President Dr. Muizzu on Tuesday ratified the first amendment to the Maldives' Copyright Act, introducing stricter penalties for violations, including fines ranging from MVR 50,000 to MVR 300,000, based on the severity of the offense.

The amendment bill, submitted to Parliament by the government and sponsored by Nilandhoo MP Fathimath Saudha of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), was passed unanimously during the 56th sitting of the 20th session on December 2, with the votes of all 57 MPs present.

The revised law extends the duration of copyright protections and broadens the scope of protected content to include audiovisual products, audio recordings, satellite broadcasts, internet-based content, and cable broadcasts.

It also ensures the protection of a product's copyright regardless of its quality, content, or presentation.

The amendments aim to safeguard the rights of original proprietors from unauthorized use of their creations for sale or rental purposes.

This is part of the government’s effort to strengthen intellectual property laws and promote ethical practices in content distribution.

Following ratification, the amendment has been published in the government gazette and will take effect three months from the publication date.