Gambia Copyright Management Department
Gambia Copyright Management Department: www.ncac.gm
The copyright management authority of The Gambia is the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), with its official website at www.ncac.gm and headquarters in Banjul, the capital city. Operating under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the NCAC serves as the national institution responsible for copyright administration and the promotion of arts and cultural affairs in The Gambia. It is officially recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as one of the country's national intellectual property offices, alongside the Registrar General's Department.
The Gambia has been a member state of WIPO since 1980 and has ratified more than seven WIPO treaties. It is also a contracting state to the Agreement Establishing the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). Under the Gambia's Copyright Act of 2018, original literary, artistic, musical, and software works are automatically protected upon fixation in a tangible medium, without requiring formal registration. Nevertheless, creators may voluntarily register their works with the NCAC copyright office to establish a public record of ownership and facilitate enforcement against infringement. In November 2010, WIPO dispatched an expert mission to The Gambia to assess the copyright office, assist in establishing administrative procedures for copyright registration, develop necessary application forms, and train copyright officials. Beyond its copyright mandate, the NCAC is actively involved in compiling and maintaining The Gambia's National Intangible Cultural Heritage Register and promoting the creative industries as a driver of sustainable development and socio-economic growth.
