Höfundaréttur

Höfundaréttur refers to copyright law in Iceland. It protects the exclusive rights of creators over their original works. This includes literary, artistic, dramatic, and musical creations. The purpose of höfundaréttur is to grant authors and artists control over how their works are used, distributed, and reproduced. It encourages creativity by providing creators with legal and economic incentives.

In Iceland, höfundaréttur arises automatically upon the creation of an original work, without the need for formal registration. The duration of copyright protection is generally for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years after their death. Specific exceptions and limitations exist, such as provisions for private copying, educational use, and citation, though these are often subject to strict conditions.

Infringement of höfundaréttur can lead to legal action, including civil remedies like injunctions and damages, and in some cases, criminal penalties. The Icelandic Copyright Act, known as lög um höfundarrétt, governs these matters and is largely harmonized with international copyright treaties and European Union directives. It is administered by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.