to the public of a work for the sole purpose of illustration for teaching or scientific research only to the extent justified by the noncommercial purpose to be achieved, and as long as the source, including the author’s name, is, unless this is impossible, indicated;
(i) the reproduction, translation, distribution or communication to the public of a work for the benefit of people with a disability, which are directly related to the disability and on a non-commercial nature, to the extent required by the specific disability;
(j) the reproduction by the press, translation, distribution or communication to the public of published articles on current economic, political or religious topics or of broadcast works or other subject-matter of the same character, in cases where such use is not expressly reserved, and as long as the source, including the author’s name, is indicated, or use of works or other subject-matter in connection with the reporting of current events, to the extent justified by the informatory purpose and as long as the source, including the author’s name, is, unless this is impossible, indicated;
(k) the reproduction, translation, distribution or communication to the public of quotations for purposes such as criticism or review, provided that they relate to a work or other subject-matter which has already been lawfully made available to the public, as long as, unless this is impossible, the source, including the author’s name, is indicated, and that their use is in accordance with fair practice, and to the extent required by the specific purposes;
(l) the reproduction, translation, distribution or

communication to the public of a work for the purposes of public security or to ensure the proper performance or reporting of administrative, parliamentary or judicial proceedings;

(m)
the reproduction, translation, distribution or communication to the public of political speeches as well as extracts of public lectures or similar works or subject-matter to the extent justified by informatory purposes and provided that the source, including the author’s name, is, except where this is impossible, indicated;
(n)
the reproduction, translation, distribution or communication to the public of a work for use during religious celebrations or official celebrations organized by a public authority;
(o)
the reading or recitation in public by a person of any reasonable extract from a published literary work if accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement;
(p)
the inclusion in a communication to the public, the making of a graphic representation and the making of a photograph or film, of a work of architecture or sculpture or similar works made to be located permanently in public places;
(q)
the incidental inclusion of a work or other subject matter in other material;
(r)
the reproduction, distribution or communication to the public of a work for the purpose of advertising the public exhibition or sale of artistic works, to the extent necessary to promote the event, excluding any other commercial use;
(s)
the reproduction or communication to the public of a work by way of caricature, pastiche or parody;
(t)
the reproduction, translation, distribution or communication to the public of a work in connection with the demonstration or repair of equipment;
(u)
the reproduction, distribution or communication to the public of an artistic work in the form of a builidng or a drawing or plan of a building for the purposes of reconstructing the building;
(v)
the communication to the public, for the purpose of research or private study, to individual members of the public by dedicated terminals on the premises of establishments referred to in paragraph (d) of works and other subject-matter, not subject to purchase or licensing terms, which are contained in their collections;
(w)
in the case of a database, the performance of those acts which are normally necessary in order that the licensed user obtains access to the contents of the database and normal use thereof, in respect of the whole or part of

the database which the user is licensed to use; and any contractual provisions running counter to what is prescribed in this paragraph shall be null and void.

(2) Copyright in a computer programme shall not include the right to authorize or prohibit:

(a)
the observation, the study or testing of the functioning of the program by the licensed user in order to determine the ideas and principles which underlie any element of the program if this is done whilst performing any of the acts of loading, displaying, running, transmitting or storing the program which he is entitled to do;
(b)
the reproduction by the licensed user of the code and translation of its form where this is indispensable to obtain the information necessary to achieve the interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, provided that these acts are confined to the parts of the original program which are necessary to achieve interoperability and the information necessary to achieve interoperability has not previously been readily available to the licensed user:

Provided that any information obtained from the reproduction of the code and the translation of the form of a computer program made under this paragraph shall not:

(i)
be used for purposes other than to achieve the interoperability of the independently created computer program;
(ii)
be given to other persons, except when necessary for the interoperability of the independently created computer program;

(iii) be used for the development, production or marketing of a computer program substantially similar in its expression to the original program or for any other act which infringes copyright;

(c) the making of a copy or a back-up copy, the translation, adaptation, arrangement and any other alteration of a computer program and the reproduction of the results thereof, in so far as this is necessary for the licensed user to make proper use of the program in accordance with its intended purpose, including the correction of errors; and the right of the licensed user to make a back-up copy of a computer program may not be restricted or excluded by contract in so far as it is necessary for the use of that computer program.

(3) The exceptions and limitations provided for in this article shall only be applied in such particular cases which do not conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or other subject-matter and do not unreasonably rejudice the legitimate interests of the rightholder.

Copyright in a work of architecture.

First ownership of copyright.

Author’s right to prohibit the mutilation, modification, distortion or subjecting to derogatory treatment of any work.

    1. Copyright in a work of architecture shall also include the exclusive right to authorize or prevent the erection of any building which reproduces the whole or a substantial part of the work either in its original form or in any form recognisably derived from the original:
    2. Provided that the copyright in any such work shall not include the right to authorise or prevent the reconstruction, in the same style as the original, of a building to which that copyright relates or the right to authorize or prevent the rental or lending of buildings or works of applied art.
  1. (1) Copyright conferred by articles 4, 5 and 6 shall vest initially in the author or in the joint authors:

Provided that in the case of computer programs and databases where a work is made in the course of the author’s employment, in the execution of his duties or following the instructions given by his employer, the economic rights conferred by copyright shall be deemed to be transferred to the author’s employer, subject to any agreement between the parties excluding or limiting such transfer. In respect of other works eligible for copyright, in such circumstances, subject to any agreement to the contrary between the parties, the copyright shall always vest in the author or joint authors.

(2) Subject to the provision of the last preceding sub-article

(a)
the name on a work purporting to be the name of its author shall be considered as such, unless the contrary is proved;
(b)
in the case of an anonymous or pseudonymous work, the publisher whose name is indicated in the work as such shall be deemed to be, unless the contrary is proved, the legal representative of the anonymous or pseudonymous author and shall be entitled to exercise and protect the rights belonging to the author under this Act.

PART III

MORAL RIGHTS OF AUTHORS

12. (1) It shall not be lawful for any person, including the assignee of the copyright or a licensee thereunder, without the author’s consent, to mutilate, modify, distort or subject to any other derogatory action any work during its term of copyright in a way prejudicial to the honour or reputation of the author.

(2) The author of a work eligible for copyright shall, until the expiry of copyright, in addition to copyright conferred in relation to that work, and also in those cases where copyright shall have been transmitted by assignment or by testamentary disposition enjoy the moral right -

(a) to claim authorship of his work, in particular, the right that his name as far as practicable, be indicated in a prominent way on the copies, and in connection with any public use of that work; or

(b) that his name be not indicated on the copies, and in connection with any public use, of his work, or that his pseudonym be so indicated:

Provided that during the lifetime of the author of a work it shall not be lawful to transmit any of the aforesaid moral rights.

(3) On the death of the author

(a)
the right passes to such person as he may by testamentary disposition specifically direct, provided that on this person’s death the right passes to his successor;
(b)
if there is no such direction but the copyright in the work in question forms part of his estate, the right passes to the person to whom the copyright passes;
(c)
if or to the extent the right does not pass under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) it would be exercisable by the owners of the copyright.

PART IV

NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS

13. Performers shall have the exclusive right to authorise or prohibit the doing in Malta any of the following acts:

(a)
the fixation of their performances;
(b)
the direct or indirect, temporary or permanent reproduction by any means and in any form, in whole or in part of a fixation of their performances;
(c)
the rental and lending of their fixed performances;
(d)
the distribution of the original performances fixed in phonograms and of copies thereof;
(e)
the making available to the public of the fixation of their performances, by wire or wireless means, in such a way that members of the public may access them from a place and a time individually chosen by them;
(f)
the broadcasting and the communication to the public of their performances, except where the performance is itself already a broadcast performance or is made from a fixation.
  1. The rights conferred by this article shall have the duration of fifty years from the end of the year in which the fixation of the performance was first lawfully published or first lawfully communicated to the public, whichever is the earlier or in the absence of such publication or communication to the public from the end of the year in which it was first performed.
  2. Producers of sound recordings shall, in respect of their sound recordings, and producers of the first fixations of audiovisual works, in respect of the original and copies of their audiovisual works, have the exclusive right to authorize or prohibit:

Nature of performer’s rights.

Term of protection for performers’ rights.

Nature of producer’s rights.

Term of protection for producers’ rights.

Nature of broadcasters’ rights.

Term of protection of broadcasters’ rights.

Remuneration for performers and producers of sound recordings.

(a)
the direct or indirect, temporary or permanent reproduction by any means or form in whole or in part;
(b)
the rental and lending;
(c)
the distribution;
(d)
the making available to the public by wire or wireless means in such a way that members of the public may access them from a place and a time individually chosen by them.
  1. The rights conferred by this article on sound recordings and audiovisual works shall have the duration of fifty years from the end of the year in which the sound recording or the first fixation of the audiovisual work was first lawfully published or lawfully communicated to the public, whichever is the earlier or in the absence of such publication or communication to the public from the end of the year in which the first fixation was made.
    1. (1) Broadcasting organisations shall have the exclusive right to authorize or prohibit the doing in Malta of any of the following acts:
      1. the fixation of their broadcasts or initial cable transmissions;
      2. the direct or indirect, temporary or permanent reproduction by any means or form in whole or in part of fixations of their broadcast or initial cable transmissions as set out in paragraph (a) above;
      3. the distribution of fixation of their broadcasts or initial cable transmissions as set out in paragraph (a) above;
      4. the rebroadcasting of their broadcasts as well as the communication to the public of their broadcasts if such communication is made in places accessible to the public against payment of an entrance fee;
      5. the making available to the public, of fixations of their broadcast or initial cable transmissions as set out in (a) above, by wire or wireless means, in such a way that members of the public may access them from a place and at a time individually chosen by them.

(2) A broadcasting organisation shall not have the right provided in sub-article (1)(a) above when it merely retransmits by cable the broadcasts of broadcasting organisations.

  1. The rights conferred by this article on broadcasts shall have the duration of fifty years from the end of the year in which the broadcast was first transmitted whether by wire or over the air, be it by cable or satellite.
  2. Where a sound recording published for commercial purposes or a reproduction of such sound recording is used directly or indirectly for broadcasting by wireless means or for any communication to the public a single equitable remuneration shall be paid by the user to the performers and to the producers of the sound recording concerned to be shared equally between them. Such payment shall be made to a collecting society representing

both performers and producers of sound recordings or, in the absence of such a collecting society, to the producer of sound recordings who shall be obliged to distribute half of the remuneration to the performers.

20. (1) The distribution right in respect of fixations of performances, sound recordings, original and copies of audiovisual works and fixations of broadcasts conferred by the preceding articles of this Act on performers, producers of sound recordings, producers of the first fixations of audiovisual works and broadcasting organisations respectively, shall be exhausted by the first sale or transfer of ownership in the market of the originals or copies of such works in regard to that particular original or copy, when such sale is effected by the neighbouring right owner or with his consent.

(2) For the purposes of this article, “market” means the market in Malta and as from the 1st May 2004 the market in any othe Member State.

  1. The provisions of article 9 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the neighbouring rights conferred by this Act in like manner as they apply to copyright in a literary, musical or artistic or audiovisual work, or database.
  2. Neighbouring rights conferred by this Part shall apply only in respect of works -

(a) of which the performer, the producer or broadcaster is -

(i)
an individual who is a citizen of, or is domiciled or permanently resident in Malta or in a State in which such works are protected by neighbouring rights under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;
(ii)
a body of persons or a commercial partnership constituted, established, registered and vested with legal personality under the laws of Malta or of a State in which such works are protected by neighbouring rights under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;

or

(b)
which are made, first published, broadcast or communicated to the public in Malta or in a State in which such works are protected by neighbouring rights under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;
or
(c)
which are made by or under the direction or control of the Government of Malta and also such governments of other States, international bodies or other intergovernmental organisations as may be prescribed.

PART V

Exhaustion of distribution rights.

Substituted by:

IX. 2003.96.

Exceptions to neighbouring rights.

Substituted by:

IX. 2003.97.

Qualification for neighbouring rights protection.

Performer’s rights to be identified and to prohibit the distortion, mutilation and modification of performances.

Assignment and licences.

MORAL RIGHTS OF PERFORMERS

23. (1) Independently of a performer’s economic rights, and even after the transfer of those rights, the performer shall until the expiry of the economic rights, as regards his live aural performances or performances fixed in phonograms, have the right to claim to be identified as the performer of his performances, except where omission is dictated by the manner of the use of the performances, and to prohibit any distortion, mutilation or other modification of his performances that would be prejudicial to his reputation:

Provided that during the lifetime of the performer it shall not be lawful to transmit any of the aforementioned moral rights.

(2) On the death of the performer

(a)
the right passes to such person as he may by testamentary disposition specifically direct, provided that on this person’s death the right passes to his successor;
(b)
if there is no such direction but the copyright in the work in question forms part of his estate, the right passes to the person to whom the copyright passes.

PART VI

TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT AND NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS

24. (1) Subject to the provisions of this article, copyright and neighbouring rights shall be transmissible by assignment, operation of law or by testamentary disposition as movable property.

(2)
An assignment or testamentary disposition of copyright or neighbouring rights may be limited so as to apply to some only of the acts which the owner of the copyright or neighbouring rights has the exclusive right to authorize or prevent, or to a part only of the period of the copyright or neighbouring right, or to a specified country or other geographical area.
(3)
When an author in relation to the original or copy of his work or a performer in relation to the fixation of his performance assigns his exclusive right to authorize or prevent the rental thereof to the producer of the sound recording or the producer of the audiovisual work containing the author’s work or the performer’s fixed performance, that author or performer shall retain the right to obtain individually or through a collecting society an equitable remuneration for the rental of the said sound recording or original or copy of the said audiovisual work from the producer concerned and such right may not be waived. In the absence of agreement on the remuneration payable under this sub-article, the amount of such remuneration shall be determined by the Board.
(4)
Subject to the provisions of article 52 no assignment of copyright or neighbouring rights and no licence to do an act the doing of which is controlled by copyright or by neighbouring rights shall have effect unless it is effected by an agreement in writing between the parties:

Provided that when a contract is concluded between a performer and a producer of audiovisual works concerning the production of an audiovisual work the performer shall be deemed to have assigned to the producer his exclusive rights on the fixation of his performance, unless agreed otherwise, subject only to the right, which may not be waived, of the performer to an equitable remuneration payable on the conclusion of the contract by the producer to the performer or should he so desire to a collecting society representing him, which remuneration shall, in the absence of agreement between the parties, be determined by the Board.

Provided further that, when a contract is concluded between the author of an audiovisual work or the authors of the underlying works used as the basis for the audiovisual work and the producer of the audiovisual work concerning the production of that audiovisual work such authors shall be deemed to have assigned to the producer their exclusive rights on their copyright works, unless agreed otherwise, subject only to the right, which may not be waived, of the authors to an equitable remuneration payable on the conclusion of the contract by the producer to the author individually or should the author so desire, to a collecting society representing him, which remuneration shall, in the absence of agreement between the parties, be determined by the Board.

(5)
An assignment or licence of copyright granted by a joint author or an assignment or licence of a neighbouring right granted by a joint rightholder shall have effect as if granted by the other joint authors or joint rightholders respectively:
Provided that, where any other joint author in the case of copyright or joint rightholder in the case of neighbouring rights is not satisfied with the terms on which such assignment or licence has been granted, he may, within three months from the day on which the said terms have been communicated in writing to him, apply to the Board for the determination by it of such terms as the Board may consider fair and reasonable.
(6)
An assignment, licence or testamentary disposition may be effectively granted or made in respect of a future work or an existing work in which copyright or a neighbouring right does not yet subsist, and the prospective copyright or prospective neighbouring right in any such work shall be transmissible as movable property:
Provided that in the case of copyright such assignment or licence shall not be deemed to include a copyright which in terms of article 11(1) vests in the author’s employers, unless the parties expressly include it.
(7)
A testamentary disposition of the material on which a work is first written or otherwise recorded shall, unless the testator has provided otherwise, be deemed to include any copyright or neighbouring right or prospective copyright or prospective neighbouring right in the work which is vested in the deceased.

PART VII

SUI GENERIS RIGHT IN RESPECT OF DATABASES

Nature of sui generis right in respect of databases.

Exceptions to the sui generis right in respect of databases.

Term of protection of sui generis right in respect of databases.

  1. Notwithstanding the provisions of article 7, the maker of a database who can show that there has been qualitatively or quantitatively a substantial investment in either the obtaining, verification or presentation of the contents of the database shall have, irrespective of the eligibility of that database or its contents for protection by copyright or by other rights, the right to authorise or prohibit acts of extraction or re-utilization of its contents, in whole or in substantial part, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively.
  2. (1) The maker of a database which is made available to the public in whatever manner may not prevent a licensed user of the database from extracting or re-utilizing insubstantial parts of its contents, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, for any purpose whatsoever, as long as the licensed user does not perform acts which conflict with the normal exploitation of the database or unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the maker of the database or in any way cause prejudice to the holder of a copyright or neighbouring right in respect of the works or subject matter contained in the database and any contractual provisions running counter to this proviso shall be null and void:

Provided that the repeated and systematic extraction or re-utilization of insubstantial parts of the contents of the database implying acts which conflict with a normal exploitation of that database or which unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the maker of the database shall not be permitted.

(2) Notwithstanding article 25, a licensed user may, without the authorization of the maker of a database made available to the public in whatever manner, extract or re-utilize a substantial part of its contents for the following purposes:

(a)
extraction for private use in the case of a nonelectronic database;
(b)
extraction for the purposes of illustration for teaching or for scientific research to the extent justified by the non-commercial purpose to be achieved provided the source is indicated;
(c)
extraction or re-utilization for the purposes of public security or an administrative or judicial procedure.

27. The right provided for in article 25 shall expire fifteen years from the first of January of the year following the date of completion of the making of the database, or if made available to the public in whatever manner before expiry of the said period, such a right shall expire fifteen years from the first of January of the year following the date when the database was first made available to the public:

Provided that any substantial change, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, to the contents of a database, including any substantial change resulting from the accumulation of successive additions, deletions or alterations, which would result in the database being considered to be a substantial new investment, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, shall give rise to the creation of a new database, which shall be entitled from that moment to its own term of protection of fifteen years.

  1. Such a right which may be assigned or granted under contractual licence subject to the provisions of article 24 shall be without prejudice to rights existing in respect of the contents of the database.
  2. The right conferred by this article shall only apply to a database

(a) whose maker or rightholder is at the time when the database is made

(i)
an individual who is a citizen of, or is domiciled or permanently resident in Malta or in a State in which such a sui generis right in respect of databases is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;
(ii)
a body of persons or a commercial partnership constituted, established, registered and vested with legal personality under the laws of Malta or of a State in which such a sui generis right in respect of databases is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;

or

(b)
which is made or first made available to the public in Malta or in a State in which such a sui generis right in respect of databases is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party;
or
(c)
which is made by or under the direction or control of the Government of Malta and also such governments of other States, international bodies or other intergovernmental organisations as may be prescribed.

