B dramatic works eg notes for a choreographic show or

b. Dramatic Works. Eg. Notes for a choreographic show or a mime show, if they are
in writing, and scripts for films.
c. Musical Works. Eg. Tunes and musical scores for songs or jingles
d. Artistic Works. Section 7(1) defines as paintings, sculptures, drawings,
engravings, photographs, buildings, or models for buildings, architectural
drawings, design drawings, maps, charts, graphs, and even logos
b) “ Subject matter other than works”. Comprise sound recordings (compact discs and
cassette tapes), cinematograph films (laser discs, video compact discs and digital video
discs), broadcasts (television and sound broadcast transmitted by wireless means), cable
programmes (transmission otherwise than by wireless means) and published editions of
work (published books, magazines and newspapers)
*For matters not listed in the Copyright Act, there is no copyright. Eg. One’s face or voice
Connection to Singapore
Must have connection to SG, means author must be a be qualified person at the time the work
first published, or work must be first published in SG ( section 27) The term “qualified person”
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BIZLAW CHEAT SHEET
refers to Singapore citizens or residents, or in the case of corporations, a corporation which is
incorporated under the written laws of Singapore.
If there is no connection, so long as the country where the author comes from or the work is first
published is under the Berne Convention (eg. USA, Britain, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong,
Malaysia), a Singapore copy-right holder enjoys copyrights in those countries and authors from
those countries enjoy copyrights in Singapore.
If there is still no connection, take it up in the country where the copyright applies.
Copyright extends for duration of the life of the author + 70 years (section 28(2))
If published after the death of the author’s death, 70 years after publishing.
• For Authors’ Works – Life plus 70 years.
• For Sound Recordings/Cinematograph Films – 70 years after it was first published.
• For Broadcasts – 50 years from the time it was first broadcast.
• For Published Editions of Works – 25 years from publication.
Ownership of
Copyrights
(Page 344)
Generally, authors or makers of work have copyright. unless contract provides otherwise, works
in employment belong to employer ( section 30(6)).
In relation to commission of a drawing/photograph/engraving, unless contract states otherwise,
copyright belongs to commissioner. ( section 30(5)).
Rights
conferred by
copyright
(page 345)
Section 26(1)(a) provides in relation to literary , dramatic and musical works, copyright gives the
proprietor has right to:
 Right to reproduce the work in material form,
 Publish the work (supply reproductions of the work to the public)
 Perform the work in public (visual or aural presentation to the public)
 Communicate the work to the public (transmit by electronic means/ broadcast to the
public)
 Make an adaptation of the work or do any of the above-mentioned acts in respect of the
adapted work (Translation, convert from 2d-3d)
In the case of artistic works, it is quite similar but there is no right to perform the work in public.