Public Consultation on the Proposed Copyright Bill

05 FEB 2021

Consultation Period:
5 February 2021 to 8 April 2021

MinLaw and IPOS are seeking views on the draft of a proposed Copyright Bill (“draft Bill”) to be introduced. The draft Bill will replace the current Copyright Act (Cap. 60, Rev. Ed. 2006).

Background

This consultation is part of an overall review of Singapore’s copyright regime. Public consultations were held on various proposals for amendments to the regime in 2016 and 2017, and a report was published in 2019 setting out our recommendations. A further consultation on a class licensing scheme for collective management organisations (“CMOs”) was held in 2020 pursuant to the recommendations in the 2019 Report.

Copies of the previous consultation papers and reports may be found at the links below:

Purpose of consultation

This consultation seeks views on whether the draft Bill will appropriately implement the changes that have been set out in the 2019 Report. We would particularly welcome feedback on:

  • Operational and implementation issues
  • Legal clarity and/or workability
  • Language and structure

At this point in time, we are not seeking views on the policy positions set out in the 2019 Report or any refinements that we have made to those positions in the course of preparing the draft Bill, save where otherwise indicated in the public consultation papers linked below.

Structure of public consultation

This public consultation will take place in two Parts. The first Part was released on 5 February and focuses on the draft Bill. The second Part was released on 22 February and focuses on the framework for regulating CMOs. The consultation for both Parts will end together on 1 April 2021.

Providing feedback

MinLaw and IPOS invite members of the public, particularly legal practitioners, academics, and affected stakeholders, to provide their feedback from 5 February 2021 to 1 April 2021.

Following feedback from the public, the consultation exercise will be extended by one week. It will now close on 8 April 2021 instead. We invite all interested parties to provide responses by then.

Feedback may be provided in writing either online via FormSG (link above) or following the instructions in Section 4 of the Part 1 Consultation Paper, or Section 3 of the Part 2 Consultation Paper.

Confidentiality of feedback received

MinLaw and IPOS reserve the right to make public all or part of any written submission. Commenting parties may request for confidentiality for any part of the submission that is believed to be proprietary, confidential or commercially sensitive. Any such information should be clearly marked.

Last updated on 22 Mar 2021