30. (1) For the purposes of this Part “extraction” means the permanent or temporary transfer of all or a substantial part of the contents of a database to another medium by any means or in any form while “re-utilization” means any form of making available to the public all or a substantial part of the contents of a database by the distribution of copies, by renting, by on-line or other forms of transmission:

(2) Provided that public lending shall not be deemed to be an act of extraction or re-utilization.

31. The first sale in Malta of a copy of a database by the rightholder or with his consent shall exhaust the right to control the resale of that copy.

PART VIII

SUI GENERIS RIGHT IN RESPECT OF SEMICONDUCTOR
PRODUCT TOPOGRAPHIES

Assignment and licences.

Qualification for protection sui generis right in respect of databases.

Definition of extraction and re-utilization.

Exhaustion of resale right.

Nature of sui generis right in respect of semiconductor topographies.

Exceptions to the topography right.

Exhaustion of topography right.

Application of topography right only in respect of creator’s own intellectual effort.

Qualification for protection of topography right.

Topographies created in course of employment.

  1. Creators of semiconductor product topographies and their successors in title shall have the exclusive right to authorize or prevent in Malta the reproduction of the topography and the commercial exploitation or the importation for the purpose of commercial exploitation of the topography or of a semiconductor product manufactured by using the topography.
    1. The right conferred by article 32 shall not prevent:
      1. reproduction of a topography privately for noncommercial aims;
      2. reproduction for the purpose of analyzing, evaluating or teaching the concepts, processes, systems or techniques bodied in the topography or the topography itself;
      3. any act in relation to a topography meeting the requirements of article 35 and created on the basis of an analysis and evaluation of another topography carried out in conformity with the preceding paragraph (b).
  2. When the topography or the semiconductor product has been put on the market in Malta by the rightholder or with his consent the exclusive right to authorize or prevent the commercial exploitation or the importation of that topography or of that semiconductor product shall be exhausted.
    1. The right conferred by article 32 shall apply only in respect of semiconductor product topographies which are the result of the creator’s own intellectual effort and are not commonplace in the semiconductor industry but shall not extend to any concept, process, system, technique or encoded information embodied in the topography:
    2. Provided that where the semiconductor product topography consists of elements that are commonplace in the semiconductor industry, it shall be protected only to the extent that the combination of such elements, taken as a whole, fulfils the above-mentioned conditions.
  3. The right conferred by article 32 shall apply in favour of a creator or his successor in title who is an individual who is a citizen of, or is domiciled or permanently resident in Malta or in a State in which such a sui generis right as is conferred by article 32 on semiconductor product topographies is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party.
  4. Where a topography is created in the course of the creator’s employment, in the execution of his duties or following the instructions given by his employer the exclusive right conferred by article 32 shall be deemed to be transferred to the creator’s employer or his successor in title, subject to any agreement between the parties excluding or limiting such transfer:

Provided that the creator’s employer or his successor in title must also satisfy the criteria of article 36 or be a body of persons or a commercial partnership constituted, established, registered and vested with legal personality under the laws of Malta or of a State in which such a sui generis right as is conferred by article 32 on semiconductor product topographies is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party.

  1. Where no right to protection as conferred by article 32 exists in favour of a creator or his employer in accordance with articles 36 and 37, the right shall apply in favour of the person or his successor in title, who, satisfying either of the conditions mentioned in the proviso to article 37, first commercially exploits, in Malta or in a State in which such a sui generis right as is conferred by article 32 on semiconductor product topographies is protected under an international agreement to which Malta is also a party, a topography which has not yet been exploited commercially anywhere in the world and has been exclusively authorized to exploit commercially the topography throughout such territory by the person entitled to dispose of it.
  2. The right conferred by article 32 may be assigned or granted under contractual licence subject to the provisions of article 24.
    1. The right conferred by article 32 shall subsist for ten years from the end of the year in which the semiconductor product topography was first commercially exploited anywhere in the world or for fifteen years from the first fixation or encoding of the semiconductor product topography if it has not been commercially exploited:
    2. Provided that in the case where the term of protection commences from the date of first commercial exploitation in the world rather than from the first fixation or encoding of the topography, the legal remedies provided for by article 43(1) shall also be available in favour of a rightholder who can prove to the satisfaction of the Court that the defendant fraudulently reproduced or commercially exploited or imported for that purpose a semiconductor product topography even though such acts occurred prior to the commencement of the term of protection and the coming into existence of the right conferred by article 32.
  3. Notwithstanding article 32 and the provisions of article 42, a person or his successor in title who acquires a semiconductor product shall not be prevented from commercially exploiting that product if at the time of acquisition he was not aware and could not reasonably be expected to be aware that a sui generis right as is conferred by article 32 subsisted in that work:

Provided that, at the suit of the rightholder or his successors in title, the Civil Court, First Hall, shall order that person to pay adequate compensation to the plaintiff in respect of the acts committed by him after he became aware or had reasonable grounds to believe that the semiconductor product is protected by such a sui generis right.

Where no right to protection exists.

Assignment and licences.

Term of protection for topography right.

Right of remuneration.

PART IX

INFRINGEMENT

Infringing acts. 42. (1) Copyright, neighbouring rights and sui generis rights Substituted by:

are infringed by:

IX. 2003.98.

(a)
any person who does or causes another person to do, without a licence from the owner or holder thereof, an act the doing of which is controlled by copyright, neighbouring rights or sui generis rights;
(b)
any person who, without the licence of the copyright owner or right holder, imports into Malta otherwise than for private and domestic use, or distributes therein by way of trade, hire or otherwise, or by way of trade exhibits in public or is in possesssion or manufactures in the course of business or offers or exposes for sale or hire an article in respect of which copyright, neighbouring rights or sui generis rights are infringed under the preceding paragraph;
(c)
any person who, without the licence of the copyright owner or rightholder does anything which circumvents any effective technological measures, which the person concerned carries out in the knowledge, or with reasonable grounds to know, that he or she is pursuing that objective;
(d)
any person who, without the licence of the copyright owner or rightholder maufactures, imports, distributes, sells, rents, advertises for sale or rental, or possesses for commercial puposes, devices, products or components which:
(i)
are for the purpose of circumvention of, or
(ii)
have only a limited commerically significant purpose or use other than to circumvent, or
(iii) are primarily designed, produced, adapted or performed for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the circumvention of, any effective technological measures;
(e)
any person who, without the licence of the copyright owner or rightholder provides, promotes, advertises or markets a service which serves for the purpose of circumvention of any effective technological measures;
(f)
any person who, without the licence of the copyright owner or right holder, knowingly performs any of the following acts:
(i)
the removal or alteration of any electronic rights-management information;
(ii)
the distribution, importation for distribution, broadcasting, communication or making available to the public of works or other subject-matter protected under this Act from which

electronic rights-management information has been removed or altered without authority,

if such person knows, or has reasonable grounds to know, that by so doing he is inducing, enabling, facilitating or concealing an infringement of any copyright or any neighbouring right, or of the sui generis rights as provided by this Act:

Provided that any of these items of electronic rights-management information:

(i)
is associated with a copy of a copyright work under the terms of this Act, or
(ii)
appears in connection with the communication to the public of a copyright work under the terms of this Act, or

(iii) is covered by a sui generis right under the terms of this Act.

(2) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subarticle (1)(c), (d) and ( e), where the application of any effective technological measure to a copyright work prevents any beneficiary of an exception provided for in article 9(1)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (i), (l) or (h) from benefiting from that exception, the rightholder shall make available to the beneficiary the means of benefiting from that exception, to the extent necessary to benefit from that exception or limitation:

Provided that the beneficiary shall have legal

access to the protected work or subject-matter

concerned:

Provided further that there is no voluntary measure taken by the rightholder or exclusive licencee or agreement between the rightholder and the other party concerned, the purpose of which is to enable the beneficiary (or persons of a class to which the beneficiary belongs) to benefit from the exceptions specified in the above paragraph.

(b) The provisions of subarticle (2)(a) do not apply to copyright works made available to the public on agreed contractual terms in such a way that members of the public may access them from a place and at a time individually chosen by them.

43. (1) Where any person infringes the copyright, neighbouring rights or sui generis rights in respect of a work, he shall be liable, at the suit of the copyright owner or right holder to be condemned by the Civil Court, First Hall to the payment of damages or to the payment of a fine to be determined in accordance with a scale of fines to be prescribed by the Minister, as the said Court, having regard to the circumstances of the case, may deem proper and to the restitution of all the profit derived from the infringement of the copyright, neighbouring rights or sui generis rights:

Liability for infringement of copyright, neighbouring rights and sui generis rights.

Liability for infringement of moral rights.

Appointment of the Board.

Provided that where the defendant proves to the satisfaction of the Court that at the time of the infringement he was not aware and could not reasonably be expected to be aware that copyright, neighbouring rights or sui generis rights subsisted in the work to which the action relates, the Court shall not condemn him to the restitution of the profit.

(2)
The Civil Court, First Hall may in an action for infringement of copyright, neighbouring rights or sui generis rights having regard to all the circumstances and in particular to the flagrancy of the infringement and any benefit accruing to the defendant by reason of the infringement, award such additional damage as the justice of the case may require.
(3)
The Court may, moreover, in a suit instituted under this article, on the application of the plaintiff, order that all the infringing articles still in possession of the defendant be delivered to the plaintiff.
(4)
In an action for infringement of copyright in respect of the construction of a building, no prohibitory injunction or other order shall be made
(a)
after the construction of the building has been begun, so as to prevent it from being completed; or
(b)
so as to require the building, in so far as it has been constructed, to be demolished.

44. (1) Saving the provisions of the last preceding article, any person who contravenes the provision of article 12(1), shall be liable at the suit of the author or his heirs to be condemned by the Civil Court, First Hall, to the payment of a fine, and for damages to be determined in accordance with a scale of fines to be prescribed by the Minister.

(2)
In any proceedings under the last preceding sub-article the Court shall order the destruction of all the infringing articles still in possession of the defendant where it is satisfied that the prejudice caused to the author is so serious as to justify such measure.
(3)
The provision of the last preceding sub-article shall not apply where the infringing article is a building.
(4)
Any person who contravenes the provisions of article 12(1) and (2) and article 23(1) shall be liable at the suit of the author or the physical person to whom, or the legal entity to which, the right to exercise the aforesaid moral rights has been transmitted under the proviso to article 11(2), to be condemned by the Civil Court, First Hall to the payment of a fine, and for damages to be determined in accordance with a scale of fines to be prescribed by the Minister.

PART X

THE COPYRIGHT BOARD

45. (1) The Minister shall by notice in the Gazette appoint a Copyright Board, consisting of a chairman and two other members for the purpose of performing the functions assigned to such Board by the provisions of this Act.

(2)
The Chairman of the said Board shall be a retired Judge or a retired Magistrate or a person who has practised as an advocate in Malta for a period of, or periods amounting in the aggregate to, not less than seven years.
(3)
The Minister shall also appoint two other persons to act as members of the Board, one to replace the chairman and the other to replace any of the other two members, whenever the chairman or any of the other members, as the case may be, is, for any reason, unable to carry out his functions.
(4)
Every member of the Board shall hold office during the Minister’s pleasure and the Minister may, without assigning any reason, revoke the appointment of any member and appoint a new member whenever he deems it to be necessary.
(5)
The members of the Board, with the exception of the Chairman if he is a Magistrate, shall, before entering upon their office, take before the Attorney General the oath to examine and decide any matter referred to them with equity and impartiality.
  1. The Chairman or any other member of the Board may abstain or may be challenged by any of the contending parties for any of the causes mentioned in article 734 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure. Any question regarding any cause of abstention or challenge and any question which is a question of law alone shall be decided by the Chairman of the Board.
  2. The Board shall have the power to summon any person to give evidence or to produce books or other documents before it, and the Chairman of the Board shall have, in regard to the summoning and examining of witnesses before the Board, the same powers as are by the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure conferred on the Civil Court, First Hall.
  3. (1) Proceedings of the Board shall be held in public and the Board’s decision shall be notified to the parties by registered post to their respective business or private addresses and, unless the contrary is proved, such decision shall be deemed to have been served on the party concerned not later than the third day succeeding the day when it was posted to such party.

(2) The Minister may make regulations governing proceedings before the Board and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations

(a)
prescribing the manner in which any matter may be referred to the Board;
(b)
prescribing the procedure to be adopted by the Board in dealing with any matter referred to it under this Act and the records to be kept by the Board;
(c)
prescribing the manner in which the Board shall be convened and the place where the Board shall hold its sittings;

Absention and challenge.

Cap.12.

Power to summon.

Cap. 12. Proceedings.

Right of appeal.

Amended by:

VI. 2001.34.

Cap. 12.

Costs and fees.

Unreasonable refusal or unreasonable terms in respect of cable retransmission or rebroadcasting.

Authorisation of collecting societies.

Establishment and incorporation of collecting societies.

Tasks of collecting societies.

Methods of operation of collecting societies.

(d)
prescribing a scale of fines, costs and fees; and
(e)
generally for the better carrying out of the functions assigned to the Board by this Act.

49. (1) There shall lie a right of appeal from all decisions of the Board.

(2)
Any appeal shall be brought before the Court of Appeal composed in the manner provided in article 41(6) of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure by application within fifteen days of service of the Board’s decision.
(3)
The Minister responsible for justice may make rules governing appeals to the Court of Appeal under this Act, and prescribing a scale of costs and fees in relation to such appeals.
  1. Costs and fees in respect of proceedings before the Board and before the Court of Appeal shall be borne by the parties in such manner as the said Board or Court, as the case may be, shall decide.
    1. (1) In any case where it appears to the Board that a collecting society or an owner of copyright or neighbouring right
      1. is unreasonably refusing to grant a licence in respect of cable retransmission or rebroadcasting, or
      2. is imposing unreasonable terms or conditions for the granting of such licence,

the Board may direct that, as respects the doing of any act relating to a work with which the collecting society or the owner, as the case may be, is concerned, a licence shall be deemed to have been granted by the collecting society or by the owner at the time the act is done, provided the appropriate fees fixed by such Board are paid or tendered before the expiration of such period or periods as the Board may determine.

(2) The Minister may by regulations order that the provisions of this article shall not remain in force as from the date mentioned in such order.

PART XI

COLLECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF RIGHTS

  1. Authors and other owners of copyright and of neighbouring rights may authorize a collecting society to administer their economic rights.
  2. Repealed by Act IX. 2003.99.
  3. Repealed by Act IX. 2003.99.
  4. Repealed by Act IX. 2003.99.
  1. Repealed by Act IX. 2003.99.
  2. Repealed by Act IX. 2003.99.
  3. Repealed by Act IX. 2003.99.

PART XII

REGULATIONS

59. The Minister may make regulations for the better implementation of the provisions of this Act and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may by such regulations:

(a)
prescribe any matter that may be prescribed under this Act;
(b)
introduce changes to extend the protection granted by this Act to any other form of intellectual property not otherwise protected by this Act as may be provided by any international instrument that is binding in Malta;
(c)
change and revive the terms of the duration of protection as may be provided in any international instrument that is binding in Malta;
(d)
alter the rights and limitations thereof as may be provided in any international instrument that is binding in Malta;
(e)
prescribe the functions of the Copyright Board;
(f)
provide for matters relating to collecting societies, in particular their establishment, tasks, manner of operation, setting and approval of fees and their supervision.

PART XIII

TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

60. (1) This Act shall apply:

(a)
in relation to works made after the coming into force of this Act; and
(b)
saving the provisions of sub-article (2), to works made before the coming into force of this Act where the term of protection has not, upon the coming into force of this Act, expired under the Copyright Act repealed by this Act.

(2) (a) The rights of performers in respect of a fixation of their performance on a phonogram to prevent the fixation of their unfixed performance which took place prior to the commencement of this Act and the reproduction of such fixation when undertaken without their authorisation and the rights of performers to

Obligations of users of works towards collecting societies.

Supervision of collecting societies.

Dissolution of collecting societies.

Power to make regulations.

Substituted by:

IX. 2003.100.

Application to works.

prevent the broadcasting by wireless means and the communication to the public of their live performance when undertaken without their authorisation shall be protected under this Act until the end of a period of fifty years computed from the end of the calendar year in which the performance took place. Provided that these rights are exercised through a collecting society.

(b)
The right of producers of sound recordings made prior to the commencement of this Act to authorize or prohibit the rental of the said sound recordings shall be protected under this Act for a term of fifty years computed from the end of the calendar year in which the sound recording was made. Provided that these rights are exercised through a collecting society.
(c)
The right of the holder of copyright in respect of a literary work consisting of a computer programme to authorise or prohibit the rental of the said programme shall be protected until the end of a period of fifty years computed from the end of the calendar year in which the author of the said computer programme dies.

(3) No action may be taken under this Act in respect of an action which took place prior to the commencement of this Act in respect of rights recognised by this Act but which were not

Cap. 196. recognised by the Copyright Act repealed by this Act.

Att Dwar Id-Drittijiet Ta’ L-Awtur (Kapitolu 415, kif emendat bl-Atti IX tal-2003)

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 1

KAPITOLU 415

ATT DWAR ID-DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

ATT biex jag]mel provvedimenti [odda dwar id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur u drittijiet o]ra relatati kif ukoll `erti drittijiet ta’ proprjetà intellettwali li huma ''sui generis'' b’sostituzzjoni g]all-provvedimenti ta’ l-Att dwar id- Drittijiet ta’ l-Awtur, Kap. 196.

14 ta’ Awissu, 2000;
1 ta’ Jannar, 2001

L-ATT XIII ta’ l-2000, kif emendat bl-Atti VI ta’ l-2001 u IX ta’ l-2003.

