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Extract of Mauritian Copyright Act 1997.

Section 18 - Copyright Act 1997

Reproduction and adaptation of computer programs

(1) The reproduction in one copy or the adaptation of a computer program, shall be permitted, without the authorisation of the author of, or other owner of copyright in, a computer program, by the lawful owner of that computer program, where the copy or adaptation is necessary-

(a) for the use of the computer program, in conjunction with a computer for the purpose, and to the extent, for which the computer program has been obtained;

(b) for archival purposes, and, for the replacement of the lawfully owned copy of the computer program in the event that the lawfully obtained copy of the computer program is lost, destroyed or rendered unusable.

(2) No copy or adaptation referred to in subsection (1) shall be used for any purpose other than the ones determined in subsection (1), and any such copy or adaptation shall be destroyed in the event that continued possession of the copy of the computer program ceases to be lawful.

Section 20 - Copyright Act 1997

Distribution of copies of works

(1) Where a work has been published by means of the sale of copies to the public, such copies may, without the author's authorisation and without payment of remuneration, be redistributed by means of sale.

(2) The right of rental shall not apply to rentals of computer programs, where the computer program is not the essential object of the rental.

Offences

3. (a) Any person who commits an offence shall,

(i) on a first conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 300,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.

(ii) on a second or subsequent offence be liable to a fine not exceeding 500,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 8 years.