The new Copyright Act, which came into force on 21 November 2021, has replaced the previous Copyright Act (Cap 63), introducing updates to strengthen copyright protection for the digital age.

 

While copyright may seem complex, here are some highlights to get you started.

 

(a)    What is Copyright?

Copyright is a legal right that protects the original works. It gives the creator control over how their work is used, reproduced, and distributed. A wide range of works such as books, articles, videos, music, drawings, photographs are protected by copyright.

 

(b)    How much can I legally copy?

You may copy a reasonable portion of an original work for your study or research under the ‘fair use’ provision, subject to the conditions set out in the Copyright Act.

For example,

• One chapter of a book (or around 10% of its content)
• One article from a journal

Downloading, sharing, or re‑using copyrighted materials beyond permitted use may require permission from the copyright owner.

 

(c)    Personal Responsibility and Liability
You are personally responsible and liable for any infringement of the Copyright Act.

 

For a quick overview of Copyright - Dos and Don’ts, you may visit Library Portal’s Understanding Copyright page.

 

Additional information can be found at the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore website.