1. It-titolu fil-qosor ta’ dan l-Att hu l-Att dwar id-Drittijiet ta’

l-Awtur.
TAQSIMA I TIFSIRIET

2. F’dan l-Att, kemm-il darba r-rabta tal-kliem ma te]tie[x

xort’o]ra ­
"artisti" tinkludi kantanti, mu\i`isti, atturi jew artisti o]rajn li jkantaw, jirre`taw, jiddeklamaw, jag]mluha jew jilg]abuha ta’ xi
]add ie]or jew xort’o]ra jippre\entaw fuq il-palk xog]lijiet letterarji, mu\ikali u artisti`i jew espressjonijiet ta’ folkolor u tinkludi wkoll kantanti, mu\i`isti, atturi jew artisti o]ra li jkantaw,
jag]mluha ta’ xi ]add ie]or jew jirre`taw f’wirjiet jew esibizzjonijiet ta’ varjetà, `irklu u folklor;
"awtorit à dwar ix-xandir" tfisser l-Awtorità dwar ix-Xandir imwaqqfa bl-artikolu 118 tal-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta;
"awtur" tfisser il-persuna naturali jew grupp ta’ persuni naturali li jkunu ]olqu x-xog]ol eli[[ibbli g]ad-dritt ta’ l-awtur i\da fil-ka\ ta’ xog]ol awdjovi\iv tinkludi lid-direttur prin`ipali i\da teskludi lill-produttur ta’ l-ewwel fissazzjoni tax-xog]ol awdjovi\iv;
"Bord" tfisser il-Bord dwar id-Drittijiet ta’ l-Awtur imwaqqaf ta]t l-artikolu 45;
"collecting society" tfisser kull organizzazzjoni li timmani[[a jew tamministra drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet o]ra relatati b]ala l-g]an uniku tag]ha jew b]ala wie]ed mill-g]anijiet ewlenin tag]ha kif regolata bil-provvedimenti ta’ dan l-Att;
"database" tfisser [abra ta’ xog]lijiet indipendenti, data jew kull materjal ie]or irran[ati b’mod sistematiku jew metodiku u individwalment a``essibbli b’mezzi elettroni`i jew mezzi o]ra ming]ajr ma jkun me]tie[ li dan il-materjal ikun [ie fi\ikament
ma]\un b’mod organizzat i\da ma jestendix g]al programmi g]all­

computer li jintu\aw fl-g]emil jew fit-t]addim ta’ database

a``essibbli b’mezzi elettroni`i kompri\i fil-fra\i "programm g]all­

computer ";

"di\abilit à per`ettiva" tfisser di\abilit à li tipprevjeni jew tinibixxi persuna milli taqra’ jew tisma’ xi xog]ol letterarju, mu\ikali, drammatiku jew artisitiku fil-format ori[inali tieg]u, u tinkludi kull di\abilit à bhal dik li tirri\ulta minn;

Titolu fil-qosor.

Tifsir.

Emendat:

IX. 2003.92.

2 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

(a) ta]sir g]alkollox jew gravi tal-vista jew tas-smig] jew l-inkapa`ità li tiffoka jew li ``aqlaq g]ajnejk;
(b) l-inkapa`ità li \\omm jew timmanipola ktieb; jew
(`) indeboliment li g]andu x’jaqsam mal-kapa`ità li wiehed jifhem;
"distribuzzjoni" tfisser li tag]mel disponibbli g]all-pubbliku permezz ta’ bejg] jew kull trasferiment ie]or ta’ proprjetà;
"drittijiet ta’ l-awtur" tfisser drittijiet ta’ l-awtur skond dan l-Att; "esplojtazzjoni kummer`jali" tfisser dwar topografiji prodotti
minn semikonduttur, il-bejg], self b’renta, il-kiri jew kull metodu
ie]or ta’ distribuzzjoni kummer`jali, jew offerta li ssir g]al dawn l­
iskopijiet;
I\da meta l-esplojtazzjoni sse]] ta]t kundizzjonijiet ta’
kunfidenzjalità daqshekk li ma ssir ebda distribuzzjoni ulterjuri lil
terzi, m’g]andux jitqies li kien hemm "esplojtazzjoni kummer`jali";
"fissazzjoni" tfisser l-inkorporazzjoni ta’ ]sejjes, xbihat, jew it­ tnejn, jew rapprezentazzjonijiet di[itali tag]hom, f’kull forma materjali, li minnha jkunu jistg]u ji[u per`epiti, riprodotti jew
imwasslin permezz ta’ apparat;
''informazzjoni ta’ amministrazzjoni ta’ drittijiet'' tfisser kull
informazzjoni mog]tija minn detenturi ta’ drittijiet li tidentifika x­
xog]ol u kull su[[ett ie]or imsemmi f’dan l-Att, l-awtur jew kull
detentur ta’ drittijiet o]ra, jew informazzjoni dwar il-pattijiet u l­
kondizzjonijiet kif g]andu jintu\a x-xog]ol jew su[[ett ie]or, u kull numru jew kodi`i li jirrappre\entaw informazzjoni;

Kap. 460. ''it-Trattat'' g]andha l-istess tifsir mog]ti lilha bl-Att dwar l- Unjoni Ewropea;

"komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku" tfisser it-trasmissjoni ta’ xog]ol bil-fili jew ming]ajr fili u g]all-iskop ta’ l-artikolu 7 tinkludi li
tag]mel dak ix-xog]ol disponibbli g]all-pubbliku b’tali mod li l­
membri tal-pubbliku jista’ jkollhom a``ess g]ax-xog]ol minn lok u f’]in li ji[i individwalment mag]\ul minnhom:
Il-provdiment sempli`i ta’ fa`ilitajiet fi\i`i sabiex tkun tista’ ssir jew issir komunikazzjoni ma tammontax fiha nnifisha g]al att ta’ komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku;
"komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku bis-satellita" tfisser l-att li ji[u introdotti, ta]t il-kontroll u r-responsabbiltà ta’ organizzazzjoni tax-xandir, is-sinjali li jittrasportaw il-programm li jkunu inti\i li ji[u ri`evuti mill-pubbliku f’katina mhux interrotta ta’ komunikazzjoni li twassal lejn is-satellita u ’l isfel lejn id-dinja u l- Istat fejn dak l-att jokkorri g]andu jitqies li jkun il-lok ta’ origni ta’ dak l-att ta’ komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku bis-satellita:
I\da jekk is-sinjali li jittrasportaw il-programm ikunu mohbija f’ code, g]aldaqshekk ikun hemm komunikazzjoni lill­ pubbliku b’satellita jekk il-mezzi biex ix-xandira tin[ieb lura fis­ s]u]ija tag]ha jkunu pprovduti lill-pubbliku mill-organizzazzjoni
tax-xandir jew bil-kunsens tag]ha:

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 3


I\da wkoll jekk l-att ta’ komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku b’satellita jokkorri fi Stat li ma jkunx Malta jew li ma jkunx Stat li
fih id-dritt esklu\iv biex jawtori\\a jew jipprevjeni ix-xandir bis­
satellita ta’ xog]ol eli[[ibbli g]ad-dritt ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet o]ra relatati ikun protett ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsie]ba fih, jekk is-sinjali li jittrasportaw il-programm ji[u trasmessi lis-satellita minn uplink station li jkun jinsab Malta, dak l-att ta’ komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku bis-satellita g]andu jitqies b]ala li jkun okkorra f’Malta sabiex id-drittijiet pprovduti b’dan l- Att g]andhom ikunu e\er`itabbli kontra l-persuna li tkun qed topera dak l- uplink station, jew inkella fin-nuqqas ta’ uplink station f’Malta, jekk organizzazzjoni tax-xandir stabbilita f’Malta tkun ikkummissjonat l-att ta’ komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku bis-satellita, dak l-att g]andu jitqies b]ala li jkun okkorra f"Malta u d-drittijiet li dan l-Att jipprovdi dwarhom g]andhom ikunu e\er`itabbli kontra dik l-organizzazzjoni tax-xandir;
"kopja" tfisser riproduzzjoni b’forma miktuba jew grafika inklu\a riproduzzjoni di[itali, fil-forma ta’ re[istrazzjoni jew ta’ xog]ol awdjovi\iv, jew f’xi forma o]ra materjali, i\da hekk illi o[[ett ma g]andux jittie]ed li jkun kopja ta’ xog]ol ta’ arkitettura jekk l-o[[ett ma jkunx bini jew mudell;
"korp ta’ persuni" tfisser kull kumpannija jew g]aqda ta’ persuni, sew korporata sew mhux korporata, sew jekk ikollha personalit à [uridika sew jekk le, u tinkludi lil kull korp ie]or jissemma’ kif jissemma’ u li jkollu personalità [uridika;
"legali" tfisser mag]mul skond id-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dan l-Att, u "legalment" g]andha tiftiehem skond hekk;
"li`enza" tfisser li`enza mog]tija legalment li tippermetti l- g]emil ta’ att kontrollat mid-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew minn drittijiet o]ra relatati;
"Malta" g]andha l-istess tifsir kif mog]ti lilha bl-artikolu 124 tal-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta;
"Ministru" tfisser il-Ministru responsabbli g]all-protezzjoni tad­
drittijiet ta’ l-awtur u drittijiet o]ra relatati u tinkludi sal-limitu ta’ l-awtorit à mog]tija, kull persuna awtorizzata mill-Ministru g]al hekk g]al xi wie]ed mill-g]anijiet ta’ dan l-Att li ma jkunx l-g]an li hemm fl-artikolu 59;
''mi\uri teknolo[i`i'' tfisser kull teknolo[ija, apparat jew komponenti li, fil-kors normali tal-]idma tag]hom, tkun iddisinjata biex tipprevjeni jew tirrestrin[i atti, dwar xog]lijiet jew su[[etti o]ra, li mhumiex awtorizzati minn detentur ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew dritt vi`in jew drittijiet sui generis skond ma hemm provdut dwarhom b’dan l-Att. Mi\uri teknolo[i`i g]andhom jitqiesu b]ala
''effettivi'' meta l-u\u ta’ xog]ol protett jew su[[ett ie]or ikun ikkontrollat mid-detenturi ta’ drittijiet permezz ta’ l-applikazzjoni ta’ kontroll ta’ a``ess jew pro`ess ta’ protezzjoni, dawk l- encryption, scrambling jew trasformazzjoni o]ra tax-xog]ol jew
su[[ett ie]or jew kopja ta’ mekkani\mu ta’ kontroll, li jiksbu l­
objettiv ta’ protezzjoni;
"organizzazzjoni tax-xandir" tfisser kull xandar sew jekk ikollu li`enza taht l-Att dwar ix-Xandir jew ta]t xi li[i o]ra f’Malta, u
4 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

tinkludi kuntrattur tax-xandir li jkun qed jopera f’Malta; "persuna" tinkludi korp ta’ persuni;
"preskritt" tinkludi preskritt b’regolamenti mag]mula ta]t l­
artikolu 59;
"prodott minn semikonduttur" tfisser forma finali jew intermedja ta’ xi prodott li jkun jikkonsisti f’korp ta’ materjal li jkun jinkludi saff ta’ materjal semikondu`enti, li jkollu strat wie]ed jew iktar komposti minn materjal konduttiv, i\olanti jew semikonduttiv, b’dan li l-istrati jkunu rran[ati skond firxa tridimensjonali predeterminata u li tkun inti\a li twettaq, esklu\ivament jew flimkien ma’ funzjonijiet o]ra, funzjoni elettronika;
"programm g]all-computer" tinkludi programmi g]all- computer, jkunu xi jkunu l-mod u l-g]amla ta’ l-espressjoni tag]hom inklu\i
dawk li jkunu inkorporati f’hardware, interfaces li jipprovdu g]all­
interkonnessjoni fi\ika u l-interazzjoni jew pjuttost l­
interoperabilità bejn elementi ta’ software u hardware u materjal
ta’ disinn preparatorju li jwassal g]all-i\vilupp ta’ programm g]all­

computer:

I\da x-xorta ta’ materjal ta’ disinn preparatorju jkun tali li programm g]all-computer jista’ jirri\ulta minnu fi stadju ulterjuri;
"proprjetarju ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur" tfisser l-awtur li jkun l­
ewwel proprjetarju, `essjonarju jew detentur esklu\iv ta’ li`enza, skond il-ka\, ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur u fil-ka\ ta’ xog]ol kollettiv,
l-ewwel proprjetarju tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur g]andu jkun il­ persuna naturali jew legali li bl-inizjattiva u direzzjoni tieg]u ix­ xog]ol ikun [ie ma]luq;
"re[istrazzjoni ta’ smig]" tfisser il-fissazzjoni ta’ sekwenza ta’
]sejjes jew ta’ rappre\entazzjoni di[itali ta’ ]sejjes li tkun tista’ tinstema’ bil-widna u li tkun tista’ ti[i riprodotta, i\da ma tinkludix kolonna sonora asso`jata ma’ xi xog]ol awdjovi\iv;
"renta" tfisser li tag]mel disponibbli g]all-u\u, g]al perjodu limitat ta’ \mien u g]al vanta[[ ekonomiku jew kummer`jali, dirett jew indirett;
"riproduzzjoni" tfisser l-g]emil ta’ kopja wa]da jew i\ed f’xi forma materjali ta’ xog]ol letterarju, mu\ikali jew artisitiku, ta’
xog]ol awdjovi\iv jew ta’ registrazzjoni ta’ smig] u tinkludi l­
]a\na ta’ xog]ol bhal dak f’xi medium b’mezzi elettroni`i;
"ritrasmissjoni bil-cable " tfisser ir-ritrasmissjoni simultanja, mhux mittiefsa u mhux imqassra bil- cable jew permezz ta’ kull trasportatur materjali ie]or g]ar-re`ezzjoni mill-pubbliku ta’
trasmissjoni inizjali bil-fili jew fl-arja, inklu\a dik li ssir bis­
satellita, ta’ programmi televi\ivi jew tar-radju li jkunu inti\i g]ar­
re`ezzjoni mill-pubbliku, minn [ewwa Malta jew minn xi Stat li fih id-dritt esklu\iv biex ti[i awtorizzata dik ir-ritrasmissjoni bil-cable ta’ xog]lijiet eli[[ibbli g]al drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet o]ra relatati ikun protett ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsie]ba fih;
"satellita" tfisser kull satellita li tkun topera fuq bandi tal­
frekwenza li, ta]t il-li[i tat-telekomunikazzjonijiet internazzjonali

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 5


huma riservati g]ax-xandir ta’ sinjali g]ar-re`ezzjoni mill-pubbliku jew li huma riservati g]al komunikazzjoni mag]luqa minn punt g]all-ie]or. F’dan l-a]]ar ka\, madankollu, i`-`irkostanzi li fihom issir ir-re`ezzjoni individwali tas-sinjali g]andha titqabbel sew ma’ dawk li jkunu japplikaw fl-ewwel ka\;
"self" tfisser li tag]mel disponibbli g]all-u\u, g]al perjodu ta’
\mien limitat u mhux g]al xi vanta[[ ekonomiku jew kummer`jali,
dirett jew indirett, meta dan isir minn stabbilimenti a``essibbli g]all-pubbliku:
I\da, wkoll meta s-self minn dak l-istabbiliment jag]ti lok g]al ]las ta’ xi flus, sakemm dak il-]las ma jkunx ji\boq dak li jkun me]tieg biex ikopri l-ispejje\ operattivi ta’ l-istabbiliment, ma jkunx hemm xi vanta[[ ekonomiku jew kummer`jali, dirett jew indirett, fis-sens ta’ dan l-Att;
''Stat Membru'' tfisser stat li hu membru ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea;
"topografija ta’ prodott minn semikonduttur" tfisser serje ta’ xbihat relatati, jkunu kif ikunu ffissati jew mog]tija code, li jkunu jirrappre\entaw il-firxa tridimensjonali tas-saffi li minnhom ikun kompost prodott minn semikonduttur u f’liema serje, kull xbieha jkollha l-firxa jew parti mill-firxa ta’ wi`` tal-prodott minn konduttur f’kull stadju tal-manifattura tieg]u;
''Unjoni Ewropea'' tfisser l-Unjoni Ewropea msemmija fit- Trattat;
"wirja" tfisser it-twettiq dirett ta’ xog]ol quddiem il-pubbliku li jsir taht dawk i`-`irkostanzi li x-xog]lijiet li jintwerew ikunu jistg]u ji[u per`epiti mill-pubbliku ming]ajr ebda komunikazzjoni intermedja;
"xandir" tfisser it-trasmissjoni b’mezzi ming]ajr fili g]ar­ re`ezzjoni pubblika ta’ ]sejjes jew ta’ xbihat u ]sejjes jew tar­ rappre\entazzjonijiet tag]hom, inklu\ it-trasmissjoni bis-satellita.
Xandir ma tinkludix xandir mill-[did;
"xandir mill-[did" tfisser xandir simultanju minn organizzazzjoni tax-xandir wa]da tax-xandira ta’ organizzazzjoni
tax-xandir o]ra li ma tkunx ta]t il-kontroll tag]ha, sew jekk din tkun tinsab Malta jew barra minn Malta, u "ixxandar mill-[did" g]andha tiftiehem skond hekk:
I\da, "xandir mill-[did tardiv" g]andha tfisser biss dak ix­
xandir sussegwenti u "ixxandar mill-[did tardivament" g]andha tiftiehem skond hekk;
"xog]ol artistiku" tinkludi, irrispettivament mill-kwalit à artistika, kull wie]ed minn dawn li [ejjin, jew xog]lijiet simili g]alihom;
(a) pitturi, disinji, kopji me]udin minn fuq pjan`i in`izi, litografiji, in`i\jonijiet fuq l-injam, in`i\jonijiet u stampat;
(b) mapep, pjanti, dijagrammi u xog]lijiet tridemensjonali relattivi g]all-[jografija, xjenza jew topografija, i\da b’esklu\joni ta’ topografiji prodotti minn semikonduttur;
6 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

