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Abstract
Omani Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law of 2008 contains a list of exceptions to the exclusive rights of copyright holders. These exceptions allow people to copy and use copyrighted materials in certain cases without paying any fees or obtaining any permission from the copyright holders. The exceptions cover free uses for purposes like teaching, education, quotation in another work, dissemination of news etc. However, the Omani Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law puts many conditions for such free uses. Some of these conditions mirror similar conditions under the Berne Convention and other copyright conventions to which Oman is a party. Other conditions under Omani law are more restrictive than those that appear under international conventions. These additional conditions restrict the scope of free uses of copyrighted materials in Oman. Yet, some countries like USA and Canada, despite their being parties to the same international conventions, have much wider exceptions under their national legislation. The paper, therefore, recommends that Oman should follow the legislative approach of those countries in order to widen the scope of copyright exceptions for the benefits of users of copyrighted materials in Oman.
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References
- Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, April 15, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1C, Legal Instruments-Results of the Uruguay Round vol. 3, 1869 U.N.T.S. 299, (1994) 33 I.L.M. 81 [cited as TRIPS Agreement].
- Band, J., and Gerafi, J. (2015), The Fair Use/Fair Dealing Handbook, (last access date: August 14, 2018), retrieved from http://infojustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fair-use-handbook-march-2015.pdf
- Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, Sept. 9, 1886, as last revised in July 24, 1971, amended Oct. 2, 1979, S. Treaty Doc. No. 99-27, 828 U.N.T.S. 221 [cited as Berne Convention].
- Billah, M. M., and Albarashdi, S. (2018), Fair or Free Use of Copyrighted Materials in Education and Research and the Limit of Such Use, Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property, 17, 422-448.
- Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. §§101-808 (1976) (USA).
- Copyright Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42 (Canada).
- Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law, Royal Decree 65/2008 (Oman) [cited as Copyright Law of Oman].
- Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the Harmonisation of Certain Aspects of Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society [cited as EC Directive].
- Geiger, C., Gervais, D., and Senftleben, M. (2014), The Three-Step Test Revisited: How to Use the Test’s Flexibility in National Copyright Law, American University International Law Review 29, 581-626.
- Gendreau, Y. (2011), Intellectual Property Colloquium Series: Canada and the Three-Step Test: A Step in Which Direction?, Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review, 15, 309-323.
- Gervais, D. J. (2005), Towards a New Core International Copyright Norm: The Reverse Three-Step Test, Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review, 9, 1-35.
- Goldstein, P., and Hugenholtz, P. B (2010) (2nd ed.), International Copyright: Principles, Law, and Practice, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Nabhan, V. (2009), Study on Limitations and Exceptions for Copyright For Educational Purposes in the Arab Countries, Geneva: World Intellectual Property Organization.
- Okediji, R. (2009), Toward an International Fair Use Doctrine, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 39, 75-175.
- Ricketson, S. (1987), The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works: 1886-1986, London: University of London, and Kluwer.
- U.S. Copyright Office (2014), Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians, (Circular 21), Washington, DC: Library of Congress.
- UNESCO and WIPO (1976), Tunis Model Law on Copyright for Developing Countries, Geneva: UNESCO and WIPO.
- WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, December 20, 1996, S. Treaty Doc. No. 105-17, (1997) 36 I.L.M. 65; and c., December 20, 1996, S. Treaty Doc. No. 105-17, (1997) 36 I.L.M. 76
- World Intellectual Property Organization (1971), Records of the Intellectual Property Conference of Stockholm: June 11 to July 14, 1967 Geneva: World Intellectual Property Organization.
- World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty, December 20, 1996, S. Treaty Doc. No. 105-17, (1997) 36 I.L.M. 65 [cited as WCT]
- Wright, R. (2009), The “Three-Step Test” and the Wider Public Interest: Towards a More Inclusive Interpretation, The Journal of World Intellectual Property, 12, 600-621.
References
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, April 15, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1C, Legal Instruments-Results of the Uruguay Round vol. 3, 1869 U.N.T.S. 299, (1994) 33 I.L.M. 81 [cited as TRIPS Agreement].
Band, J., and Gerafi, J. (2015), The Fair Use/Fair Dealing Handbook, (last access date: August 14, 2018), retrieved from http://infojustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fair-use-handbook-march-2015.pdf
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, Sept. 9, 1886, as last revised in July 24, 1971, amended Oct. 2, 1979, S. Treaty Doc. No. 99-27, 828 U.N.T.S. 221 [cited as Berne Convention].
Billah, M. M., and Albarashdi, S. (2018), Fair or Free Use of Copyrighted Materials in Education and Research and the Limit of Such Use, Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property, 17, 422-448.
Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. §§101-808 (1976) (USA).
Copyright Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42 (Canada).
Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law, Royal Decree 65/2008 (Oman) [cited as Copyright Law of Oman].
Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the Harmonisation of Certain Aspects of Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society [cited as EC Directive].
Geiger, C., Gervais, D., and Senftleben, M. (2014), The Three-Step Test Revisited: How to Use the Test’s Flexibility in National Copyright Law, American University International Law Review 29, 581-626.
Gendreau, Y. (2011), Intellectual Property Colloquium Series: Canada and the Three-Step Test: A Step in Which Direction?, Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review, 15, 309-323.
Gervais, D. J. (2005), Towards a New Core International Copyright Norm: The Reverse Three-Step Test, Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review, 9, 1-35.
Goldstein, P., and Hugenholtz, P. B (2010) (2nd ed.), International Copyright: Principles, Law, and Practice, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Nabhan, V. (2009), Study on Limitations and Exceptions for Copyright For Educational Purposes in the Arab Countries, Geneva: World Intellectual Property Organization.
Okediji, R. (2009), Toward an International Fair Use Doctrine, Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 39, 75-175.
Ricketson, S. (1987), The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works: 1886-1986, London: University of London, and Kluwer.
U.S. Copyright Office (2014), Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians, (Circular 21), Washington, DC: Library of Congress.
UNESCO and WIPO (1976), Tunis Model Law on Copyright for Developing Countries, Geneva: UNESCO and WIPO.
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, December 20, 1996, S. Treaty Doc. No. 105-17, (1997) 36 I.L.M. 65; and c., December 20, 1996, S. Treaty Doc. No. 105-17, (1997) 36 I.L.M. 76
World Intellectual Property Organization (1971), Records of the Intellectual Property Conference of Stockholm: June 11 to July 14, 1967 Geneva: World Intellectual Property Organization.
World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty, December 20, 1996, S. Treaty Doc. No. 105-17, (1997) 36 I.L.M. 65 [cited as WCT]
Wright, R. (2009), The “Three-Step Test” and the Wider Public Interest: Towards a More Inclusive Interpretation, The Journal of World Intellectual Property, 12, 600-621.