By a decree issued on March 5, 1994, the duration of copyright protection in Egypt for computer software has been extended from 20 years to 50 years. The amendment has been effected by canceling a previous specific provision of the law limiting the term of copyright protection for computer software to 20 years and now simply by classifying computer software as a "literary work" to which the normal 50-year term applies. The classification of computer software as a literary work also clarifies that there is no need to deposit a copy of the work in order to secure protection (it will be recalled that the Berne Convention precludes a requirement for deposit in order to obtain protection for "literary and artistic works" but contains no such provision in respect of any other type of work that may be protected by copyright under national law).

June 1994 Index