(`) xog]lijiet ta’ skultura;
(d) fotografiji mhux inkluzi f’xog]ol awdjovi\iv;
(e) xog]lijiet ta’ arkitettura fil-forma ta’ bini jew mudelli;
u
(f) xog]lijiet ta’ seng]a artistika, inklu\i tessuti minsu[a bi stampi u o[[etti ta’ arti applikata bl-idejn u ta’ arti industrijali;
"xog]ol awdjovi\iv" tfisser xog]ol li jikkonsisti f’serje ta’ xbihat relatati li jag]tu l-impressjoni ta’ moviment, flimkien ma’ ]sejjes li jakkumpanjaw jew ming]ajrhom, suxxettibbli li jsiru vi\ibbli u, meta dawn ikunu akkumpanjati bi ]sejjes, suxxettibbli li jsiru li jistg]u jinstemaw;
"xog]ol ta’ ko-awturi" tfisser xog]ol prodott bil-kollaborazzjoni ta’ \ew[ awturi jew i\jed li fih il-kontribuzzjoni ta’ kull awtur ma
tkunx separabbli mill-kontribuzzjoni ta’ l-awtur l-ie]or jew ta’ l­
awturi l-o]ra;
"xog]ol kollettiv" tfisser xog]ol li jkun [ie ma]luq minn \ew[ persuni fi\i`i jew iktar b’inizjattiva u ta]t id-direzzjoni ta’ persuna fi\ika jew entità legali bil-fehmien li x-xog]ol se jkun \velat minn dik l-a]]ar persuna jew entità f’isimha u li l-identità tal-persuni fi\i`i kontribwenti ma ti[ix indikata fix-xog]ol;
"xog]ol letterarju" tfisser, irrispettivament mill-kwalit à letterarja, kull wie]ed minn dawn li [ejjin, jew xog]lijiet simili g]alihom;
(a) rumanzi, stejjer u xog]lijiet poeti`i;
(b) kompo\izzjonijiet teatrali, direzzjonijiet tal-palk, xog]lijiet koreografi`i jew trattenimenti fi spettakoli muti, xenarji ta’ pellikoli u manuskritti g]ax-xandir;
(`) kotba ta’ test, trattati, storja, bijografiji, essays u artikoli;
(d) en`iklopediji u dizzjunarji; (e) ittri, rapporti u memoranda;
(f) konferenzi, indirizzi u priedki; (g) programmi g]all-computer ,
i\da salv kif provdut fl-artikolu 12 ta’ l-Att ta’ l-1980 dwar ir­ Revi\joni tal-Li[ijiet Statutarji, ma tinkludi ebda li[i miktuba,
rapport ta’ kawzi jew de`i\joni [udizzjarja;
"xog]ol mu\kali" tfisser kull xog]ol mu\ikali, irrispettivament mill-kwalit à mu\ikali, u tinkludi xog]lijiet komposti g]all­ akkompanjament mu\ikali.
(2) G]all-finijiet ta’ dan l-Att id-disposizzjonijiet li [ejjin g]andhom japplikaw relattivament g]all-pubblikazzjoni;
(a) xog]ol g]andu jitqies li jkun [ie pubblikat jekk kopji
tieg]u ikunu disponibbli fi kwantità ra[onevoli g]all­
bejg], self b’renta, kiri jew b’kull mod ie]or
suffi`jenti li jag]mel ix-xog]ol a``essibbli g]all­
pubbliku;

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 7


(b) meta g]all-bidu parti biss minn xog]ol tkun pubblikata, dik il-parti g]andha titqies g]all-finijiet ta’ dan l-Att b]ala xog]ol separat;
(`) pubblikazzjoni f’pajji\ g]andha titqies li tkun l-ewwel pubblikazzjoni g]alkemm tkun [à saret qabel l-ewwel pubblikazzjoni band’o]ra, jekk i\-\ew[ pubblikazzjonijiet ikunu saru fi \mien ta’ mhux i\jed minn tletin [urnata.
TAQSIMA II
DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

3. (1) Bla ]sara g]ad-disposizzjonijiet x-xog]lijiet li [ejjin ikunu eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur ­

(a) xog]lijiet artisti`i;
(b) xog]lijiet awdjovi\ivi; (`) databases;
(d) xog]lijiet letterarji;
(e) xog]lijiet mu\ikali.
(2) Xog]ol letterarju, mu\ikali jew artistiku ma jkununx eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur kemm-il darba x-xog]ol ma jkollux kwalità ori[inali u ma jkunx inkiteb, [ie re[istrat, iffissat jew xort’o]ra mog]ti forma materjali.
(3) Xog]ol ma jkunx ineli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur min]abba biss illi l-g]emil tax-xog]ol, jew l-g]emil ta’ xi att relattivament g]al dak ix-xog]ol, ikun implika xi ksur tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur fuq xi xog]ol ie]or.
(4) Database ma tkunx eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur kemm-il darba min]abba fl-g]a\la jew l-arran[ament tal-kontenut tag]ha, tkun tikkostitwixxi l-kreazzjoni intellettwali ta’ l-awtur. Iktar minn hekk, id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija lil xi database ma g]andhomx jestendu g]all-kontenut tag]ha u g]andhom ikunu ming]ajr ebda pre[udizzju g]ad-drittijiet kollha li jibqg]u je\istu f’dak il-kontenut innifsu.

4. (1) G]andhom jing]ataw id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur b’dan l­ artikolu fuq kull xog]ol eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur li l­ awtur tieg]u jew, fil-ka\ ta’ xog]ol ta’ ko-awturi, xi wie]ed mill­ ko-awturi jkun, fi\-\mien meta jsir ix-xog]ol ­

(a) individwu li jkun `ittadin ta’ Malta, jew ikun domi`iljat jew residenti permanentement f’Malta jew fi Stat li fih id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur ikunu protetti ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsie]ba fih; jew
(b) korp ta’ persuni jew so`jet à kummer`jali kostitwiti, stabbiliti, re[istrati u vestiti b’personalità [uridika ta]t
il-li[ijiet ta’ Malta jew ta’ Stat li fih id-drittijiet ta’ l­ awtur ikunu protetti ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsie]ba fih.

Xog]lijiet eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l­ awtur.

Kwalifika g]all­ protezzjoni tad­ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur min]abba fl­ awturi.

8 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

(2) Il-perjodi ta’ protezzjoni tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija b’dan l-artikolu g]andhom ji[u kalkolati skond it-tabella li [ejja;
TABELLA

Tip ta’ Xog]ol Data meta Jiskadu d- Drittijiet ta’ l-Awtur

(i) Xog]lijiet letterarji, Sebg]in sena wara l-a]]ar mu\ikali jew artisti`i u tas-sena li fiha jmut l-awtur, database irrispettivament mid-data wara x-xog]ol ikun le[ittimament
sar disponibbli g]all-pubbliku.
(ii) Xog]lijiet Sebg]in sena wara l-a]]ar awdjovi\ivi tas-sena li fiha tmut l-a]]ar minn dawn il-persuni li [ejjin:
id-direttur prin`ipali, l-awtur
ta’ l-i screenplay, l-awtur tad­ djalogu u l-kompo\itur tal­ mu\ika spe`ifikament ori[inata
biex tintu\a tix-xog]ol awdjovi\iv.
(3) Fil-ka\ ta’ xog]ol letterarju, mu\ikali jew artistiku
anonimu jew bi psewdonimu, jew fil-ka\ ta’ xog]ol kollettiv, id­
drittijiet ta’ l-awtur dwaru g]andhom jibqg]u je\istu sakemm jiskadu sebg]in sena mill-a]]ar tas-sena li fiha jkun sar le[ittimament disponibbli g]all-pubbliku jew wara tmiem is-sena li
fiha x-xog]ol ikun sar jekk dan ma jkunx sar disponibbli g]all­
pubbliku:
I\da meta l-psewdonimu adottat mill-awtur ma j]alli ebda dubju dwar l-identità tieg]u jew fil-ka\ li l-identit à ta’ l-awtur ti[i mag]rufa matul il-perjodu imsemmi fil-paragrafu ta’ qabel dan ta’ dan is-subartikolu jew meta fil-ka\ ta’ xog]lijiet kollettivi minn korp ta’ persuni, il-persuni naturali li jkunu ori[inaw ix-xog]ol ikunu individwalment identifikabbli fil-ver\jonijiet tax-xog]ol li
jkun sar disponibbli g]all-pubbliku, il-perjodi ta’ protezzjoni tad­ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur g]andhom ji[u kalkolati skond id­ disposizzjonijiet tal-paragrafu (i) tas-subartikolu li ji[i minnufih
qabel dan.
(4) Fil-ka\ ta’ xog]ol ta’ ko-awturi, ir-riferenza fit-tabella pre`edenti g]all-mewt ta’ l-awtur g]andha titqies li tirriferixxi g]all-ko-awtur li jmut l-a]]ar, sew jekk ikun persuna kwalifikata sew jekk le skond l-artikolu 4(1).
(5) Fil-ka\ ta’ persuna li g]all-ewwel darba le[ittimament tippubblika jew le[ittimament tikkommunika lill-pubbliku xi
xog]ol li qatt qabel ma jkun [ie ppubblikat li tkun skadiet il­
protezzjoni tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur tieg]u, huwa g]andu jibbenefika minn protezzjoni li tkun tiswa daqs id-drittijiet ekonomi`i koperti mid-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur i\da limitatament g]al perjodu ta’ ]amsa u g]oxrin sena minn meta x-xog]ol ikun [ie le[ittimament pubblikat jew le[ittimament komunikat lill-pubbliku g]all-ewwel darba.
(6) Meta xog]ol ji[i ppubblikat f’volumi, taqsimiet, puntati

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 9


minn sensiela, ]ar[iet jew episodji u l-perjodu ta’ protezzjoni jibda g]addej minn meta x-xog]ol ikun le[ittimament sar disponibbli g]all-pubbliku, il-perjodu ta’ protezzjoni g]andu jibda g]addej g]al kull tali o[[ett separatament.

5. (1) G]andhom jing]ataw id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur b’dan l­

artikolu fuq kull xog]ol eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur li jsir
jew ikun l-ewwel pubblikat f’Malta jew fi Stat li fih dawk ix­
xog]lijiet ikunu protetti ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsie]ba fih u li ma kienx o[[ett tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija bl-artikolu 4.
(2) Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija fuq xog]ol b’dan l-artikolu g]andu jkollhom l-istess dewmien kif provdut bl-artikolu 4 relattivament g]all-istess tip ta’ xog]ol.

6. (1) G]andhom jing]ataw id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur b’dan l­

artikolu fuq kull xog]ol li jkun eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur u li jsir bi jew skond l-ordni jew kontroll tal-Gvern ta’ Malta kif ukoll ta’ dawk il-gvernijiet ta’ Stati o]ra, g]aqdiet internazzjonali jew organizzazzjonijiet o]ra inter-governattivi kif jista’ ji[i preskritt mill-Ministru responsabbli g]all-Uffi``ju tal-Proprjetà Industrjali.
(2) Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija b’dan l-artikolu fuq database s jew fuq xog]ol letterarju, mu\ikali jew artistiku g]andhom jibqg]u je\istu sakemm jiskadu sebg]in sena mill-a]]ar tas-sena li fiha x-xog]ol ikun pubblikat g]all-ewwel darba.
(3) Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija b’dan l-artikolu fuq xog]ol awdjovi\iv g]andu jkollhom l-istess dewmien kif provdut bl-artikolu 4 relattivament g]all-istess tip ta’ xog]ol.
(4) L-artikolu 4(5) g]andu japplika bl-istess mod g]al xog]lijiet eli[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur li dwarhom japplika dan l-artikolu u li, g]ax ma kienux qabel pubblikati, ikunu
le[ittimament pubblikati jew le[ittimament komunikati lill­ pubbliku g]all-ewwel darba wara li tkun skadiet il-protezzjoni tad­ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur.
(5) L-artikoli 4 u 5 ma g]andhomx jitqiesu li jag]tu drittijiet ta’ l-awtur fuq xog]lijiet li g]alihom japplika dan l-artikolu.
7. (1) Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur f’xog]ol awdjovi\iv, database, xog]ol litterarju, mu\ikali jew artistiku jkunu d-dritt esklu\iv li jawtorizza jew jipprojbixxi l-g]emil f’Malta dwar il-materjal
protett fit-totalit à tieg]u jew f’parti sostanzjali minnu, sew fl­
g]amla ori[inali tieg]u sew f’xi forma miksuba b’mod li jing]araf sew mill-ori[inali ta’ xi wie]ed minn dawn li [ejjin:
(a) ir-riproduzzjoni diretta jew indiretta, temporanja jew permanenti b’kull mezz u f’kull g]amla, g]al kollox jew f’parti minnu;
(b) il-]las g]all-kiri u s-self; (`) id-distribuzzjoni;
(d) it-traduzzjoni f’ilsna o]ra inklu\i ilsna differenti li jintu\aw fil-computer ;

Kwalifika g]all­ protezzjoni tad­ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur b’riferenza g]all­ pajji\ fejn isir ix­ xog]ol jew ikun pubblikat.

Drittijiet ta’ l­ awtur fuq xog]lijiet tal- Gvern u ta’ g]aqdiet internazzjonali.

Xorta ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur fuq xog]ol awdjovi\iv, database, u xog]ol letterarju, mu\ikali u artistiku. Sostitwit:

IX. 2003.93.

10 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

Kap. 350.

(e) l-adattament, l-arran[ament u kull tibdil ie]or u r­
riproduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni, komunikazzjoni, wiri jew esekuzzjoni quddiem il-pubbliku tar-ri\ultati ta’ dan;
(f) ix-xandir jew ix-xandir mill-[did jew il­ komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku jew it-trasmissjoni mill­ [did bil-fil;
(g) il-wiri jew l-esekuzzjoni quddiem il-pubbliku:
I\da wkoll il-jedd li ti[i awtorizzata jew projbita t­
trasmissjoni mill-[did bil-fil ta’ xandira televi\iva jista’ ji[i biss
e\er`itat permezz ta’ collecting society.
(2) Id-dritt li ti[i awtorizzata jew projbita t-trasmissjoni mill­ [did ma g]andux japplika meta t-trasmissjoni ssir f’Malta:
(a) jekk it-trasmissjoni mill-[did tkun skond u konformi ma’ ]tie[a ta’ xandira li g]andha tabilfors issir skond l-artikolu 40 ta’ l-Att dwar ix-Xandir; u
(b) jekk u sal-limitu li t-trasmissjoni issir g]al ri`ezzjoni fl-area fejn it-trasmissjoni mill-[did bil-fil tista’ ti[i ri`evuta.
(3) Id-dritt ta’ awtorizzazzjoni jew projbizzjoni tat­
trasmissjoni mill-[did bil- cable ta’ xandira televi\iva jkun biss e\er`itabbli permezz ta’ collecting society.
(4) Meta ji[ri dak li hemm provdut dwaru fis-subartikolu (2) meta d-detentur ta’ drittijiet ma jkunx ittrasferixxa t-tmexxija tad­ drittijiet tieg]u lil collecting society, il- collecting society li tkun
tmexxi d-drittijiet ta’ l-istess kategorija g]andha titqies li jkollha mandat li tmexxi d-drittijiet tag]ha. Dak id-detentur ta’ drittijiet g]andu jkollu l-istess drittijiet u obbligi li jirri\ultaw mill-ftehim bejn l-operatur bil-fil u l-collecting society li hekk titqies b]ala li g]andha mandat biex tmexxi d-drittijiet tieg]u b]ad-detenturi ta’ drittijiet li jkunu taw mandat lil dik il-collecting society u jistg]u
jitolbu dawk id-drittijiet fi \mien tliet snin mid-data tat­
trasmissjoni mill-[did bil-fil li tinkludi x-xog]ol tieg]u jew xi su[[ett ie]or protett.
(5) Meta ma jsir ebda ftehim dwar l-awtorizzazzjoni tat­
trasmissjoni mill-[did bil-fil ta’ xandira, kull parti tista’ titlob
g]all-g]ajnuna ta’ xi medjatur wie]ed jew aktar ma]tura miç­

chairman ta`-~entru ta’ l-Arbitra[[ g]al Malta kemm-il darba ma

jkunx hemm ftehim xort’ o]ra mill-partijiet kollha. Il-]idma tal­
medjaturi tkun li ti[i pprovduta g]ajnuna permezz ta’ negozjati.
Huma jistg]u wkoll jag]mlu proposti lill-partijiet. Jitqies li l­ partijiet kollha jkunu ja``ettaw proposta kif imsemmi f’dan is­ subartikolu jekk ]add minnhom ma jesprimi ebda oppo\izzjoni fi
\mien tliet xhur. Avvi\ tal-proposta u ta’ kull oppo\izzjoni g]aliha g]andu ji[i notifikat lill-partijiet kon`ernati b’att [udizzjarju kemm-il darba l-partijiet ma jiftehmux xort’o]ra. Il-medjaturi g]andhom ikunu hekk mag]\ulin li ma jkun hemm ebda dubju ra[onevoli kemm dwar l-indipendenza kemm l-imparzjalit à tag]hom.

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 11

8. (1) L-ewwel bejg] jew trasferiment ie]or ta’ proprjet à fis­

suq tax-xog]ol ori[inali li jgawdi d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew kopji
tieg]u, meta dak il-bejg] isir minn jew bil-kunsens tas-sid tad­
drittijiet ta’ l-awtur innifsu, g]andu jtemm id-dritt ta’
distribuzzjoni esklu\iva dwar dak ix-xog]ol jew il-kopja tieg]u.
(2) G]all-finijiet ta’ dan l-artikolu ''suq'' tfisser is-suq f’Malta u mill-1 ta’ Mejju 2004 l-Unjoni Ewropea.
9. (1) Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur f’xog]ol awdjovi\iv, database , xog]ol letterarju ]lief fil-ka\ ta’ program tal- computer , xog]ol mu\ikali jew artistiku ma g]andux jinkludi d-dritt ta’ awtorizzazjoni jew projbizzjoni:
(a) ta’ g]emejjel temporanji ta’ riproduzzjoni li jkunu transjenti jew in`identali li jiffurmaw parti `entrali u essenzjali ta’ pro`ess teknolo[iku u li l-g]an ewlieni tieg]u jkun li jiffa`ilita:
(i) trasmissjoni f’network bejn terzi minn intermedjarju, jew
(ii) u\u le[ittimu ie]or li jsir xog]ol jew su[[ett ie]or, u li ma jkollhom ebda sinifikat ekonomiku indipendenti;
(b) ir-riproduzzjonijiet fuq il-karta jew xi mezz b]al dak, li jsiru billi tintu\a kull xorta ta’ teknika fotografika jew xi pro`ess ie]or li jkollu effetti simili, ]lief g]al mu\ika fuq il-karta, sakemm id-detenturi ta’ drittijiet jir`ievu kumpens xieraq;
(`) ir-riproduzzjonijiet fuq xi mezz li ssir minn persuna naturali g]all-u\u privat u g]al finijiet li la huma
direttament u lanqas in-direttament kummer`jali, bil­
kondizzjoni li d-detenturi ta’ drittijiet jir`ievu kumpens xieraq li jqis l-applikazzjoni jew nuqqas ta’
applikazzjoni ta’ mi\uri teknolo[i`i msemmija fl­
artikolu 42(3) u (4) g]ax-xog]ol jew g]as-su[[ett in kwistjoni;
(d) atti spe`ifi`i tar-riproduzzjoni mag]mulin minn libreriji, stabbilimenti edukattivi jew mu\ewijiet a``essibbli pubblikament, jew minn arkivji, li ma je\istux g]al xi vanta[[ ekonomiku jew kummer`jali dirett jew indirett;
(e) re[istrazzjonijiet qosra ]afna ta’ xog]lijiet mag]mulin minn organizzazzjonijiet tax-xandir permezz tal­ fa`ilitajiet tag]hom infushom u g]ax-xandiriet
tag]hom stess:
I\da wkoll ir-riproduzzjoni ta’ xog]ol mag]mul ta]t dan il-paragrafu jista’, jekk ikollu xorta ta’ dokumentarju e``ezzjonali, jin\amm sigur fl-arkivji uffi`jali;
(f) ir-riproduzzjonijiet ta’ xandiriet li jsiru minn istituzzjonijiet uffi`jali li jkunu qed jitmexxew skond finijiet mhux kummer`jali, b]alma huma sptarijiet jew
]absijiet, sakemm id-detenturi ta’ drittijiet jir`ievu

Meta jintemmu d­ drittijiet ta’ distrubuzzjoni. Sostitwit:

IX. 2003.94.

Restrizzjoni dwar

`erti xog]lijiet.

