Dili, September 18, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Secretary of State for Arts and Culture (SEAK) held an Annual Seminar on Copyright, to promote awareness, protection and respect for copyright. This activity is also part of efforts to prepare for the implementation of the Copyright Code in Timor-Leste.
This seminar was supported by the European Union (EU) and international partners, including the International Trade Centre (ITC), with the objective to listen to and gather ideas, recommendations and contributions from associations, artists, academics and relevant parties on how to implement this law effectively.
According to the Secretary of State for Arts and Culture, Jorge Soares Cristovão, he said this seminar will present and explain again the content of the Copyright Law, and at the same time listen to ideas and suggestions from representatives from the arts sector, associations and foundations.
“Today’s activity is to review Law No. 14/2022, how we will implement this law, which Parliament has already approved. Therefore, today we are together with ITC, which is supported by the European Union, and we have invited representatives from music and art organizations, including academics. There will be a presentation about the law itself to sensitize the public again about the content of the law, and there will also be discussion to hear ideas from representatives from the arts sector, associations and foundations,” said Jorge Soares Cristovão in an interview with journalists at the SEAK Hall, Friday (18/09).
He added, the Government had previously carried out awareness activities about Copyright, but because of Timor-Leste’s accession to international organizations, some adjustments need to be made to harmonize with international standards.
“Before we have already done sensitization, but we see that with Timor-Leste’s accession to international organizations, we need to adjust some things to follow international standards. Therefore, we want to work together with ITC and get support from the European Union to do sensitization. From there, we will hear ideas to prepare the implementation Decree-Law,” he said.
He explained, this process is important to ensure that the law can protect artists and provide benefits to them, including recognizing and protecting the creative works they produce.
“As I said in the opening today, we want to hear a lot from the artists’ ideas, because that is our objective in the future: through this law, to protect artists, give good advantages to them and ensure that the works that artists produce can be recognized and protected,” he added.
He said further, before drafting the implementation Decree-Law on Copyright, SEAK needs to first hear ideas from all relevant entities. In a short time, SEAK will also hear ideas from the Court side regarding the proposed implementation Decree-Law.
“Therefore, before we produce the Copyright Code or this implementation Decree-Law, we need to hear all entities’ ideas. In some time, we also need to hear ideas from the Court side about this implementation Decree-Law,” he said.
SEAK, together with relevant ministries and international partners, will continue to hold discussions according to recommendations from artists, associations and academics. In the next phase, these recommendations will be considered in the process of drafting the implementation Decree-Law.
This activity shows the Government’s effort to strengthen protection for copyright and create an environment that can support the development of artists and the creative sector in Timor-Leste.
Report: Pedrito Dos Santos
Photo: Pedrito Dos Santos