Protection of copyright and related rights is governed by Law No. 03-05 of 2003. The Implementing Regulations for the aforementioned law have not yet been passed.

The protection of copyright in Algeria is automatic without any formality according to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. Protection is granted to every Intellectual Property work of art no matter what its type, style, form of expression, value or purpose is.

Copyrightable works include written and oral works, computer software, dramatic and musical works, choreographic, cinematographic and photographic works, plastic and applied arts and folklore. Protection for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years following his/her death is granted.

The Ministry of Culture reserves the right to allow publication of the work of art, if the copyright holder has not done so, while providing the copyright holder or the heirs with fair compensation.

The Civil Court prosecutes all acts of copyright contravention and is entitled to confiscate revenues and counterfeit copies.