Sostitwit:

IX. 2003.95.

12 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

kumpens xieraq;
(g) it-twettieq, daqq jew wiri ta’ xog]ol f’post fejn ma jit]allas ebda dritt ta’ d]ul g]al dan l-att minn xi club li l-iskop tieg]u ma jkunx li jag]mel qlig];
(h) ir-riproduzzjoni, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ xog]ol g]all-g]an ewlieni li ssir illustrazzjoni biss g]al tag]lim jew
ri`erka xjentifika sal-limitu [ustifikat biex jintla]aq l­ iskop mhux kummer`jali, u sakemm l-ori[ini, inklu\ l­ isem ta’ l-awtur ikun indikat, sakemm dan ma jkunx
impossibli;
(i) ir-riproduzzjoni, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew
komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ xog]ol g]all­
benefi``ju ta’ nies b’di\abilità, li jkun relatat direttament mad-di\abilità u ta’ natura mhux kummer`jali, sal-limitu me]tie[ bid-di\abilità spe`ifika;
(j) ir-riproduzzjoni mill-istampa, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni, komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ artikoli pubblikati fuq topi`i ekonomi`i, politi`i jew reli[ju\i kurrenti jew su[[ett ie]or ta’ l-istess xorta, f’ka\ijiet fejn dak l-u\u ma jkunx espressament
ri\ervat, u sakemm l-ori[ini, mag]dud l-isem ta’ l­
awtur, ikun indikat jew u\u ta’ xog]lijiet jew su[[ett ie]or dwar ir-rappurta[[ ta’ [rajjiet kurrenti, sal-limitu
[ustifikat bl-iskop ta’ informazzjoni u sakemm l­
ori[ini, mag]dud l-isem ta’ l-awtur ikun indikat, sakemm dan ma jkunx impossibli;
(k) ir-riproduzzjoni, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ kwotazzjonijiet g]al skopijiet b]al kritika jew rivista, sakemm jirreferu
g]al xog]ol jew su[[ett li jkun di[a tqeg]id g]ad­ dispo\izzjoni tal-pubbliku b’mod le[ittimu, sakemm, ma jkunx impossibli, l-ori[ini, mag]dud l-isem ta’ l­ awtur, ikun indikat u li l-u\u tag]hom ikun skond
prattika xierqa, u sal-limitu me]tie[ bl-g]anijiet spe`ifi`i;
(l) ir-riproduzzjoni, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ xog]ol g]all-finijiet
ta’ sigurtà pubblika jew sabiex ji[i \gurat il­
funzjonament jew rappurta[[ xieraq ta’ pro`edimenti amministrattivi, parlamentari jew [udizzjarji;
(m) ir-riproduzzjoni, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ ta]didiet politi`i kif ukoll ta’ estratti ta’ lectures pubbli`i jew ta’ xog]lijiet jew su[[etti b]al dawk sal-limitu [ustifikat b’g]anijiet
ta’ informazzjoni u sakemm l-ori[ini, inklu\ isem l­
awtur, ikun indikat, sakemm ma jkunx responsabbli;
(n) ir-riproduzzjoni, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ xi xog]ol g]all-u\u waqt `elebrazzjonijiet reli[ju\i jew `elebrazzjonijiet

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 13


uffi`jali organizzati minn xi awtorità pubblika;
(o) il-qari jew re`itazzjoni fil-pubbliku minn persuna ta’ xi estratt ra[onevoli minn xog]ol letterarju pubblikat jekk ikollu mieg]u rikonoxximent bi\\ejjed;
(p) l-inklu\joni f’komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku, ir­
riproduzzjoni grafika, it-te]id ta’ ritratt jew film ta’ xog]ol ta’ arkitettura jew skultura jew xog]lijiet simili mag]mula biex ikunu lokalizzati b’mod permanenti f’post pubbliku;
(q) l-inklu\joni in`identali ta’ xog]ol jew su[[ett ie]or b’materjal ie]or;
(r) ir-riproduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew komunikazzjoni pubblika ta’ xi xog]ol g]all-fini ta’ reklamar, esibizzjoni pubblika jew il-bejg] ta’ xog]lijiet
artisti`i, sal-limitu me]tie[ biex i[ib ’il quddiem il­ [rajja, esklu\ kull u\u kummer`jali ie]or;
(s) ir-riproduzzjoni jew kommunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ xi xog]ol b]ala karikatura, pastiche jew parodija;
(t) ir-riproduzzjoni, traduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ xi xog]ol li jkollu x’jaqsam mal-wiri jew it-tiswija ta’ tag]mir;
(u) ir-riproduzzjoni, distribuzzjoni jew il-komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku ta’ xog]ol artistiku fl-g]amla ta’ xi bini
jew tpin[ija jew pjanta ta’ bini g]all-finijiet li dak il­
bini jer[a’ jinbena mill-[did;
(v) il-komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku, g]all-fini ta’ ri`erka
jew ta’ studju privat, lill-membri individwali tal­
pubbliku permezz ta’ terminali dedikati fil-fond ta’
stabbilimenti msemmija fil-paragrafu (d) ta’ xog]lijiet u su[[etti o]ra, li ma jkunux so[[etti g]al patti ta’ xiri jew ta’ li`enzjar, li jkunu jinsabu fil-kollezzjonijiet tag]hom;
(w) fil-ka\ ta’ database , l-g]emil ta’ dawk l-atti li normalment ikunu me]tie[a sabiex min ikun qed ju\ah bil-li`enza jikseb a``ess g]all-kontenut tad-database u l-u\u normali tag]ha, dwar id- database kollha jew parti minnha li minn ju\aha jkolli l-li`enza biex ju\a; u kull disposizzjoni kuntrattwali li tmur kontra dak li hu preskitt f’dan il-paragrafu jkunu nulli u bla effett.
(2) Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur dwar programm tal-computer ma g]andux jinkludi d-dritt ta’ l-awtorizzazzjoni jew projbizzjoni dwar:
(a) l-osservazzjoni, l-istadju jew l-ittestjar tal­
funzjonament tal-programm mill-utent li jkollu li`enza sabiex jistabbilixxi l-ideat u l-prin`ipji li jkun l-ba\i ta’ kull element tal-programm jekk dan isir fil-waqt li jkunu qeg]din jitwettqu xi attijiet ta’ loading, wiri, t]addim, trasmissjoni jew ]\in tal-programm li jkollu jedd jag]mel;
(b) ir-riproduzzjoni mill-utent li jkollu li`enza g]al dak l­
14 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

iskop tal-code u tat-traduzzjoni tal-forma meta din hija tieg]u li jkunu indispensabbli biex jinkiseb it-tag]rif me]tie[ biex tintla]aq l-interoperabilità ta’ programm g]all-computer li jkun [ie ori[inat indipendentement ma’ programmi o]ra, sakemm dawn l-attijiet jin\ammu biss g]all-partijiet tal-programm ori[inali li
huma me]tie[a biex tinkiseb l-interoperabilità u t­
tag]rif me]tie[ biex tinkiseb l-interoperabilità ma kienx qabel disponibbli bla ebda xkiel lill-utent li jkollu li`enza g]al dak l-iskop:
I\da kull tag]rif li jinkiseb mir-riproduzzjoni tal­ code u t-traduzzjoni tal-forma ta’ programm g]all­ computer li jsir ta]t dan il-paragrafu ma g]andhomx:
(i) jintu\aw g]al skopijiet li ma jkunux dawk li
tinkiseb l-interoperabilità tal-programm g]all­

computer li jkun [ie ori[inat indipendement;

(ii) jing]ataw lil persuni o]ra ]lief meta dan ikun me]tie[ g]all-interoperabilità tal-programm g]all-computer li jkun [ie ori[inat indipendentement;
(iii) jintu\aw g]all-i\vilupp, produzzjoni jew

marketing ta’ programm g]all-computer li jkun

sostanzjalment simili fl-espressjoni tieg]u g]all­
programm ori[inali, jew g]al kull att ie]or li jkun jikser id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur;
(`) l-g]emil ta’ xi kopja jew ta’ back-up copy, it­
traduzzjoni, adattament, arran[ament u kull
alterazzjoni o]ra ta’ programm g]all-computer u r­ riproduzzjoni tar-ri\ultati ta’ dan, sakemm dan ikun me]tie[ g]all-utent li jkollu li`enza g]al dak l-iskop
tieg]u inti\, inklu\a t-tiswija ta’ \balji, u d-dritt ta’ l­ utent li jkollu li`enza g]al dak l-iskop li jag]mel back­ up copy ta’ programm g]all-computer ma jistax ikun
ristrett jew esklu\ permezz ta’ kuntratt sakemm dan
ikun me]tie[ g]all-u\u ta’ dak il-programm g]all­

computer.

(3) L-e``ezzjonijiet u l-limitazzjonijiet li hemm provdut
dwarhom f’dan l-artikolu g]andhom ji[u biss applikati f’dawk il­
ka\ijiet partikolari li ma jmorrux kuntrarju ma’ l-esplojtazzjoni normali tax-xog]ol jew su[[ett ie]or u li ma jippre[udikawx b’mod mhux ra[onevoli l-interessi le[ittimi tad-detentur ta’ drittijiet.

Drittijiet ta’ l­ awtur fuq xog]ol ta’ arkitettura.

10. Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur fuq xog]ol ta’ arkitettura g]andhom

jinkludu wkoll id-dritt esklu\iv fuq l-awtorizzazzjoni jew il­
prevenzjoni ta’ l-erezzjoni ta’ xi bini li jirripprodu`i x-xog]ol kollu
jew parti sostanzjali minnu sew fil-forma tieg]u ori[inali sew f’xi forma li tkun rikonoxxibbilment derivata mill-ori[inal:
I\da d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur fuq xi xog]ol b]al dak ma
g]andhomx jinkludu d-dritt fuq l-awtorizzazzjoni jew il­
prevenzjoni tar-rikostruzzjoni, fl-istess stil ta’ l-ori[inal, ta’ bini li
g]alih dawk id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jirriferixxu jew id-dritt fuq l­

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 15


awtorizzazzjoni jew il-prevenzjoni tas-self b’renta jew il-kiri ta’
bini jew xog]lijiet ta’ arti applikata.

11. (1) Id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija bl-artikoli 4, 5 u 6 ikunu inizjalment ta’ l-awtur jew tal-ko-awturi:

I\da fil-ka\ ta’ programmi g]all-computers u databases fejn xog]ol isir filwaqt li l-awtur ikun impjegat, fl-e\ekuzzjoni ta’ dmirijietu jew fuq struzzjonijiet li jing]atawlu mill-prin`ipal tieg]u, id-drittijiet ekonomi`i mog]tija bid-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur g]andhom jitqiesu b]ala li jkunu trasferiti g]alg]and il-prin`ipal ta’ l-awtur, bla ]sara g]al kull ftehim bejn il-partijiet li jkun jeskludi jew jillimita trasferiment b]al dak. G]ar-rigward ta’
xog]lijiet o]ra eli[[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, f’dawk i`­
`irkostanzi, bla ]sara g]al kull ftehim g]all-kuntrarju bejn il­
partijiet, id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur g]andhom dejjem ikunu fl-awtur jew fil-ko-awturi.
(2) Bla ]sara g]all-provvediment ta’ l-a]]ar subartikolu qabel dan -

L-ewwel proprjetarju tad­ drittijiet ta’ l­ awtur.

(a) l-isem fuq xog]ol li hu ma]sub li jkun l-isem ta’ l­
awtur tieg]u g]andu jitqies b]ala tali, jekk ma ji[ix
ippruvat il-kuntrarju;
(b) fil-ka\ ta’ xog]ol anonimu jew bi psewdonimu, dak li jkun ippubblikah u li ismu jkun jidher fuq ix-xog]ol b]ala li g]andu jitqies li jkun, jekk ma ji[ix ippruvat il-kuntrarju, ir-rappre\entant legali ta’ l-awtur anonimu jew bi psewdonimu u jkollu dritt li je\er`ita u jipprote[i d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur skond dan l-Att.
TAQSIMA III
DRITTIJIET MORALI TA’ L-AWTURI

12. (1) Ebda persuna, inklu\ i`-`essjonarju ta’ drittijiet ta’ l­ awtur jew detentur tal-li`enza bis-sa]]a tag]hom, ma tkun tista’ ming]ajr il-kunsens ta’ l-awtur, timmutila, timmodifika, tg]awwe[

jew tasso[[etta g]al xi azzjoni o]ra ta’ tmaqdir xi xog]ol waqt il­ perjodu tieg]u ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur b’mod detrimentali g]all­ unur jew g]ar-reputazzjoni ta’ l-awtur.
(2) L-awtur ta’ xi xog]ol eli[[ibbli g]ad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur g]andu, sakemm jiskadu dawk id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, b’\jieda mad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija g]ar-rigward ta’ dak ix-xog]ol, kif ukoll f’dawk il-ka\ijiet meta d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jkunu [ew
trasmessi b’`essjoni jew b’disposizzjoni testamentarja, jgawdi d­
dritt morali ­
(a) li jivvanta li huwa l-awtur ori[inali tax-xog]ol tieg]u, b’mod partikolari, tad-dritt li ismu kemm jista’ jkun
prattikabbli, ji[i indikat b’mod prominenti fuq il­
kopji, u f’dak li jkollu x’jaqsam ma’ xi u\u pubbliku ta’ dak ix-xog]ol; jew
(b) li ismu ma ji[ix indikat fuq il-kopji, u f’dak li jkollu x’jaqsam ma’ xi u\u pubbliku, tax-xog]ol tieg]u, jew li l-psewdonimu tieg]u ji[i hekk indikat:

L-awtur g]andu

dritt jipprojbixxi l­

mutilar, modifika, tag]wi[ jew tmaqdir ta’ xi

xog]ol.

16 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

I\da matul il-hajja ta’ l-awtur ta’ xi xog]ol, dawk id-drittijiet hawn aktar qabel imsemmija ma jkunux jistg]u ji[u trasmessi le[ittimament.
(3) Mal-mewt ta’ l-awtur ­
(a) id-dritt jg]addi lil dik il-persuna li huwa jista’ permezz ta’ dispozizzjoni testamentarja spe`ifikament jindika, b’dan illi meta dik il-persuna tmut id-dritt jg]addi g]alg]and is-su``essur tag]ha;
(b) jekk ma jkunx hemm indikazzjoni b]al dik i\da d­ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur fuq ix-xog]ol ikunu jag]mlu parti mill-eredità tieg]u, id-dritt jg]addi g]alg]and il­ persuna g]and min jg]addu d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur;
(`) jekk jew daqskemm id-dritt ma jg]addix ta]t il­ paragrafu (a) jew il-paragrafu (b) dan ikun e\er`itabbli mill-proprjetarji tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur.
TAQSIMA IV

Ix-xorta ta’

drittijiet ta’ artisti.

Perjodu ta’ protezzjoni g]ad­ drittijiet ta’ artisti.

Ix-xorta ta’ drittijiet ta’ produtturi.

DRITTIJIET VI~INI

13. Artisti g]andu jkollhom id-dritt esklu\iv li jawtorizzaw

jew jipprojbixxu l-g]emil f’Malta ta’ kull wie]ed minn dawn l­
attijiet li [ejjin;
(a) il-fissazzjoni tal-wirjiet tag]hom;
(b) ir-riproduzzjoni temporanja jew permanenti, sew diretta sew mhux diretta, b’kull mezz li jkun u f’kull forma, kollha kemm hi jew parti minnha, ta’ fissazzjoni tal-wirjiet tag]hom;
(`) is-self b’renta u l-kiri tal-wirjiet fissi tag]hom;
(d) id-distribuzzjoni tal-wirjiet ori[inali ffissati f’fonogrammi u ta’ kopji tag]hom;
(e) li jag]mlu disponibbli g]all-pubbliku l-fissazzjoni tal­
wirjiet tag]hom, b’mezzi bil-fil jew ming]ajr fili, b’dak il-mod li l-membri tal-pubbliku jistg]u ikollhom a``ess g]alihom minn post u ]in li huma jag]\lu individwalment;
(f) ix-xandir u l-komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku tal-wirjiet tag]hom, ]lief meta l-wirja tkun fiha nnifisha sa minn qabel wirja li tixxandar jew li ssir minn fissazzjoni.

14. Id-drittijiet mog]tija b’dan l-artikolu g]andhom idumu

g]al perjodu ta’ ]amsin sena minn tmiem is-sena li fiha l­ fissazzjoni tal-wirja tkun [iet ippubblikata le[ittimament g]all­ ewwel darba jew ikkomunikata lill-pubbliku le[ittimament g]all­ ewwel darba, skond liema ti[i l-aktar kmieni jew fin-nuqqas ta’ tali
pubblikazzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku minn tmiem is­
sena li fiha tkun [iet ippre\entata g]all-ewwel darba.

15. Il-produtturi ta’ re[istrazzjonijiet ta’ smig] g]andhom, g]ar-rigward tar-re[istrazzjonijiet ta’ smig] tag]hom, u produtturi ta’ l-ewwel fissazzjonijiet ta’ xog]lijiet awdjovi\ivi, g]ar-rigward

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 17


ta’ l-ori[inal u ta’ kopji tax-xog]lijiet awdjovi\ivi tag]hom, ikollhom id-dritt esklu\iv li jawtorizzaw jew jipprojbixxu:
(a) ir-riproduzzjoni temporanja jew permanenti, sew diretta sew mhux diretta, b’kull mezz li jkun u f’kull forma, kollha kemm hi jew parti minnha;
(b) is-self b’renta u l-kiri; (`) id-distribuzzjoni;
(d) li jag]mlu disponibbli g]all-pubbliku b’mezzi bil-fil
jew ming]ajr fili b’dak il-mod li l-membri tal­
pubbliku jistg]u ikollhom a``ess g]alihom minn post u ]in li huma jag]\lu individwalment.

16. Id-drittijiet mog]tija b’dan l-artikolu fuq re[istrazzjonijiet tas-smig] u xog]lijiet awdjovi\ivi g]andhom idumu g]al perjodu

ta’ ]amsin sena minn tmiem is-sena li fiha r-re[istrazzjonijiet tas­
smig] jew l-ewwel fissazzjoni tax-xog]ol awdjovi\iv tkun [iet
ippubblikata legalment jew ikkomunikata lill-pubbliku legalment g]all-ewwel darba, skond liema ti[i l-aktar kmieni jew fin-nuqqas ta’ tali pubblikazzjoni jew komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku minn tmiem is-sena li fiha tkun saret il-fissazzjoni g]all-ewwel darba.

17. (1) Organizzazzjonijiet tax-xandir g]andu jkollhom id­

dritt esklu\iv li jawtorizzaw jew jipprojbixxu l-g]emil f’Malta ta’
kull wie]ed minn dawn l-attijiet li [ejjin;
(a) il-fissazzjoni tax-xandir tag]hom, jew tat­
trasmissjonijiet inizjali tag]hom fuq il- cable;
(b) ir-riproduzzjoni temporanja jew permanenti, sew diretta sew mhux diretta, b’kull mezz li jkun jew forma, kollha kemm hi jew parti minnha, ta’ fissazzjoni tax-xandir tag]hom jew tat-trasmissjonijiet inizjali tag]hom fuq il- cable kif indikat fil-paragrafu (a) hawn aktar qabel;
(`) id-distribuzzjoni tal-fissazzjoni tax-xandir tag]hom jew tat-trasmissjonijiet inizjali tag]hom fuq il- cable kif indikat fil-paragrafu (a) hawn aktar qabel;
(d) ix-xandir mill-[did tax-xandir tag]hom kif ukoll il­
komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku tax-xandiriet tag]hom
jekk dik il-komunikazzjoni ssir f’postijiet a``essibbli g]all-pubbliku bi ]las ta’ dritt ta’ ammissjoni;
(e) li jag]mlu disponibbli g]all-pubbliku, l-fissazzjonijiet tax-xandir tag]hom jew tat-trasmissjonijiet inizjali tag]hom fuq il-cable kif indikat fil-paragrafu (a) hawn
aktar qabel, b’mezzi bil-fil jew ming]ajr fili, b’dak il­
mod li l-membri tal-pubbliku jistg]u ikollhom a``ess g]alihom minn post u ]in li huma jag]\lu individwalment.
(2) Organizzazzjoni tax-xandir ma jkollhiex id-dritt li hemm ipprovdut fil-paragrafu ( a ) tas-subartikolu (1) hawn aktar qabel meta din sempli`ement ter[a’ tittrasmetti bil-cable ix-xandiriet ta’ organizzazzjonijiet tax-xandir.

Perjodu ta’ protezzjoni g]ad­ drittijiet ta’ produtturi.

Ix-xorta ta’ drittijiet tax­ xandara.

18 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

Perjodu ta’ protezzjoni g]ad­ drittijiet ta’ xandara.

Rimunerazzjoni g]al artisti u produtturi ta’ re[istrazzjonijiet tas-smig].

Meta jintemmu d­ drittijiet ta’ distribuzzjoni. Sostitwit:

IX. 2003.96.

E``ezzjonijiet g]al drittijiet vi`ini. Sostitwit:

IX. 2003.97.

Min jikkwalifika g]al protezzjoni ta]t drittijiet vi`ini.

18. Id-drittijiet mog]tija b’dan l-artikolu g]andhom idumu g]al perjodu ta’ ]amsin sena minn tmiem is-sena li fiha x-xandira tkun [iet trasmessa g]all-ewwel darba sew bil-fil sew fl-arja, kemm bil-cable kemm bis-satellita.

19. Meta re[istrazzjoni tas-smig] pubblikata g]al skopijiet kummer`jali jew riproduzzjoni ta’ dik ir-re[istrazzjoni tas-smig] tintu\a sew direttament sew mhux direttament g]ax-xandir b’mezzi ming]ajr fili jew g]al xi komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku, g]andha

tit]allas rimunerazzjoni unika [usta mill-utent lill-artisti u lill­
produtturi tar-re[istrazzjoni tas-smig] involuta sabiex din tinqasam b’mod indaqs bejniethom. Dak il-]las g]andu jsir lil collecting society li tkun tirrappre\enta sew lill-artisti sew lill-produtturi ta’ re[istrazzjonijiet tas-smig] jew, fin-nuqqas ta’ collecting society
b]al dik, lill-produttur ta’ re[istrazzjonijiet tas-smig] li jkollu l­
obbligu li jqassam nofs ir-rimunerazzjoni lill-artisti.

20. (1) Id-dritt ta’ distribuzzjoni g]ar-rigward ta’ kif ji[u ffissati l-wirjiet, re[istrazzjonijiet bil-]oss, l-ori[inali u l-kopji ta’

xog]lijiet awdjovi\iv u kif ji[u ffissati x-xandiriet mog]tija bl­
artikoli pre`edenti ta’ dan l-Att lil esekuturi, produtturi ta’ re[istrazzjonijiet bil-]oss, produtturi ta’ l-ewwel produzzjonijiet ta’ xog]lijiet awdjovi\ivi u organizzazzjonijiet tax-xandir rispettivament g]andhom jintemmu bl-ewwel bejg] jew trasferiment tal-proprjetà fis-suq ta’ l-ori[inali jew kopji ta’ dawk ix-xog]lijiet g]ar-rigward ta’ dak l-ori[inali jew kopja ori[inali,
meta dak il-bejg] isir mill-proprjetarju tad-dritt vi`in jew bil­
kunsens tieg]u.
(2) G]all-finijiet ta’ dan l-artikolu ''suq'' tfisser is-suq f’Malta u mill-1 ta’ Mejju 2004 is-suq f’kull Stat Membru ie]or.
21. Id-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-artikolu 9 g]andhom mutatis mutandis japplikaw skond ma japplikaw g]ad-drittijiet vi`ini mog]tija b’dan l-Att b’dak il-mod b]alma japplikaw g]al drittijiet ta’ l-awtur f’xog]ol litterarju, mu\ikali jew artistiku jew awdjovi\iv, jew database .

22. Drittijiet vi`ini mog]tija b’din it-Taqsima g]andhom japplikaw biss dwar xog]lijiet ­

(a) li tag]hom l-artist, il-produttur jew ix-xandar ikunu ­ (i) individwu li jkun `ittadin ta’ Malta jew ikun
domi`iljat jew proprjetarju permanenti f’Malta jew fi Stat fejn dawk ix-xog]lijiet ikunu protetti bi drittijiet vi`ini ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih;
(ii) korp ta’ persuni jew so`jetà kummer`jali kostitwita, mwaqqfa, re[istrata u vestita b’personalità [uridika ta]t il-li[ijiet ta’ Malta jew ta’ Stat fejn dawk ix-xog]lijiet huma protetti bi drittijiet vi`ini ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih;
jew
(b) li jintg]amlu, ji[u g]all-ewwel darba ppubblikati, mxandra jew komunikati lill-pubbliku f’Malta jew fi
jew

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 19

Stat li fih dawk ix-xog]lijiet ikunu protetti bi drittijiet vi`ini ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih;
(`) li jintg]amlu minn jew ta]t id-direzzjoni jew il­ kontroll tal-Gvern ta’ Malta kif ukoll ta’ dawk il­ gvernijiet ta’ Stati o]ra, korpi internazzjonali jew
organizzazzjonijiet inter-governamentali hekk kif jista’ ji[i preskritt.
TAQSIMA V
DRITTIJIET MORALI TA’ ARTISTI

23. (1) Indipendentement mid-drittijiet ekonomi`i ta’ l-artist, kif ukoll wara t-trasferiment ta’ dawk id-drittijiet, l-artist g]andu sa

\mien l-iskadenza tad-drittijiet ekonomi`i, g]ar-rigward tal-wirjiet
tieg]u u tas-smig] diretti jew ta’ wirjiet iffissati fuq fonogrammi, ikollu d-dritt li jitlob li ji[i identifikat b]ala l-artist tal-wirjiet tieg]u, ]lief meta min]abba fl-u\u li jsir mill-wirjiet dan ikollu jit]alla barra, u li jipprojbixxi kull distorzjoni, mutilazzjoni jew modifikazzjoni o]ra tal-wirjiet tieg]u li kieku jkunu ta’ pre[udizzju g]all-fama tieg]u:
I\da matul il-]ajja ta’ l-artist ma jkunux jistg]u ji[u trasmessi dawk id-drittijiet morali hawn aktar qabel imsemmija.
(2) Mal-mewt ta’ l-artist ­
(a) id-dritt jg]addi g]al g]and dik il-persuna li hu jista’ permezz ta’ disposizzjoni testamentarja spe`ifikament jordna, b’dan illi mal-mewt ta’ dik il-persuna d-dritt jg]addi g]al g]and is-su``essur tag]ha;
(b) jekk ma jkunx hemm ordni b]al dik i\da d-drittijiet ta’
l-awtur fix-xog]ol involut ikunu jag]mlu parti mill­
eredità tieg]u, id-dritt jg]addi g]al g]and il-persuna li g]andha jg]addu d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur.
TAQSIMA VI
TRASFERIMENT TA’ DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR U TA’ DRITTIJIET VI~INI

24. (1) Bla ]sara g]ad-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dan l-artikolu, id­

drittijiet ta’ l-awtur u drittijiet vi`ini ikunu trasmessi b’`essjoni,
bis-sa]]a tal-Li[i jew b’disposizzjoni testamentarja b]ala proprjetà
mobbli.
(2) ~essjoni jew disposizzjoni testamentarja ta’ drittijiet ta’ l­
awtur jew ta’ drittijiet vi`ini tista’ tkun limitata b’mod li tapplika g]al parti biss mill-attijiet li l-proprjetarju tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew ta’ drittijiet vi`ini g]andu d-dritt esklu\iv li jawtorizza jew li jipprevjeni, jew g]al parti biss tal-perjodu tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet vi`ini, jew g]al pajjiz spe`ifikat jew area o]ra [eografika.
(3) Meta awtur g]ar-rigward tal-ori[inal jew kopja tax-xog]ol

Ji[u identifikati d­ drittijiet ta’ artisti u ji[u projbiti d­ distorsjoni, mutilazzjoni u modifikazzjoni ta’ wirjiet.

~esssjonijiet u li`enzi.

20 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

tieg]u jew artist g]ar-rigward tal-fissazzjoni tal-wirja tieg]u jassenja d-dritt esklu\iv tieg]u biex jawtorizza jew jipprevjeni l-
kiri tag]hom lill-produttur tar-re[istrazzjoni bi smig] jew lill­
produttur tax-xog]ol awdjovi\iv li jkun fih ix-xog]ol ta’ l-awtur jew il-wirja ffissata ta’ dak l-artist, dak l-awtur jew dak l-artist g]andhom jibqg]u jzommu d-dritt li jiksbu individwalment jew permezz ta’ collecting society rimunerazzjoni [usta g]all-kiri ta’
dik ir-re[istrazzjoni bi smig] jew ori[inal jew kopja ta’ dak ix­
xog]ol awdjovi\iv ming]and il-produttur involut u dak id-dritt ma
jkunx jista’ ji[i mi`]ud. Fin-nuqqas ta’ ftehim dwar ir­
rimunerazzjoni li jkollha tit]allas ta]t dan is-subartikolu, jkun il- Bord li jistabbilixxi kemm g]andha tkun dik ir-rimunerazzjoni.
(4) Bla ]sara g]ad-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-artikolu 52, ebda
`essjoni ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew ta’ drittijiet vi`ini u ebda
li`enza biex jintg]amel att li l-g]emil tieg]u huwa kkontrollat minn drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew minn drittijiet vi`ini ma jkollha effett jekk ma ssirx bi ftehim bil-miktub bejn il-partijiet:
I\da meta ji[i konklu\ kuntratt bejn artist u produttur ta’
xog]lijiet awdjovizjivi g]ar-rigward tal-produzzjoni ta’ xog]ol
awdjovi\iv, l-artist g]andu jitqies b]ala li jkun assenja lill­
produttur id-drittijiet esklu\ivi tieg]u fuq il-fissazzjoni tal-wirja tieg]u, kemm-il darba ma ji[ix miftiehem xort’o]ra, bla ]sara biss g]ad-dritt li ma jistax jin`a]ad ta’ l-artist g]al rimunerazzjoni [usta li tit]allas malli jsir il-kuntratt mill-produttur lill-artist jew inkella jekk dan ikun hekk jippreferi lil collecting society li tkun
tirrappre\entah, liema rimunerazzjoni g]andha ti[i stabbilita, fin­
nuqqas ta’ ftehim bejn il-partijiet, mill-Bord:
I\da wkoll, meta ji[i konklu\ kuntratt bejn awtur ta’ xog]ol awdjovi\iv jew l-awturi ta’ xog]lijiet sottostanti li jintu\aw b]ala s-sies g]ax-xog]ol awdjovi\iv u l-produttur tax-xog]ol awdjovi\iv li jkun jirrigwarda l-produzzjoni ta’ dak ix-xog]ol awdjovi\iv, dawk l-awturi g]andhom jitqiesu b]ala li jkunu
assenjaw lill-produttur id-drittijiet esklu\ivi tag]hom fuq ix­ xog]lijiet tag]hom li jkollhom drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, kemm-il darba ma ji[ix miftiehem xort’o]ra, bla ]sara biss g]ad-dritt li ma jistax
jin`a]ad ta’ l-awturi g]al rimunerazzjoni [usta li tit]allas mal­
konklu\joni tal-kuntratt mill-produttur lill-awtur individwalment jew inkella jekk l-awtur ikun hekk jixtieq, lil collecting society li tkun tirrappre\entah, liema rimunerazzjoni g]andha ti[i stabbilita, fin-nuqqas li l-partijiet jiftehmu bejnithom, mill-Bord.
(5) ~essjoni jew li`enza ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mog]tija minn ko-awtur jew `essjoni jew li`enza ta’ drittijiet vi`ini mog]tija minn ko-detentur tad-dritt ikollha effett b]allikieku tkun [iet mog]tija mill-ko-awturi l-ohra jew mill-ko-detenturi tad-drittijiet rispettivament:
I\da, meta xi ko-awtur ie]or fil-ka\ ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew ko-detentur tad-dritt fil-ka\ ta’ drittijiet vi`ini ma jkunx sodisfatt mill-pattijiet li bihom tkun [iet mog]tija dik i`-`essjoni jew li`enza, huwa jista’, fi \mien tliet xhur mill-[urnata li fiha jkunu [ew komunikati lilu bil-miktub l-imsemmija pattijiet, japplika lill-Bord biex jidde`iedi dwar il-pattijiet li l-Bord iqis xierqa u ra[onevoli.

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 21


(6) ~essjoni, li`enza jew disposizzjoni testamentarja tista’ b’mod effettiv ti[i mog]tija jew ti[i mag]mula dwar xog]ol futur jew xog]ol e\istenti li fuqu ma jkunux g]adhom je\istu d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet vi`ini, u d-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur prospettivi jew id-drittijiet vi`ini prospettivi fuq xi xog]ol tali jkunu trasmissibbli b]ala proprjetà mobbli:
I\da fil-ka\ ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur dik i`-`essjoni jew li`enza ma g]andhiex titqies li tinkludi drittijiet ta’ l-awtur li skond l-artikolu 11(1) ikunu ta’ min jimpjega l-awtur, jekk il-partijiet ma jinkluduhomx espressament.
(7) Dispo\izzjoni testamentarja tal-materjal li fuqu xog]ol ikun inkiteb g]all-ewwel darba jew [ie xort’ohra re[istrat g]andha, kemm-il darba t-testatur ma jkunx ipprovda xort’o]ra, titqies li tinkludi kull drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet vi`ini jew drittijiet ta’ l-awtur prospettivi jew drittijiet vi`ini prospettivi fuq ix-xog]ol li jkunu tal-mejjet.
TAQSIMA VII
DRITT SUI GENERIS DWAR DATABASES

25. Minkejja d-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-artikolu 7, l-ori[inarju ta’

database li jista’ juri li kien hemm, sew fil-kwalit à sew fil­

kwantit à , investiment sostanzjali jew fil-ksib, verifika jew pre\entazzjoni tal-kontenut tad- database ikollu, irrispettivament mill-eli[ibilità ta’ dik id-database jew tal-kontenut tag]ha g]all­ protezzjoni bid-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew bi drittijiet o]ra, id-dritt li
jawtorizza jew jipprojbixxi atti ta’ estrazzjoni jew utilizzazzjoni mill-[did tal-kontenut tag]ha, kemm kollu kemm hu kemm f’parti sostanzjali minnu, valutat sew fil-kwalità sew fil-kwantità.
26. (1) L-ori[inarju ta’ database li tintg]amel disponibbli g]all-pubbliku b’liema mod ikun ma jistax jipprevjeni utent tad- database li jkollu li`enza milli jeffettwa estrazzjoni jew utilizzazzjoni mill-[did ta’ partijiet mhux sostanzjali tal-kontenut tag]ha, valutat sew fil-kwalità sew fil-kwantità, g]al liema skop ikun, sakemm l-utent li jkollu li`enza ma jwettaqx atti li jkunu jikkonfli[[u ma’ l-esplojtazzjoni normali tad- database jew
jippre[udikaw b’mod mhux ra[onevoli l-interessi le[ittimi ta’ l­
ori[inarju tad- database jew b’kull mod li jkun jikkaw\aw pre[udizzju g]ad-detentur tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet
vi`ini g]ar-rigward ta’ xog]lijiet jew is-su[[ett kontenut fid­ database u kull provvediment kontrattwali li jmur kontra dan il­ proviso jkun null u bla ebda effett:
I\da l-estrazzjoni u l-utilizzazzjoni mill-[did ripetuti u sistemati`i ta’ partijiet mhux sostanzjali tal-kontenut tad- database li jkunu jimplikaw attijiet li jikkonfli[[u ma’ esplojtazzjoni normali ta’ dik id- database jew li jippre[udikaw b’mod mhux ra[onevoli l-interessi le[ittimi tal-ori[inarju tad- database, ma jkunux permessi.
(2) Minkejja l-artikolu 25, utent li jkollu li`enza jista’, ming]ajr l-awtorizzazzjoni ta’ l-ori[inarju tad- database li tkun disponibbli g]all-pubbliku b’liema mod ikun, jeffettwa estrazzjoni

Xorta ta’ dritt sui generis dwar databases.

E``ezzjonijiet g]ad-dritt sui generis dwar databases.

22 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

jew utulizzazzjoni mill-[did ta’ parti sostanzjali mill-kontenut tag]ha g]al dawn ir-ra[unijiet li [ejjin:
(a) l-estrazzjoni g]al u\u privat fil-ka\ ta’ database mhux elettroniku;
(b) l-estrazzjoni bil-g]an ta’ illustrazzjoni fit-tag]lim jew fir-ri`erka xjentifika sal-limitu [ustifikat bl-g]an mhux kummer`jali li g]andu jinkiseb sakemm ti[i indikata l-ori[ni;
(`) l-estrazzjoni jew l-utilizzazzjoni mill-[did g]all­
g]anijiet ta’ sigurtà pubblika jew ta’ xi pro`edura
amministrattiva jew [udizzjarja.

