Laws Treaties Judgments Browse By Jurisdiction

Timor-Leste

Back

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Latest Version in WIPO Lex

Year of Version 2002

Dates

Entry into force: May 22, 2002

Adopted: March 20, 2002

Type of Text Constitution/Basic Law

Subject Matter Other

Notes Timor Leste, commonly known as East Timor, was internationally recognized as an independent republic on May 20, 2002 following centuries of Portuguese colonization from the 16th century, and then in the mid-1970, its annexation by Indonesia. On the same day also, the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste entered into force.

The Constitution contains provisions on intellectual property. Section 60 stipulates that “The State shall guarantee and protect the creation, production and commercialization of literary, scientific and artistic work, including the legal protection of copyrights.”

Timor-Leste is in the process of establishing the basic legal instruments that define its legal system. In September 2005, the Civil Procedure Code came into force and in March 2009, the Penal Code. More recently in September 2011, the Civil Code was promulgated by the President. The country does not yet have principal legislation that directly deals with intellectual property rights.

Available Texts

Main text(s)

Tetum Konstituisaun Repúblika Demokrátika Timor-Leste PDF HTML

English Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste PDF HTML

Portuguese Constituição da República Democrática de Timor-Leste PDF HTML

WIPO Lex No. TL001