Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

51.   Penalties in respect of dealings which infringe copyright

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    (1)   Any person who, without the licence of the copyright owner, at a time when copyright in a work subsists by virtue of this Act—

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      (a)     makes for sale or hire;

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      (b)     in the course of a business sells or lets for hire, or offers or exposes for sale or hire, exhibits in public or distributes;

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      (c)     imports into Saint Lucia for purposes other than his or her private and domestic use;

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      (d)     distributes otherwise than in the course of a business to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the owner of the copyright; or

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      (e)     possesses in the course of business with a view to committing any act infringing the copyright,

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    any article which he or she knows or has reason to believe is an infringing copy of that work, commits an offence.

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    (2)   Any person who, at the time when copyright subsists in a work by virtue of this Act makes or has in his or her possession an article specifically designed or adapted for making copies of a particular protected work, knowing that it is to be used for making infringing copies for sale or hire or for use in the course of business, commits an offence.

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    (3)   Any person who causes—

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      (a)     a literary, dramatic or musical work to be performed in public; or

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      (b)     a sound recording or film to be played, or as the case may be, shown in public,

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    (otherwise than by reception of a broadcast or cable programme) knowing or having reason to believe that copyright subsists in the work or that the performance constitutes an infringement of the copyright, commits an offence.

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    (4)   Any person who commits an offence under subsection (1)(b) is liable on summary conviction in the case of a first conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,500 for each article to which the offence related, and in the case of any subsequent conviction, to such a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.

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    (5)   Any person who commits an offence under this section other than an offence referred to in subsection (4) is liable on summary conviction in the case of a first conviction, to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and in the case of any subsequent conviction, to such a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months.