Perjodu ta’ protezzjoni g]ad­ dritt sui generis dwar databases.

Assenjament ta’

li`enzi.

Kwalifika g]al protezzjoni g]ad­ dritt sui generis dwar databases.

27. Id-dritt li hemm provdut dwaru fl-artikolu 25 jintemm wara

]mistax il-sena mill-ewwel ta’ Jannar tas-sena li ti[i wara d-data tat-tmiem tal-ori[inar tad- database jew, jekk dan jitqieg]ed disponibbli g]all-pubbliku b’liema mod ikun qabel l-iskadenza ta’ dak il-perjodu, dak id-dritt g]andu jintemm wara l-iskadenza ta’
]mistax il-sena mill- ewwel ta’ Jannar tas-sena li ti[i minnufih
wara d-data meta d- database kienet saret g]all-ewwel darba disponibbli g]all-pubbliku:
I\da kull bidla sostanzjali, valutata sew fil-kwalità sew fil­
kwantità, fil-kontenut ta’ database, inklu\a kull bidla sostanzjali li tirri\ulta mill-[abra s]i]a ta’ \jidiet, ta]siriet jew bidliet li jsiru wara, li kieku jirri\ultaw fid-database li jitqies b]ala investiment sostanzjalment [did, valutat fil-kwalità u fil-kwantità , g]andhom jag]tu lok g]all-ori[inar ta’ database [dida li minn dak il-waqt ikollha jedd g]all-perjodu ta’ protezzjoni tag]ha nnifisha li jkun ta’
]mistax il-sena.

28. Dak id-dritt li jista’ ji[i assenjat jew kon`ess ta]t li`enza kontrattwali bla ]sara g]ad-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-artikolu 24

g]andu jkun ming]ajr pre[udizzju g]al kull dritt li je\isti dwar il­
kontenut tad-database.
29. Id-dritt mog]ti b’dan l-artikolu g]andu jkun japplika biss g]al database ­
(a) li l-ori[inarju tieg]u jew id-detentur tad-dritt tieg]u ikun filwaqt li tintg]amel id-database ­
(i) individwu li jkun `ittadin ta’ Malta, jew li jkun domi`iljat jew permanentement residenti f’Malta jew fi Stat li fih dritt sui generis dwar database s b]al dak ikun protett ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih;
(ii) korp ta’ persuni jew so`jetà kummer`jali kostitwita, mwaqqfa, re[istrata u vestita b’personalità [uridika ta]t il-li[ijiet ta’ Malta jew ta’ xi Stat li fih dritt sui generis dwar database s b]al dak ikun protett ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih;
jew
(b) li tintg]amel jew li ssir g]all-ewwel darba disponibbli g]all-pubbliku f’Malta jew fi Stat li fih dritt sui
jew

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 23

generis dwar databases b]al dak ikun protett ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih;

(`) li tintg]amel minn, jew ta]t id-direzzjoni jew kontroll tal-Gvern ta’ Malta kif ukoll ta’ dawk il-gvernijiet ta’
Stati o]ra, korpi internazzjonali jew organizzaz­
zjonijiet inter-governamentali o]ra hekk kif jista’ ji[i preskritt.
30. (1) G]all-g]anijiet ta’ din it-Taqsima "estrazzjoni" tfisser it-trasferiment permanenti jew temporanju tal-kontenut kollu ta’ database jew ta’ parti sostanzjali minnu g]al medium ie]or b’kull mezz jew forma li jkunu filwaqt li "u\u mill-[did" tfisser kull g]amla li tag]mel disponibbli mill-[did lill-pubbliku il-kontenut ta’ database kollu jew ta’ parti sostanzjali minnu bid-distribuzzjoni ta’ kopji, b’kirjiet, permezz ta’ trasmissjonijiet on-line jew g]amliet o]ra ta’ trasmissjoni;
(2) I\da s-self pubbliku ma g]andux jitqies li jkun att ta’
estrazzjoni jew ta’ u\u mill-[did.
31. L-ewwel bejg] f’Malta, ta’ kopja ta’ database mid­
detentur ta’ dritt jew bil-kunsens tieg]u g]andu je\awrixxi l-jedd g]all-kontroll tal-bejg] mill-[did ta’ dik il-kopja.
TAQSIMA VIII
DRITT SUI GENERIS DWAR TOPOGRAFIJI TA’ PRODOTTI MINN SEMIKONDUTTUR

32. L-ori[inarji ta’ topografiji ta’ prodotti minn semikonduttur u s-su``essuri tag]hom fit-titolu g]andu jkollhom id-dritt esklu\iv

li jawtorizzaw jew jipprevjenu f’Malta r-riproduzzjoni tat­
topografija u l-esplojtazzjoni kummer`jali jew l-importazzjoni
g]all-iskop ta’ esplojtazzjoni kummer`jali tat-topografija jew ta’
prodott minn semikonduttur manifatturat bl-u\u tat-topografija.

33. Id-dritt mog]ti bl-artikolu 32 ma g]andux jipprevjeni;

(a) ir-riproduzzjoni privata ta’ topografija bi skopijiet li mhumiex kummer`jali;
(b) ir-riproduzzjoni g]all-iskop li ji[i analizzat, valutat jew g]at-tag]lim tal-kun`etti, pro`essi, sistemi jew
teknikalitajiet inkorporati fit-topografija jew it­
topografija nnifisha;
(`) xi att g]ar-rigward ta’ topografija li tkun skond il­
]ti[iet ta’ l-artikolu 35 u ori[inata fuq il-ba\i ta’ anali\i u valutazzjoni ta’ xi topografija o]ra, li ssir b’mod konformi mal-paragrafu ( b) pre`edenti.

34. Meta topografija jew il-prodott minn semikonduttur ikunu tqieg]du fis-suq f’Malta, minn detentur ta’ dritt jew bil-kunsens

tieg]u, id-dritt esklu\iv li ti[i awtorizzata jew prevjenuta l­ esplojtazzjoni kummer`jali jew l-importazzjoni ta’ dik it­ topografija jew ta’ dak il-prodott ta’ semikonduttur g]andu ji[i
e\awrit.

Tifsira ta’ estrazzjoni u ta’ utilizzazzjoni mill­ [did.

E\awriment ta’

dritt ta’ bejg] mill­ [did.

Xorta ta’ dritt sui generis dwar topografija ta’ prodotti minn semikonduttur.

E``ezzjonijiet g]ad-dritt dwar topografija.

E\awriment g]ad­ dritt dwar topografija.

24 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

Applikazzjoni tad­ dritt dwar topografija biss

dwar l-isforz intellettwali tal­

proprjetarju nnifsu.

Kwalifika g]al protezzjoni g]ad­ dritt dwar topografija.

Topografija ori[inati matul l­ impieg ta’ persuna.

Meta ma jkunx je\isti dritt g]all­ protezzjoni.

Assenjament ta’

li`enzi.

Perjodu ta’ protezzjoni g]al dritt dwar topografija.

35. Id-dritt mog]ti bl-artikolu 32 g]andu japplika biss g]ar­ rigward ta’ topografiji ta’ prodotti minn semikonduttur li jkunu r­ ri\ultat ta’ l-isforz intellettwali ta’ l-ori[inarju nnifsu u ma jkunux

xi ]a[a komuni fl-industrija tas-semikondutturi i\da ma g]andhomx jestendu g]al xi kun`ett, pro`ess, sistema, teknika jew tag]rif fl-g]amla ta’ code li jkun inkorporat fit-topografija:
I\da meta t-topografija ta’ prodotti minn semikonduttur tkun tikkonsisti f’elementi li jkunu ]wejje[ komuni fl-industrija
tas-semikondutturi, din g]andha tkun protetta biss sal-limitu li l­
kombinazzjoni ta’ dawk l-elementi, me]uda flimkien, tkun
tissodisfa l-kondizzjonijiet hawn aktar qabel imsemmija.

36. Id-dritt mog]ti bl-artikolu 32 g]andu jkun japplika favur ori[inarju jew is-su``essur tieg]u fit-titolu li jkun individwu li jkun

`ittadin ta’, jew li jkun domi`iljat jew residenti permanenti f’Malta jew fi Stat li fih dritt sui generis b]alma hu dak mog]ti bl-artikolu
32 dwar topografiji ta’ prodotti minn semikonduttur ikun protett ta]t xi ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun imsiehba wkoll fih.

37. Meta topografija tin]oloq matul l-impieg ta’ l-ori[inarju,

fit-twettiq ta’ dmirijietu jew fuq istruzzjonijiet li jing]atawlu mill­
prin`ipal tieg]u, id-dritt esklu\iv mog]ti bl-artikolu 32 g]andu
jitqies li jkun trasferit lill-prin`ipal ta’ l-ori[inarju jew lis­ su``essur tieg]u fit-titolu, bla ]sara g]al kull ftehim bejn il­ partijiet li jkun jeskludi jew jillimita dak it-trasferiment:
I\da l-prin`ipal ta’ l-ori[inarju jew is-su``essur tieg]u fit­
titolu g]andhom ukoll jissodisfaw il-kriterji ta’ l-artikolu 36 jew ikun korp ta’ persuni jew so`jetà kummer`jali kostitwita, mwaqqfa, re[istrata u vestita b’personalità [uridika ta]t il-li[ijiet ta’ Malta
jew ta’ Stat li fih dritt sui generis b]al dak b]alma hu mog]ti bl­
artikolu 32 dwar topografiji ta’ prodotti minn semikonduttur, ikun protett ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih.

38. Meta ebda dritt g]all-protezzjoni b]alma hu mog]ti bl­

artikolu 32 ma jkun je\isti favur ori[inarju jew il-prin`ipal tieg]u
skond l-artikoli 36 u 37, id-dritt g]andu jkun japplika favur il­
persuna jew is-su``essur tag]ha fit-titolu li, filwaqt li tissodisfa xi wa]da mill-kondizzjonijiet imsemmija fil-proviso g]all-artikolu
37, tkun l-ewwel li kummer`jalment tesplojta f’Malta, jew fi Stat li fih dritt sui generis b]al dak b]alma hu mog]ti bl-artikolu 32 dwar topografiji ta’ prodotti minn semikonduttur ikun protett ta]t ftehim internazzjonali li Malta tkun ukoll imsiehba fih, topografija li tkun g]adha ma gietx esplojtata kummer`jalment imkien ie]or fid-dinja u tkun [iet esklu\ivament awtorizzata li tesplojta kummer`jalment it-topografija fil-firxa ta’ dak it-territorju mill-persuna li jkollha jedd li tiddisponi minnha.

39. Id-dritt mog]ti bl-artikolu 32 jista’ ji[i assenjat jew mog]ti

ta]t li`enza kontrattwali bla ]sara g]ad-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l­
artikolu 24.
40. Id-dritt mog]ti bl-artikolu 32 g]andu jibqa’ je\isti g]al g]axar snin minn tmiem is-sena li fiha t-topografija ta’ prodott minn semikonduttur tkun [iet esplojtata kummer`jalment g]all­ ewwel darba x’imkien fid-dinja jew g]al ]mistax il-sena mill­ ewwel fissazzjoni jew g]emil bil-code tat-topografija ta’ prodott

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 25


minn semikonduttur jekk din ma tkunx [iet esplojtata kummer`jalment:
I\da fil-ka\ meta l-perjodu ta’ protezzjoni jibda g]addej mid-data ta’ l-ewwel esplojtazzjoni kummer`jali fid-dinja pjuttost milli minn l-ewwel fissazzjoni jew g]emil bil-code tat-topografija, r-rimedji legali pprovdut dwarhom bl-artikolu 43(1) g]andhom ukoll ikunu disponibbli favur detentur ta’ dritt li jista’ j[ib prova g]as-sodisfazzjon tal-Qorti li l-konvenut ikun bi frodi rriprodu`a jew esplojta kummer`jalment jew importa g]al dak l-g]an
topografija ta’ prodott minn semikonduttur ukoll jekk dawk l­ attijiet kienu [raw qabel il-bidu tal-perjodu ta’ protezzjoni u ta’ l­ e\istenza tad-dritt mog]ti bl-artikolu 32.

41. Minkejja l-artikolu 32 u d-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-artikolu

42, persuna jew is-su``essur tag]ha fit-titolu li tikseb prodott ta’ semikonduttur ma g]andhiex tkun prevjenuta milli tesplojta kummer`jalment lil dak il-prodott jekk filwaqt tal-ksib tieg]u hija ma kienetx taf u ma setg]etx ra[onevolment tkun mistennija li tkun taf li kien hemm je\isti f’dak ix-xog]ol dritt sui generis b]alma hu mog]ti bl-artikolu 32:
I\da, fuq istanza tad-detentur tad-dritt jew tas-su``esuri tieg]u fit-titolu, il-Qorti ~ivili, Prim’Awla, g]andha tordna lil dik
il-persuna li t]allas kumpens xieraq lill-attur g]ar-rigward ta’ l­
attijiet li huwa jkun g]amel wara li jkun sar jaf jew kellu tassew g]aliex ja]seb li l-prodott ta’ semikonduttur ikun protett minn dritt sui generis b]al dak.
TAQSIMA IX
KONTRAVVENZJONIJIET
42. (1) Ikun hemm kontravvenzjoni ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, drittijiet vi`ini u drittijiet sui generis meta:
(a) persuna tag]mel jew i[[ieg]el lil xi persuna o]ra tag]mel, ming]ajr li`enza ming]and il-proprjetarju jew id-detentur tag]ha, xi att li l-g]emil tieg]u huwa kkontrollat bid-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, drittijiet vi`in jew drittijiet sui generis;
(b) persuna li, ming]ajr ma jkollha l-li`enza tal­
proprjetarju tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew ta’ detentur ta’ dritt, jimporta [ewwa Malta xort’o]ra milli g]al xi u\u privat u domestiku, jew jiddistribwixxi f’Malta b’mod kummer`jali, ta’ kiri jew xort’o]ra jew permezz
ta’ esibiti kummer`jali fil-pubbliku jew ikollu fil­
pussess tieg]u jew jimmanifattura filwaqt li jkun qed jikkummer`a jew joffri jew jesponi g]all-bejg] jew jikri xi artikolu li dwaru jkun hemm kontravvenzjoni ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, drittijiet vi`ini jew sui generis ta]t il-paragrafu pre`edenti;
(`) persuna li, ming]ajr il-li`enza tal-proprjetarju tad­
drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew tad-detentur ta’ drittijiet tag]mel xi ]a[a li tqarraq b’mi\uri teknolo[i`i effettivi, li l-persuna in kwistjoni tag]mel xjentement,

Dritt g]al rimunerazzjoni.

Attijiet li jikkontravjenu. Sostitwit:

IX. 2003.98.

26

KAP. 415.]

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

jew ikun hemm tassew g]aliex jidher li tkun xjenti, li hija tkun qed tfittex li tikseb dak l-g]an;

(d) persuna li, ming]ajr il-li`enza tal-proprjetarju tad­

drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew tad-detentur ta’ drittijiet timmanifattura, timporta, tiddistribwixxi, tbieg], tikri, tirreklama g]all-bejg] jew g]all-kiri, jew ikollha g]al g]anijiet kummer`jali, apparat, prodotti jew komponenti li:

(i) jkollhom il-fini ta’ ingann, jew

(ii) jkollhom biss fini jew u\u sinifikattiv kummer`jalment limitat li ma jkunx dak ta’ ingann, jew

(iii) ikunu primarjament ddisinjati, prodotti, adatti jew esegwiti bil-g]an li jkun jista’ jsir jew ji[i fa`ilitat l-ingann, ta’ xi mi\uri teknolo[i`i effettivi;

(e)

persuna li, ming]ajr ma jkollha l-li`enza ta’ proprjetarju ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew ta’ detentur ta’ drittijiet tipprovdi, tippromwovi, tirreklama jew toffri fis-suq xi servizz li jkollu l-fini ta’ ingann f’mi\uri teknolo[i`i effettivi;

(f)

persuna li, ming]ajr il-li`enza tal-proprjetarju tad­

drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew ta’ detentur ta’ dritt, xjentement jag]mel xi att minn dawn li [ejjin:

(i) (ii)

it-tne]]ija jew it-tibdil ta’ xi informazzjoni elettronika ta’ amministrazzjoni ta’ drittijiet;

id-distribuzzjoni, l-importazzjoni g]ad­

distribuzzjoni, ix-xandir, komunikazzjoni jew li jintg]amlu disponibbli g]all-pubbliku xog]lijiet jew su[[etti o]ra protetti ta]t dan l-Att li minnhom tkun tne]]iet jew inbidlet ming]ajr ebda awtorità informazzjoni elettronika ta’ amministrazzjoni ta’ drittijiet,

jekk dik il-persuna tkun taf, jew ikollha tassew g]aliex

tkun taf, li b’dak l-g]emil ikun qed i[ieg]el, jag]ti s­

setg]a, jiffa`ilita jew ja]bi xi kontravvenzjoni ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew xi dritt vi`in, jew tad-drittijiet sui generis provduti b’dan l-Att:

I\da kull o[[ett minn dawk ta’ informazzjoni ta’

amministrazzjoni ta’ drittijiet elettronika g]andu jkun:

(i) asso`jat ma’ kopja ta’ xog]ol bi drittijiet ta’ l­

awtur ta]t il-pattijiet ta’ dan l-Att, jew

(ii) jidher f’konnessjoni mal-komunikazzjoni lill­

pubbliku ta’ xog]ol bi drittijiet ta’ l-awtur ta]t il-pattijiet ta’ dan l-Att, jew

(iii) kopert bi dritt sui generis ta]t il-pattijiet ta’ dan l-Att.

