The new Copyright Act, which comes into force in mid-November 2021, replaces the existing Copyright Act (Cap. 63). The Act will update and enhance our copyright regime to take into account recent technological developments which have immensely impacted how copyright works are created, distributed, accessed, and used. It also seeks to future-proof our regime for further advancements.
This factsheet explains the key changes that businesses operating in Singapore should note, in particular:
- (a) new licences that may be required when using copyright-protected sound recordings;
- (b) changes to who owns copyright in the absence of a contract; and
- (c) new obligations to identify creators and performers when using their content publicly.
Flowcharts are included to illustrate how businesses should take into account these changes when using third-party content in two common scenarios: playing music on premises and streaming advertising or marketing videos online.
