Georgia is a member of the Berne Convention, which provides automatic mutual protection in more than 170 member countries without any additional formalities.
Voluntary Registration with Sakpatenti
Although copyright arises automatically, voluntary registration with the National Intellectual Property Center "Sakpatenti" creates an official record of the creation date and authorship. This is particularly useful in priority disputes or court proceedings.
Documents required for registration: an application, a copy of the work, and an identity document of the author or rights holder. The exact list and applicable fees depend on the type of work.
Software and Databases
Software is protected as a literary work under copyright law. Additional protection for specific technical solutions can be obtained through a patent or trade secret arrangements. These instruments are not mutually exclusive and can be used together.
What a deposit with Sakpatenti gives you
The Law of Georgia on Copyright and Related Rights expressly confirms the rules described above: copyright arises from the moment a work is created and does not require registration or other formalities (Article 9). The law treats computer programs as literary works (Article 6).
Deposit is set out in Article 9-1. An author or rightholder may deposit the original or a copy of a work. The person named in the deposit certificate is deemed the author or rightholder unless proven otherwise. That is the practical value of a deposit: in a dispute, the burden of proof shifts to the other side.
Terms of protection
| Subject matter | Term of protection |
|---|---|
| Work | the author's life and 70 years after death (Article 31) |
| Anonymous or pseudonymous work | 70 years from lawful publication or communication to the public (Article 32) |
| Performance | 50 years from the first performance, 70 years for a performance fixed in a phonogram and lawfully made available (Article 57) |
| Phonogram and videogram | 50 years from first fixation, 70 years if lawfully made available within that period |
| Broadcast | 50 years from the first transmission |
If the author of an anonymous work is disclosed during the term of protection, the general term applies: the author's life plus 70 years. For the technical solutions behind a program, copyright may not be enough, and patent protection is then worth assessing.
FAQ
Is copyright registration required in Georgia?
No. The right arises automatically upon creation of the work. Registration is voluntary and serves as an evidentiary tool in disputes, but does not affect the existence of the right itself.
Does Georgian copyright protection apply in other countries?
Yes. Georgia is a Berne Convention member, so a work is protected in all member countries without separate registration abroad.
Is software code protected by copyright?
Yes. Software is protected as a literary work. An algorithm or technical solution underlying the software can be additionally protected by a patent.
How long does copyright last?
Copyright lasts for the lifetime of the author and 70 years after death.
Can a foreigner register copyright in Georgia?
Yes. Foreign individuals and companies may file an application with Sakpatenti. We can provide representation and document translation as needed.
What does depositing a work give me?
The deposit certificate creates a presumption of authorship: the person named in it is deemed the author or rightholder unless proven otherwise (Article 9-1 of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights). Deposit does not affect whether the right itself arises.
How long is an anonymous work protected?
70 years from the date of lawful publication or communication to the public. If the author is disclosed within that term, the general term applies: the author's life plus 70 years after death.
How long do performers' and producers' rights last?
A performer's rights last 50 years from the first performance, or 70 years if the performance is fixed in a phonogram and lawfully made available. A phonogram or videogram producer's rights last 50 years from first fixation and extend to 70 years if the recording is lawfully made available.