What is the duration of the copyright in Botswana? The answer to this question depends on the creator and the creation. The country’s laws extend two kinds of rights to the creator – moral rights and economic rights.

According to the moral rights, the creator may or may not indicate their name/pseudonym on the copy. They also have the right to waiver this, in writing. Under the economic rights, the creator may reproduce, translate, adapt, transform, lend, display, broadcast or make any use of the creation or authorize someone to do so.

The details of the duration of Botswana copyright are as follows:

1. The creation of a single entity has copyright protection during the lifetime of the creator and 50 years after his/her death

2. The creation of two entities has protection during the lifetime of the last surviving creator and 50 years after his/her death

3. The creation of multiple entities (more than two) has protection for 50 years since completion of the work, publication of the work or public availability of the work (the latest date among the three options)

4. An anonymous creation, or something under a pseudonym, has protection for 50 years since completion of the work, publication of the work or public availability of the work (the latest date among the three options)

5. In case of an applied art, the copyright protection is for 25 years from the completion of the work

Note: The ‘copyright protection’ includes both economic and moral rights.

The best way to understand the protection and the way to avail it, it is essential to get in touch with a Botswana copyright lawyer. He/she can help you get the economic and moral rights of your creation the legal way. The lawyer is capable of handling any dispute regarding the copyright.