Copyright notes

Copyright notes

Per U.S. Circ. 38a., Ethiopia is not a participant in the Berne Convention or any other treaty on copyright with the United States.

As such, works published by citizens of Ethiopia in Ethiopia are usually not subject to copyright protection outside of these countries. Hence, such works may be in the public domain in most other countries worldwide.

However
  • Works published in Ethiopia by citizens or permanent residents of other countries that are signatories to the Berne Convention or any other treaty on copyright will still be protected in their home country and internationally as well as locally by local copyright law.
  • Similarly, works published outside of Ethiopia within 30 days of publication within these countries will also usually be subject to protection in the foreign country of publication. When works are subject to copyright outside of these countries, the term of such copyright protection may exceed the term of copyright inside them.
  • Unpublished works from Ethiopia may be fully copyrighted.
  • A work from Ethiopia may become copyrighted in the United States under the URAA if Ethiopia enters a copyright treaty or agreement with the United States and the work is still under copyright in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has enacted a copyright law as published in the Official Gazette (unofficial English (WIPO) translation) which came into force on 19 July 2004.