Summary
Copyright Law No. 36 of 1994 governs the protection of copyright in Tunisia. Although the law was published in the Official Gazette in 1994, but until now, no procedure has been implemented for the registration of copyright.
Protection is granted to authors of literary, artistic and scientific works whatever the value, kind or purpose or way of expression is. Generally, the protection is provided for the works whose means of expression is writing, sound, drawing, image or motion picture. It also includes creative titles and computer software which are published, acted or displayed for the first time in Tunisia. Such works are protected for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years following his/her death, while the protection period of software is for 25 years from the grant.
The National Council for Culture is entitled to authorize documentary, translations, educational, cultural or scientific use under certain conditions.
The Civil Court prosecutes all copyright acts of contravention and is entitled to confiscate revenues and counterfeit copies.
Tunisia is a member of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the Universal Copyright Convention.