The Dominican Republic’s National Copyright Office (ONDA) has officially declared the national anthem a protected asset of the state, firmly establishing its public domain status and rejecting any claims of private ownership. José Rubén Gonell, Director of ONDA, emphasized that the anthem falls under state administration and protection according to existing legislation.
Gonell disclosed that a comprehensive review was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and collective management societies to investigate potential unauthorized registration attempts. The investigation confirmed that no individual or entity has successfully claimed copyright over the national anthem within the Dominican Republic.
The legal foundation for the anthem’s status traces back to Law 700 of 1934, which officially adopted the lyrics by Emilio Prud’Homme and music by José Reyes. This legislation effectively placed the composition in the public domain from its inception.
Regarding digital platform controversies, Gonell explained that automated monetization systems sometimes improperly allocate royalties to content uploaders without verifying legitimate intellectual property rights. While musical arrangements and performances may generate rights for performers or arrangers, these derivative works do not affect the original composition’s protected status.
Looking forward, ONDA is developing new regulatory measures addressing artificial intelligence-generated content, including specialized declaration forms to distinguish human and automated contributions. The office reported a significant surge in copyright registrations between 2020-2025 and advocated for legislation requiring major international digital platforms to maintain local legal representation for improved dispute resolution and enforcement capabilities.