The Copyright Act of Singapore has been amended on 1st July 2004 and 1st January 2005 to address issues concerning Copyright Term and Rights for the digital environment respectively.
A) Extension of Copyright Term
The term of copyright protection for literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works has been extended from “life of the author” plus an additional 50 years to “life of the author” plus 70 years. With the extension, the owners of the aforementioned copyright works will be able to control the use of the works for an additional 20 years.
B) Refining Rights for the Digital Environment
Prior to 1 Jan 2005, Singapore provided for rights to (a) broadcast the work and (b) include the work in a cable programme.
The references to the right of broadcast and inclusion in a cable program were repealed as of 1 Jan 2005 and a new technologically neutral, more encompassing “Right of Communication to the public” replaced existing provisions.
“Communicate” is defined as “to transmit by electronic means (whether over a path or combination of paths or otherwise) a work or other subject matter, whether or not it is sent in response to a request and includes:
(a) Broadcasting
(b) Inclusion in a cable programme
(c) The making available of the work in such a way that the work or subject matter may be accessed by any person from a place and at a time chosen by him.”