The Universal Copyright Convention (UCC) was adopted at Geneva in 1952 by an international conference convened by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which is a specialist international institution that promotes international collaboration through education, science, culture and communication (Ryan, Parker and Brown, 2003, p.87). However, the Convention only came into force three years later, in 1955 (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1990, p.162). It was then that the UCC became one of the two principle international conventions protecting copyright (Jussawalla, 1992, p.6). The other is known as the Berne Convention.
The UCC was revised in Paris on 24 July, 1971 to bring it more inline with the Berne Convention, particularly in relation to the special concessions to developing countries (McKeough and Stewart, 1991, p.396), especially those in relation to translations, reproductions, public performances and broadcasting (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1990, p.162). It is possible for nations to join both Conventions, although the Berne Convention predominates (McKeough and Stewart, 1991, p.396). This means that two countries which are members of both, will abide by the Berne Convention, and as this is the case among most members, the UCC is largely irrelevant today.
The UCC requires member nations to provide for the adequate and effective protection of authors and other copyright proprietors in literary, scientific and artistic works (UNESCO, 2001). This includes writings, musical, dramatic and cinematographic works, and paintings, engravings and sculpture (UNESCO, 2001). However, unlike the Berne Convention which is automatic, the copyright symbol (©) must be applied to works in order to gain protection under the UCC (McKeough and Stewart, 1991, p.396). Furthermore, in certain nations belonging to the UCC, there are formalities of deposits, registration, notice and payment of fees before copyright is afforded to works (McKeough and Stewart, 1991, p.396). Furthermore the minimum term of copyright in member nations must be the life of the author plus 25 years, except for photographic works and works of applied art, which only have a 10 year term (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1990, p.162). However, like the Berne Convention, no signatory member of the UCC is to handle their domestic authors with more favourable copyright treatment than the authors of other signatory nations (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1990, p.162).
Commonwealth of Australia (1995) “Australian Treaty Series 1978 No 2,� retrieved October 16, 2004, from http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1978/2.html.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1990) Sydney: Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc
Jussawalla, M. (1992) The Economics of Intellectual Property in a World without Frontiers, New York: Greenwood Press, ISBN 031327620X.
McKeough, J. and A. Stewart (1991) Intellectual Property in Australia, Brisbane: Butterworths, ISBN 0409495719.
Ryan, N., R. Parker, and K. Brown (2003) Government, Business and Society, Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education Australia.
UNESCO (2001) Universal Copyright Convention as revised at Paris on 24 July 1971, retrieved October 16, 2004, from http://www.unesco.org/culture/laws/copyright/html_eng/page1.shtml.
Weena Tan 15:28, 22 Oct 2004 (EST)
