# Law No. 3126 of April 18, 1957

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649621](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649621)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-3126-of-april-18-1957

## Summary
Law No. 3126 of April 18, 1957, is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to extend the duration of copyright protection terms. Approved by President Juscelino Kubitschek and published in Rio de Janeiro, it functions as a formal legal instrument within the jurisdiction of Brazil, modifying the timeframe for the enjoyment of authorial rights.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 3126, de 18 de abril de 1957
- **Alternative Title:** Lei nº 3126/1957
- **Type of Legal Instrument:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Date of Publication:** April 18, 1957
- **Place of Publication:** Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil
- **Promulgated By:** Juscelino Kubitschek (President of Brazil)
- **Method of Approval:** Promulgation
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Law Digest Summary:** "CONCEDE DILATAÇÃO DO PRAZO PARA A FRUIÇÃO DE DIREITOS AUTORAIS" (Grants extension of the deadline for the enjoyment of copyright)
- **Main Subject:** Increase (Aumento) and Time limit (Prazo)
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-18;3126
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3126.htm
- **Wikimedia Project Status:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 3126?**
Law No. 3126 grants an extension to the deadline for the enjoyment of copyright protections in Brazil. Its main subjects are "increase" (Aumento) and "time limit" (Prazo), focusing on the duration of rights.

**Who approved Law No. 3126 and when did it take effect?**
The law was approved via promulgation by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Juscelino Kubitschek. It was officially published on April 18, 1957, in Rio de Janeiro.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The full text is available digitally at the Planalto government website (https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3126.htm) and is indexed under the Lexml Brazil ID: urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-18;3126.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 3126 of April 18, 1957, serves as a significant modification to Brazil's intellectual property framework by specifically legislating the extension of copyright terms. This statute directly impacts the rights of authors and their heirs, ensuring that the legal protection of creative works extends beyond previous time limits. By formalizing the "dilatação do prazo" (extension of the deadline), the law alters the economic and legal landscape for copyrighted materials in Brazil, preserving the value and control of authorial works for a longer duration.

## Notable For
- **Copyright Extension:** Explicitly grants an extension for the enjoyment of copyright (direitos autorais).
- **Historical Enactment:** Promulgated during the presidency of Juscelino Kubitschek, a notable period of Brazilian modernization.
- **Legal Classification:** Formally classified as a statute, a foundational legal concept equivalent to `https://schema.org/Legislation`.
- **Digital Preservation:** Officially archived and accessible via the Brazilian government's Planalto portal and the Lexml system.
- **Subject Classification:** Uniquely tagged with the subjects "increase" (Aumento) and "time limit" (Prazo).

## Body

### Classification as a Statute
Law No. 3126 is legally classified as a **statute**, a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it serves as a manifestation of statutory law and is composed of legal norms. It was created through the act of legislation and follows the process of draft laws. In the context of knowledge systems, a statute is a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," distinct from general legal acts but resulting in statutory law. Statutes are typically considered public domain documents in jurisdictions like the United States and France, as they are official legal documents.

### Legislative Details and Approval
The statute was officially published on **April 18, 1957**, in the city of **Rio de Janeiro**. At the time of publication, Rio de Janeiro served as the capital of Brazil; the capital would not be moved to Brasília until April 22, 1960.

The approving authority for Law No. 3126 was the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The law was promulgated by **Juscelino Kubitschek**, who served as President of Brazil. The determination method for the law's approval was "promulgation."

### Subject Matter and Scope
The core function of Law No. 3126 is defined in its law digest: "CONCEDE DILATAÇÃO DO PRAZO PARA A FRUIÇÃO DE DIREITOS AUTORAIS" (Grants extension of the deadline for the enjoyment of copyright). The law addresses two specific main subjects:
- **Increase:** (Stated as "Aumento" in the source)
- **Time limit:** (Stated as "Prazo" in the source)

This legal instrument applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**.

### Identifiers and Access
The law is indexed within Brazilian legal systems and global knowledge bases with the following identifiers and access points:
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 3126/1957
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-18;3126
- **Official URL:** The work is available at https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l3126.htm.
- **Wikidata Description:** Described simply as a "Brazilian law."
- **WikiProject Status:** The law is included on the focus list of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its relevance for documentation and study within that project.

### Contextual Geography (Brazil)
As a federal law, this statute applies to the Federative Republic of Brazil, the largest country in South America. In 1957, Brazil was operating as a federal republic with its capital in Rio de Janeiro. The country is characterized by its Portuguese colonial history, having declared independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822. The official language of the law, Brazilian Portuguese, reflects this heritage. Brazil operates under a civil law system where statutes serve as primary sources of legal authority.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1957-04-18;3126)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=3126&ano=1957&data=18/04/1957&ato=22bkXUq5UMNRVTfed)
3. LexML Brasil