Restrictive Conditions for Free Uses of Copyrighted Materials under Omani Law and Their Implications for Users’ of Copyrighted Materials

Abstract

Omani Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law of 2008 contains a list of exceptions to the exclusive rights of copyright holders. These exceptions allow people to copy and use copyrighted materials in certain cases without paying any fees or obtaining any permission from the copyright holders. The exceptions cover free uses for purposes like teaching, education, quotation in another work, dissemination of news etc. However, the Omani Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law puts many conditions for such free uses. Some of these conditions mirror similar conditions under the Berne Convention and other copyright conventions to which Oman is a party. Other conditions under Omani law are more restrictive than those that appear under international conventions. These additional conditions restrict the scope of free uses of copyrighted materials in Oman. Yet, some countries like USA and Canada, despite their being parties to the same international conventions, have much wider exceptions under their national legislation. The paper, therefore, recommends that Oman should follow the legislative approach of those countries in order to widen the scope of copyright exceptions for the benefits of users of copyrighted materials in Oman.