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Change Would Eliminate Jail
For Photocopying Educational Material
Photocopying books and other materials by
students is way of life due to the high
costs of the original documents and in many
cases copies are not available, as students'
only recourse is to copy the only original
copy available.
The Ley de los Derechos de Propiedad
Intelectual (Intellectual Property law)
stipulates prison for the photocopying of
original works, including the photocopying
of school books.
However, students now have support as the
Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) has said it
will support reforms to the law to eliminate
the sanction of prison.
The proposal was made by legislator José
Marino of the Frente Amplio party who says
that everyone should be able to copy
protected material without fear of having to
go to jail as long as the copying is for
educational purposes.
Many copy centres have been refusing the
copying of school books for the fear of
having to go to jail, placing students in
economic hardships faced with have to buy
expensive originals.
The intellectual property law calls for a
jail term of 6 months to 5 years for anyone
reproducing literary works without the
express permission of the author, in
addition to a fine of up to 500 base
salaries.
The Merino proposal calls for photocopy shop
owners not to be persecuted when reproducing
educational material required by students as
long as the copied material is not being
produced for resale, and to remove the
prison term, leaving only the monetary
sanctions for violating the law.
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