Portuguese Copyright Registration Guide

Comprehensive Protection for Literary and Artistic Works in Portugal

Portugal's copyright registration process is relatively thorough and detailed, covering a wide range of works and providing multilayered protection for literary, artistic, and scientific creations. This detailed copyright registration guide highlights Portugal’s comprehensive regulations and rigorous enforcement in the domain of intellectual property protection.

Authority:

Portuguese Copyright Office, Inspeção-Geral das Atividades Culturais (IGAC), 🔗 https://www.igac.gov.pt/

Types of Works Eligible: 

Literary, scientific, or artistic works such as books, paintings, sculptures, music, and computer software copyrights.

Documents Required: 

For Literary, Scientific, and Dramatic Works, information required: 

1. Number of pages, sheets, volumes, and format
2. For dramatic works, approximate duration

For Musical Works (With or Without Lyrics), information required: 

1. Musical genre
2. Number of measures and approximate duration
3. Instrumental and vocal scores, and a copy of the score

For Dance Choreography and Pantomime, information required: 

1. Written description of stage movement
2. Recording of the work on a medium whose content can be examined by the registry

For Sculptures and Ceramic Works, information required: 

1. Material and technique used
2. Dimensions
3. Three photographs for three-dimensional layout

For Drawings, Tapestries, Paintings, and Tile Works, information required: 

1. Material, supporting medium, and technique used
2. Dimensions
3. Copy or photograph that allows full identification

For Comics, information required: 

1. Number of pages, sheets, or volumes
2. Copy or exemplar of the work

For Engraving, Lithographic Works, and Other Plastic Artworks, information required:

1. Printing technique
2. Support material
3. Matrix material, colors, and inks used during printing
4. Formats, circulation, and copy or photograph that allows complete identification

For Other Plastic Artworks (If Applicable)

1. Industrial models and design works
2. Materials used
3. Dimensions
4. Three photographs for three-dimensional layout (if applicable)
5. Written description facilitating identification of the work

For Photographic Works or Any Work Created by Similar Photographic Processes, information required:

1. Positive or slide copy
2. Date when the photograph was taken or reproduced

For Engineering Projects, Schemes, or Drawings, information required: 

1. Extract or written description enabling identification, including necessary graphics in DIN-A3 format with a reference graphic scale
2. Dates of establishment and dissolution of the working group when prepared by an officially constituted team of architects or engineers
3. Recording of the work on a medium whose content can be analyzed

For Models, information required: 

1. Scale
2. Three photographs for three-dimensional layout

For Maps or General Scientific Maps, Charts, and Illustrations, information required: 

1. Dimensions or scale
2. Copy allowing complete identification

For Computer Software Copyright, information required: 

1. Complete source code of the program to be submitted as a copy of the work
2. Executable file of the program
3. Brief description of the program
4. Programming language used
5. Compatibility of operating systems on which the program runs
6. File list
7. Flowchart

For Databases, information required: 

1. Database descriptive documentation
2. Systematic and methodological ordering criteria
3. Data access system
4. Recording of the work on a medium whose content can be verified
5. Data access mode

For Performances, information required: 

1. Written description of the interpretation, performance, or execution
2. Place and date of the performance, or if applicable, date of release of the recording
3. Title and author of the performed work
4. Recording of the work on a medium whose content can be verified

For Phonograms (Sound Recordings), information required: 

1. Title and, if applicable, identification of the author of the work fixed in the phonogram
2. Names of the main artists, performers, and participants
3. Declaration from the producer confirming authorization from the artists
4. Type of phonogram or recording system
5. Date of recording or release
6. Copy of the phonogram

For Audiovisual Works, information required: 

1. Written description of the production
2. Recording of the work on a medium whose content can be verified
3. Date of recording or release

Processing Time

IGAC will issue the copyright certificate within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the copyright registration application.
If documents or materials are missing, IGAC will contact the applicant by email and grant 30 days for correction.

• Submission Options
• Electronic submission
• Paper submission
• In-person delivery or postal mail