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Singapore, Criminal Sanctions Infringement

Singapore, Criminal Sanctions Infringement

The Copyright (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament on November 16, 2004. The relative changes will take place on January 1, 2005. The Bill introduces criminal sanctions for willful infringement and in cases where the extent of infringement is significant and/or where it is for commercial advantage. Penalty for a first offence is $20,000 and/or 6 months’ imprisonment. Subsequent offences are punished by a $50,000 charge and/or 3 years’ imprisonment. Typical scenarios contemplated in the Bill are uploading and downloading on the Internet, multiple software installation without license, and copying material for advance in business.