By means of Law 565 dated February 2, 2000, the Colombian Congress approved the WIPO Copyright Treaty (hereinafter referred to as WCT) adopted in Geneva on December 20, 1996 that establishes the principles for the protection of copyrights in the digital media, adapting these rights to the new technologies.
Pursuant to Article 20 of the WCT, this treaty will enter into force three months after at least thirty Nations adhere to it.
On December 6, 2001 with the adherence of Gabon to the WCT, the adherence requirement by thirty States was fulfilled. Thus, the WCT will enter into force three months from that date, on March 6, 2002.
This treaty updates the Berne Treaty that was adopted in 866 and reviewed in 1971, and includes provisions for the protection of copyrights on the Internet.
The WCT is also important because it clarifies various issues that were not regulated before. For example: (i) that the right of reproduction is protected in the digital media; (ii) that the right of reproduction includes also the right of storage of information in any electronic media; and (iii) that the author has the right to contorl the spread of his work over the Internet. In addition, this treaty intorduces the concept of technological measures for the protection of the author's work.
The content of this article does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on in that way. Specific advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