(2)

(a) Minkejja d-disposizzjonijiet tas-subartikolu (1)(`), (d) u (e ) , meta l-applikazzjoni ta’ xi mi\ura teknolo[ika effettiva g]al xog]ol bi drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jipprevjeni

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 27


lil xi benefi`jarju ta’ xi e``ezzjoni li hemm provdut dwarha fl-artikolu 9(1)(b), (`), ( d), (e), ( f), (i ), (l) jew (h) jibbenifikaw minn dik l-e``ezzjoni, id-detentur ta’
drittijiet g]andu jag]mel disponibbli lill-benefi`jarju l­ mezzi ta’ kif ikun jista’ jibbenefika minn dik l­ e``ezzjoni, daqstant kemm ikun me]tie[ li jibbenefika minn dik l-e``ezzjoni jew limitazzjoni:
I\da wkoll il-benefi`jarju g]andu jkollu a``ess legali g]ax-xog]ol protett jew g]as-su[[ett in kwistjoni:
I\da wkoll meta ma jkun hemm ebda mi\ura volontarja li tittie]ed mid-detentur ta’ drittijiet jew
persuna esklu\iva li jkollha li`enza jew ftehim bejn id­ detentur ta’ drittijiet u l-parti l-o]ra in kwistjoni, bil­ fini relattiva li l-benefi`jarju (jew il-persuni ta’ xi
klassi li l-benefi`jarju jkun jappartjeni g]aliha) jkun
jista’ jibbenefika mill-e``ezzjonijiet spe`ifikati fil­
paragrafu ta’ hawn qabel.
(b) Id-disposizzjonijiet tas-subartikolu (2)(a) ma japplikawx g]al xog]lijiet bi drittijiet ta’ l-awtur mag]mulin disponibbli ill-pubbliku fuq pattijiet
kontrattwali miftiehma b’tali mod li membri tal­
pubbliku jistg]u jkollhom a``ess g]alihom minn post u
f’]in li kull wie]ed jag]\el individwalment g]alih.
43. (1) Meta xi ]add jikser id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, drittijiet vi`ini jew drittijiet sui generis fuq xi xog]ol huwa jkun jista’, fuq istanza tal-proprjetarju ta’ dawk id-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew ta’ detentur ta’ drittijiet, ji[i kundannat mill-Qorti ~ivili, Prim’Awla g]all-]las tad-danni jew g]all-]las ta’ penali li ti[i stabbilita skond skala ta’ multi li ti[i preskritta mill-Ministru, kif dik il-Qorti, wara
li tie]u kont ta`-`irkostanzi tal-ka\, jidhrilha xieraq, u g]ar­ restituzzjoni tal-qlig] kollu li jkun sar mill-kontravvenzjoni tad­ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, drittijiet vi`ini jew drittijiet sui generis:
I\da meta l-konvenut i[ib prova g]as-sodisfazzjon tal- Qorti li fi\-\mien tal-kontravvenzjoni ma kienx jaf u ma setg]ax ikun ra[onevolment mistenni li jkun jaf li kienu je\istu drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, drittijiet vi`ini jew drittijiet sui generis fuq ix-xog]ol li g]alih l-azzjoni tirriferixxi, il-Qorti ma g]andhiex tikkundannah g]ar-restituzzjoni tal-qlig].
(2) Il-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ~ivili tista’ f’azzjoni g]all-ksur tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur, drittijiet vi`ini jew drittijiet sui generis filwaqt li tqis i`-`irkostanzi kollha u b’mod partikolari l-flagranza tal-kontravvenzjoni u kull benefi``ju li jmur favur il-konvenut min]abba fil-kontravvenzjoni, tag]ti dawk id-danni addizzjonali skond ma l-ka\ partikolari jista’ jkun [ustament je]tie[.
(3) Il-Qorti tista’, barra minn dan, f’kaw\a istitwita skond dan is-subartikolu, fuq rikors ta’ l-attur, tordna li l-o[[etti kollha kontravvenjenti li jkunu g]adhom fil-pussess tal-konvenut ji[u konsenjati lill-attur.
(4) F’kaw\a dwar kontravvenzjoni ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur relattivi g]all-kostruzzjoni ta’ bini, ebda mandat ta’ inibizzjoni jew

Responsabbiltà g]al kontravvenzjoni ta’ drittijiet ta’ l­ awtur, drittijiet vi`ini u drittijiet

sui generis.

28 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

ordni ie]or ma g]andu jsir:
(a) wara li l-kostruzzjoni ta’ bini jkun inbeda, sabiex jimpedih milli ji[i kompletat, jew
(b) sabiex jordna li l-bini, safejn ikun gie kostruwit, ji[i mwaqqa’.

Responsabbiltà g]al kontravvenzjoni ta’ drittijiet morali.

}atra tal-Bord.

44. (1) Salvi d-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-a]]ar artikolu qabel dan, kull min jikser id-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-artikolu 12(1) jista’ fuq istanza ta’ l-awtur jew tal-werrieta tieg]u ji[i kundannat mill- Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ~ivili g]all-]las ta’ penali, b]ala u g]al danni li ji[u stabbiliti skond skala ta’ multi li ji[u preskritti mill- Ministru.

(2) Fi pro`edimenti ta]t l-a]]ar subartikolu qabel dan il-Qorti g]andha tordna l-qirda ta’ l-o[[etti kollha kontravvenjenti li jkunu
g]adhom fil-pussess tal-konvenut meta tkun sodisfatta illi l­ pre[udizzju ka[unat lill-awtur jkun hekk serju li ji[[ustifika dik il­ mi\ura.
(3) Id-disposizzjoni ta’ l-a]]ar subartikolu qabel dan ma g]andhiex tapplika meta l-o[[ett kontravvenjenti jkun bini.
(4) Kull min jikser id-disposizzjonijiet ta’ l-artikolu 12(1) u (2) u l-artikolu 23(1) jista’ ji[i kkundannat, fuq istanza ta’ l-awtur jew tal-persuna fi\ika, jew ta’ l-enti legali, li lilhom ikun [ie trasmess id-dritt li jwettqu dawk id-drittijiet morali msemmija ta]t
il-proviso ta’ l-artikolu 11(2), mill-Qorti ~ivili, Prim’Awla g]all­
]las ta’ penali, u g]al dawk id-danni li ji[u de`i\i skond skala ta’
penali li ji[u preskritti mill-Ministru.
TAQSIMA X
IL-BORD DWAR ID-DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR
45. (1) Il-Ministru g]andu b’avvi\ fil-Gazzetta tal-Gvern jinnomina Bord dwar id-Drittijiet ta’ l-Awtur, li jikkonsisti minn Chairman u \ew[ membri o]ra sabiex jaqdi l-funzjonijiet mog]tija lil dak il-Bord bid-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dan l-Att.
(2) I`-Chairman ta’ l-imsemmi Bord ikun Im]allef irtirat jew Ma[istrat irtirat jew persuna li tkun e\er`itat b]ala avukat f’Malta g]al perjodu ta’, jew perjodi li jammontaw fit-total g]al, mhux anqas minn seba’ snin.
(3) Il-Ministru g]andu jinnomina wkoll \ew[ persuni o]ra
biex ja[ixxu b]ala membri tal-Bord, wie]ed biex jissostitwixxi li`­ Chairman u l-ie]or biex jissostitwixxi lil xi wie]ed mi\-\ew[ membri l-o]ra, kull meta `-Chairman jew xi wie]ed mill-membri l­ o]ra, skond il-ka\, ikun, g]al xi ra[uni, inkapa`i li jaqdi l­ funzjonijiet tieg]u.
(4) Kull membru tal-Bord g]andu jibqa’ fil-kariga sakemm jog][ob lill-Ministru u l-Ministru jista’, ming]ajr ma jag]ti ebda ra[uni, i]assar in-nomina ta’ kull membru u jinnomina membru [did meta jidhirlu li jkun hekk me]tie[.
(5) Il-membri tal-Bord, bl-e``ezzjoni ta`-Chairman, jekk ikun
Ma[istrat, g]andhom, qabel ma jid]lu fil-kariga tag]hom, jie]du

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 29


quddiem l-Avukat {enerali l-[urament li je\aminaw u jidde`iedu kull ]a[a li ti[i quddiemhom b’ekwit à u imparzjalità.
46. I`-Chairman jew kull membru ie]or tal-Bord jista’ jastjeni jew jista’ ji[i riku\at minn kull wie]ed mill-partijiet kontendenti
g]al kull wa]da mir-ra[unijiet imsemmija fl-artikolu 734 tal­
Kodi`i ta’ Organizzazzjoni u Pro`edura ~ivili. Kull kwistjoni li tirrigwarda xi ra[uni ta’ astensjoni jew riku\a u kull kwistjoni li tkun kwistjoni ta’ li[i biss g]andha ti[i de`i\a mi`-Chairman tal- Bord.

47. Il-Bord ikollu s-setg]a li j]arrek kull persuna biex tixhed

jew biex tipprodu`i kotba jew dokumenti o]ra quddiemu, u `­

Chairman tal-Bord ikollu, relattivament g]at-ta]rik u e\ami ta’ xhieda quddiem il-Bord, l-istess setg]at kif mog]tija bil-Kodi`i ta’ Organizzazzjoni u Pro`edura ~ivili lill-Prim’Awla tal-Qorti ~ivili.

48. (1) Il-pro`edimenti tal-Bord g]andhom isiru fil-pubbliku u d-de`i\joni tal-Bord g]andha ti[i notifikata lill-partijiet bil-posta re[istrata fl-indirizz tan-negozju jew privat rispettiv tag]hom u, jekk ma ji[ix pruvat il-kuntrarju, dik id-de`i\joni g]andha titqies li tkun [iet notifikata lill-parti interessata mhux aktar tard mit-tielet [urnata li ta]bat wara l-[urnata meta [iet impustata lil dik il-parti.

(2) Il-Ministru jista’ jag]mel regolamenti li jirregolaw il­ pro`edimenti quddiem il-Bord u jista’, ming]ajr ]sara g]all­ [eneralit à ta’ dak hawn aktar qabel imsemmi, jag]mel
regolamenti ­
(a) li jippreskrivu l-mod li fih kull ]a[a tista’ tintbg]at quddiem il-Bord;
(b) li jippreskrivu l-pro`edura li g]andha ti[i adottata mill-Bord meta jittratta xi ]a[a mibg]uta lilu skond dan l-Att u r-records li g]andhom jin\ammu mill- Bord;
(`) li jippreskrivu l-mod li bih il-Bord g]andu ji[i msejja]
u l-post fejn il-Bord g]andu j\omm is-seduti tieg]u; (d) li jippreskrivu skala ta’ multi, spejje\ u drittijiet; u
(e) b’mod [enerali g]at-tmexxija a]jar tal-funzjonijiet mog]tija lill-Bord b’dan l-Att.

49. (1) Ikun hemm dritt ta’ appell mid-de`i\jonijiet kollha tal- Bord.

(2) Kull appell g]andu jin[ieb quddiem il-Qorti ta’ l-Appell mag]mul bil-mod kif hemm provdut fis-subartikolu (6) ta’ l­ artikolu 41 tal-Kodi`i ta’ Organizzazzjoni u Pro`edura ~ivili
b’rikors fi \mien ]mistax il-jum min-notifika tad-de`i\joni tal- Bord.
(3) Il-Ministru responsabbli g]all-[ustizzja jista’ jag]mel regoli li jkunu jirregolaw l-appelli quddiem il-Qorti ta’ l-Appell skond dan l-Att, u li jippreskrivu skala ta’ spejje\ u drittijiet dwar dawk l-appelli.

50. L-ispejje\ u d-drittijiet dwar pro`eduri quddiem il-Bord u quddiem il-Qorti ta’ l-Appell g]andhom jit]allsu mill-partijiet

Astensjoni u riku\a.

Kap. 12.

Setg]a ta’ ta]rik. Kap. 12.

Pro`edimenti.

Dritt ta’ appell.

Emendat:

VI. 2001.34.

Kap. 12.

Spejje\ u drittijiet.

30 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

Rifjut jew pattijiet mhux ra[onevoli dwar ritrasmissjoni jew xandir mill­ [did bil-cable.

Awtorizzazzjoni lill-collecting societies.

Twaqqif u inkorporazzjoni ta’ collecting

societies.

}idmiet ta’ collectign societies.

Metodi ta’ t]addim ta’ collecting societies.

Obbligazzjonijiet ta’ utenti ta’ xog]lijiet lejn collecting societies.

Sorveljar ta’ collecting societies.

Xoljiment ta’ collecting societies. Kap. 16.

b’dak il-mod kif l-imsemmi Bord jew Qorti, skond il-ka\, jidde`iedi.

51. (1) F’kull ka\ meta jidher lill-Bord li collecting society

jew proprjetarju ta’ drittijiet ta’ l-awtur jew drittijiet vi`ini ­
(a) ikun qieg]ed ji`]ad ming]ajr ra[uni li jag]ti li`enza dwar ir-ritrasmissjoni jew xandir mill-[did bil-cable, jew
(b) ikun qieg]ed jimponi pattijiet jew kondizzjonijiet mhux ra[onevoli g]all-g]oti ta’ dik il-li`enza,
il-Bord jista’ jordna li, relattivament g]all-g]emil ta’ xi att li
jirriferixxi g]al xi xog]ol li fih il- collecting society jew il­
proprjetarju, skond il-ka\, ikun interessat, li`enza g]andha titqies li
tkun [iet mog]tija mill-collecting society jew mill-proprjetarju fil­
waqt li jkun sar l-att, kemm-il darba d-drittijiet xierqa stabbiliti minn dak il-Bord ikunu t]allsu jew [ew offruti qabel ma jg]addi dak il-perjodu jew dawk il-perjodi li l-Bord jista’ jidde`iedi dwarhom.
(2) Il-Ministru jista’ b’regolamenti jordna li d-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dan l-artikolu ma g]andhomx jibqg]u fis-se]] minn data li ti[i msemmija f’ordni b]al dik.
TAQSIMA XI
AMMINISTRAZZJONI KOLLETTIVA
TA’ DRITTIJIET

52. Awturi u sidien o]ra tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur u ta’ drittijiet

vi`ini jistg]u jawtorizzaw collecting society tamministralhom id­
drittijiet ekonomi`i tag]hom.

53. M]assar bl-Att IX. 2003.99.

54. M]assar bl-Att IX. 2003.99.

55. M]assar bl-Att IX. 2003.99.

56. M]assar bl-Att IX. 2003.99.

57. M]assar bl-Att IX. 2003.99.

58. M]assar bl-Att IX. 2003.99.

DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR [KAP. 415. 31


TAQSIMA XII
REGOLAMENTI

59. Il-Ministru jista’ jag]mel regolamenti g]all-a]jar implimentazzjoni tad-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dan l-Att u, ming]ajr pre[udizzju g]all-[eneralit à ta’ dawk hawn qabel imsemmi, jista’ b’dawk ir-regolamenti:

(a) jordna kull ]a[a li tista’ ti[i ordnata ta]t dan l-Att;
(b) jintrodu`i bidliet sabiex jestendi l-protezzjoni mog]tija b’dan l-Att lil kull forma o]ra ta’ proprjetà intellettwali li ma tkunx xort’o]ra protetta b’dan l-Att skond ma jista’ ji[i provdut b’istrument internazzjonali li jkun jobbliga lil Malta;
(`) jibdel u jer[a’ jda]]al fis-se]] i\-\mien tal­
protezzjoni skond ma jista’ ji[i provdut f’istrument
internazzjonali li jkun jobbliga lil Malta;
(d) jibdel id-drittijiet u limitazzjonijiet tag]hom skond ma jista’ ji[i provdut f’istrument internazzjonali li jkun jobbliga lil Malta;
(e) jippreskrivi x’ikunu l-funzjonijiet tal-Bord dwar id- Drittijiet ta’ l-Awtur;
(f) jipprovdi dwar affarijiet li jkollhom x’jaqsmu ma’ collecting societies, partikolarment dwar it-twaqqif tag]hom, ]idmiet, mod ta’ operazzjoni, g]emil u approvazzjoni ta’ drittijiet u s-supervi\joni tag]hom.
TAQSIMA XIII
PROVVEDIMENTI TRANSITORJI

60. (1) Dan l-Att japplika:

(a) relattivament g]al xog]lijiet mag]mula wara l-bidu fis-se]] ta’ dan l-Att; u
(b) salvi d-disposizzjonijiet tas-subartikolu (2), g]al xog]lijiet mag]mula qabel il-bidu fis-se]] ta’ dan l- Att meta l-perjodu ta’ protezzjoni ma jkunx, mal-bidu fis-se]] ta’ dan l-Att, skeda ta]t l-Att dwar id- Drittijiet ta’ l-Awtur, im]assar b’dan l-Att.
(2) (a) Id-drittijiet ta’ artisti g]ar-rigward tal-fissazzjoni tal­ wirja tag]hom fuq fonogram biex jipprevjenu il­ fissazzjoni tal-wirja mhux fissata tag]hom li tkun saret
qabel il-bidu fis-se]] ta’ dan l-Att u r-riproduzzjoni ta’
dik il-fissazzjoni meta din tkun saret ming]ajr l­
awtorizzazzjoni tag]hom u d-drittijiet ta’ artisti biex
jipprevjenu x-xandir b’mezzi ming]ajr fili u l­
komunikazzjoni lill-pubbliku tal-wirja tag]hom
filwaqt li tkun qeg]da ssir meta din issir ming]ajr l­
awtorizzazzjoni tag]hom g]andhom ikunu protetti ta]t
dan l-Att sa tmiem perijodu ta’ ]amsin sena li jibda g]addej minn tmiem is-sena kalendarja li fiha tkun

Setg]a li jsiru regolamenti. Sostitwit:

IX. 2003.100.

Applikazzjoni g]al xog]lijiet.

32 KAP. 415.] DRITTIJIET TA’ L-AWTUR

saret il-wirja. B’dan li dawn id-drittijiet ji[u e\er`itati permess ta’ collecting society.
(b) Id-dritt ta’ produtturi ta’ re[istrazzjonijiet bil-]oss li jsiru qabel il-bidu fis-se]] ta’ dan l-Att biex ti[i
awtorizzata jew ipprojbita l-kirja ta’ dawk ir­
re[istrazzjonijiet bil-]oss g]andu jkun protett ta]t dan l-Att g]al \mien ta’ ]amsin sena li jibdew g]addejin minn tmiem is-sena kalendarja li fiha tkun saret ir­ re[istrazzjoni bil-]oss. B’dan li dawn id-drittijiet ji[u
e\er`itati permess ta’ collecting society.
(`) Id-detentur ta’ dritt tad-drittijiet ta’ l-awtur g]ar­
rigward ta’ xog]ol letterarju li jkun jikkonsisti fi programm tal- computer biex jawtorizza jew jipprojbixxi il-kiri ta’ dak il-programm g]andu jkun protett sa tmiem perijodu ta’ ]amsin sena li jibda g]addej minn tmiem is-sena kalendarja li fiha l-awtur
ta’ dak il-programm tal-computer imut.
(3) Ma tista’ tittie]ed ebda azzjoni ta]t dan l-Att g]ar-rigward
ta’ xi ]a[a li tkun saret qabel il-bidu fis-se]] ta’ dan l-Att g]ar­
rigward ta’ drittijiet rikonoxxuti b’dan l-Att i\da li ma kienux rikonoxxuti bl-Att dwar id-Drittijiet ta’ l-Awtur, im]assar b’dan l- Att.


Legislation Supersedes (1 text(s)) Supersedes (1 text(s)) Is superseded by (3 text(s)) Is superseded by (3 text(s))
No data available.

WIPO Lex No. MT019