Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 13. Regulation › Copyright and software

Copyright and software

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

Copyright arises without any filing, and lasts for life plus 70 years after the DR-CAFTA changes. Software lasts 70 years from publication. Registration is optional and gives a rebuttable presumption, while piracy offenses carry prison and fines of 50 to 1,000 monthly minimum salaries.

Key facts

Copyright term after death	70 yearsLey 65-00 art. 21, Ley 424-06, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Software term	70 yearsLey 65-00 art. 25, Ley 424-06, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Registration required	No textLey 65-00 art. 154, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. Protection is independent of any formality. Not registering costs no rights, and registration only sets a rebuttable presumption.Ley 65-00 sobre Derecho de Autor, art. 154, 2000-08-21 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. The author's economic rights last for life plus 70 years.Ley 424-06 de Implementación del DR-CAFTA, art. 36, restating Ley 65-00 art. 21, 2006-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30 · changed: Ley 424-06 raised the term from 50 years.

3. Collective works and software last 70 years from publication. If unpublished within 50 years of creation, the 70 years run from creation.Ley 424-06 de Implementación del DR-CAFTA, art. 36, restating Ley 65-00 art. 25, 2006-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. The national copyright registry records works, and the first certificate is free.Ley 65-00 sobre Derecho de Autor, art. 149 and art. 153, 2000-08-21 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Listed offenses cost six months to three years in prison and 50 to 1,000 monthly minimum salaries.Ley 424-06 de Implementación del DR-CAFTA, art. 56, restating Ley 65-00 art. 169, 2006-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Step by step

Put copyright assignment in staff and contractor contracts.
Register key software for the presumption.
Audit software licenses.
Keep creation records.

Common traps

The law's printed term of 50 years is stale.
Check the 424-06 text before quoting any Ley 65-00 article.
Registration needs no fee for the first certificate, so skipping it saves little.

Sources

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