Copyright (Virgin Islands) Order (Revised 2020)

Summary

This is a consolidated Statutory Instrument extending the UK Copyright Act 1956 (as amended) to the Virgin Islands, together with related Orders in Council on international copyright conventions and organisations. It is not a Financial Services Commission regulatory instrument but a piece of general legislation, revised to show the law as at 1 January 2020. It sets out which provisions of the UK Copyright Act apply locally and how they are modified for the Virgin Islands context.

• Extension of UK law: Applies almost all provisions of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended by later UK Acts) to the Virgin Islands, excluding certain sections (e.g. 21B, 23-30, 32, 34, 35, 42, 44) and the Fourth and Fifth Schedules.
• Local modifications: Substitutes Virgin Islands institutions and officials for UK equivalents (e.g. Administrator in Council for Board of Trade, Treasurer for Commissioners of Customs and Excise) and converts UK currency amounts and penalty references into US dollar equivalents.
• Limitation period: Adds a six-year limitation period for commencing an action for infringement of copyright.
• International conventions: Extends the Copyright (International Convention) Order 1957, the Copyright (International Conventions) (Argentina) Order 1958, the Copyright (International Organisations) Order 1957, and the Copyright (Broadcasting Organisations) Order 1961 to the Virgin Islands, with modifications.
• 1985 amendment: The Copyright (Virgin Islands) (Amendment) Order 1985 further extends the Copyright Act 1956 (Amendment) Act 1982 and the Copyright (Amendment) Act 1983, excludes section 21B, and updates the penalty figures and provisions for sections 21 and 21A.

The Order is framework legislation defining the scope of copyright law in the Virgin Islands rather than imposing ongoing compliance duties on regulated financial services entities. It came into force on 11 October 1962 (with the 1985 amendment in force from 1 February 1986) and remains in effect as consolidated law.

Deadlines

• 11th October, 1962: Commencement of the Copyright (Virgin Islands) Order 1962.
• 1st February 1986: Commencement of the Copyright (Virgin Islands) (Amendment) Order 1985.
• six years from the date the right of action accrued: Limitation period for commencing an action for infringement of copyright.