The copyright law was passed last year. All but one of the merchants that were selling DVDs has stopped. It is in plain sight to see and not only that but the one left behind is reaping all the benefits of our customers on the main street in George Town. Will this law be enforced? If not I shall resume peddling my DVDs.


Auntie’s answer: I have been chasing this question for quite a while, so the situation described may have changed by now. If that is the case, a similar scenario could still arise and, either way, I felt you deserve to get the answer.

The regulation you are referring to is The Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order 2015, which extended the UK’s Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to Cayman.

An explanation of what can be done if a person or business is infringing a copyright, in this case selling illegally copied DVDs, has come from the Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office (CIIPO), which falls under the General Registry.

According to the office, “Copyright is a private right and so it is up to the owner to decide how to enforce their right. If you believe someone is infringing on your copyright or the copyright of others, please visit the General Registry counter to make a complaint, following which the Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) will investigate and take action where necessary.”

The CIIPO added, “The filing of a complaint by businesses or members of the public is the most direct way to initiate enforcement action. It should be noted, however, that DCI utilises multiple sources of information and does have the power to launch investigations on their own initiative.”

Also important to note is that deliberate copyright infringement for commercial gain is a criminal offence, which can “result in substantial costs and even jail time”.

While you might think it a good idea to take a chance on somehow slipping through the regulatory cracks, the wiser choice may be to pack up those DVDs and go home.