Member of Berne Convention:
No. However, Kuwait has been a member of the WTO since January 01, 1995. Accordingly, the provisions of the Berne Agreement are incorporated by reference into the TRIPS Agreement of the WTO.
Protection:
In March 1986, Kuwait joined the Arab Convention for the Protection of Copyright which was ratified by the conference of ministers of cultural affairs in Baghdad in November 1981. Accordingly, a copyright need not be granted or obtained in Kuwait through official registration. Once an idea has been reduced to tangible form in any member state of the Convention, the copyright holder, regardless of the nationality, is entitled to enforce his or her exclusive rights, provided that reciprocity was applied between his or her country and the member state.
Registration:
Possible for nationals only.
Duration:
Duration in general is the author's life plus 50 years following the author's date of death.
Works Protected:
Written works; Works communicated orally (lectures, addresses, religious sermons, or similar works); Dramatics and dramatico-musical works; Musical composition with or without words; Choreographic works and pantomimes; cinematography and audio-video broadcasting works; Works of drawing, painting, architecture sculpture, engraving and lithography; Photographic works; Works of applied art whether handicraft or produced by industrial process; Illustrations, maps, plans, sketches and three-dimensional works related to geography, topography, architecture or science; Computer works such as programs, databases, and similar works; Works derivative or translated (from original works).
Penalties:
Penalties include payment of fines of up to 500 Dinars (around 1,750 US Dollars) as well as legal prosecution resulting in a maximum of 1 year imprisonment terms.
