Copyright in Oman: Protecting Works and Software

Every original intellectual creation — from a book to a computer program to a video — is protected in Oman by the Copyright and Related Rights Law, Royal Decree 65/2008, without any requirement of prior registration: protection arises from the act of creation itself. Said Ibrahim Ambusaidi Advocates (SIA), based in Al Khoudh, Muscat, protects works, drafts their exploitation contracts, and litigates infringements.

Which works does the law protect?

The law’s first article defines the author as the natural person who creates the work, and the work as any production in the literary, artistic, or scientific fields, whatever its type or mode of expression. Under Article 2, protection extends to original works regardless of their value or the purpose of their creation, and covers in particular: books, articles, and other written works; computer programs and databases; musical, dramatic, and audiovisual works; photography, drawing, architecture, and more.

Notably, the protection of software and databases is express statutory text: copying code, or replicating a database whose selection and arrangement are original, is an infringement treated no differently from pirating books and artistic works.

What rights does the author hold?

The author holds two families of rights. Moral rights, attached to their person and incapable of assignment: attribution of the work, deciding its first publication, and preventing distortion or mutilation prejudicial to their reputation. And economic rights, open to exploitation and disposition: reproducing the work, translating it, distributing it, renting it, and communicating it to the public by any means. The owner of the economic rights may license others to exploit them under contracts defining scope, term, and consideration.

This is where most practical disputes arise: software or content development contracts that never say who owns the output; an employee who creates in the course of employment; a designer who delivers the work but keeps the source files. The golden rule: document ownership of rights and licence scope in writing before any paid creative work begins.

How does an author confront infringement?

The right holder has a complete toolkit: documenting the infringement the moment it is spotted, with attested captures and records; a takedown warning, which ends many online infringements; a civil action to stop the infringement and recover material and moral damages; and criminal accountability for the offences the law defines against protected rights, with seizure and confiscation powers over infringing copies. The claim strengthens with proof of priority: dated drafts, first-publication records, and voluntary deposits where available.

Conversely, businesses must beware of unlicensed use of others’ works — images, clips, fonts, software — since ignorance of protection does not excuse liability.

Key facts

• Copyright in Oman is governed by the Copyright and Related Rights Law RD 65/2008, with protection arising on creation without registration.
• Protection covers written, artistic, and audiovisual works — and computer programs and databases expressly, under Article 2.
• The author’s moral rights — attribution and integrity of the work — cannot be assigned.
• Economic rights — reproduction, distribution, communication to the public — may be licensed and assigned by written contracts.
• Tools against infringement: documentation, warnings, actions for cessation and damages, and criminal accountability with seizure of copies.
• In paid development and design work, document ownership of the output and the licence scope in writing before starting.

When to involve a lawyer

Before contracting for any creative work — development, design, or content — to fix ownership of the rights in the contract. When you discover piracy of your work or its unlicensed commercial use. And when you yourself receive an infringement warning, to assess its seriousness and respond correctly before it turns into a lawsuit.

At Said Ibrahim Ambusaidi Advocates (SIA) we draft intellectual-property contracts and exploitation licences, document infringements and issue warnings, and litigate copyright cases civilly and criminally across Oman. The first consultation is free by phone or WhatsApp on +968 9706 3030. We are based in Al Khoudh, Seeb, Muscat, and work Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, in Arabic and English.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice.