Selected year snapshot
For 2011, the active event in this file is Law No. 3 of 2011 on Amendments to Law on Trademarks and Law on Copyright.
60%
Current rationale
Law No. 3 of 2011 amended both the trademarks law and the copyright law (Law No. 22 of 2006). The full text of this amendment could not be retrieved via web search. Based on the consolidated text available, the exceptions in Articles 19 and 20 do not appear to have been materially changed by this amendment. The classification remains LIGHT BLUE based on the same analysis: Art. 19(1) personal copy exception remains the most permissive for research use.
Exceptions considered
Single personal copy for exclusively personal use of the copier, subject to three-step test
Quotation of excerpts from lawfully published works
Use for illustration for teaching
Reproduction by libraries, documentation centres, educational/scientific institutions
Law changes
Legislative Decree No. 10 of 1993 with Respect to Copyright Law
Baseline · Effective 1993-01-01
?
Relevant section: Articles 10–14
Dates: Effective 1993-01-01 · Enacted 1993-01-01
Why this score
The baseline copyright law in force on 1990-01-01 in Bahrain was Legislative Decree No. 10 of 1993, which actually entered into force in 1993, not 1990. Prior to 1993, Bahrain did not have a dedicated copyright statute. The 1993 law contained exceptions in Articles 10–14 covering personal/private use, quotation, and educational use. However, I was unable to retrieve the full verbatim text of the 1993 law via web search to confirm the exact wording of the exceptions. The WIPO Lex page for this law exists but the full text was not accessible in the search results. Because I cannot verify the actual statutory text of the exceptions, I classify this as AMBIGUOUS. The law was referenced in the preamble of the 2006 replacement law, confirming it existed and was in force from 1993 until repealed by Law No. 22 of 2006.
Exceptions considered
Personal/private use exception — details unverified as full text not retrieved
Quotation exception — details unverified
Source links
Legislative Decree No. 22 of 2006 with Respect to the Protection of Author's Rights and Attendant Rights
Relevant update · Effective 2006-01-01
60%
Relevant section: Articles 19, 20, 21, 22
Dates: Effective 2006-01-01 · Enacted 2006-01-01
Why this score
Law No. 22 of 2006 replaced the 1993 copyright law entirely. The most permissive research-relevant exception is Article 19(1), which permits a single personal copy for exclusively personal use, subject to a three-step-test qualifier. This covers reproduction of full works but is restricted to personal/private use by individuals only, and does not authorize sharing or communication. Article 20(1) permits quotation of excerpts only (not full works). Article 20(2) permits use for teaching illustration, which is educational rather than research-focused and limited to the extent justified by the purpose. Article 20(3) permits reproduction by libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, educational institutions, or scientific institutions in the interest of the public, limited to the needs of their activities — this is an institutional exception (PURPLE) but does not clearly authorize sharing/communication beyond the institution. The most permissive exception for a researcher is Article 19(1) — personal copy of a full work for exclusively personal use. This maps to LIGHT BLUE: reproduction of full works permitted, but restricted to individuals acting privately, no sharing authorized. The institutional exception in Art. 20(3) is PURPLE but is less permissive than LIGHT BLUE in the hierarchy because it restricts users to institutions. Non-commercial restriction and single-copy limit are classification-neutral factors and were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Single personal copy for exclusively personal use of the copier, subject to three-step test
Quotation of excerpts from lawfully published works, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose
Use for illustration for teaching in publications, broadcasts, recordings — compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose
Reproduction by libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, educational institutions, or scientific institutions in the interest of the public, limited to needs of their activities
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 19 — Without prejudice to the moral rights of the author under this Law, the author may not, after the publication of the work, prevent third parties from carrying out any of the following acts: 1- Performing a single personal copy of the work for the exclusively personal use of the person making the copy, provided that such copy shall not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work and does not cause unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author or the copyright holder. Article 20 — Without prejudice to the moral rights of the author under this Law, the following acts shall be permitted without the authorization of the author and without payment of any compensation: 1- Quoting excerpts from a work that has been lawfully made available to the public, provided that such quotation is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose, including quotations from newspaper articles and periodicals in the form of press summaries. 2- Using the work for illustration for teaching purposes in publications, broadcasts or sound or visual recordings, provided that such use is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose. 3- Reproduction of a work by libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, educational institutions or scientific institutions, where the reproduction is made in the interest of the public and provided that such reproduction and the number of copies made are limited to the needs of their activities.
Source links
Law No. 12 of 2008 amending Law No. 22 of 2006
Relevant update · Effective 2008-01-01
60%
Dates: Effective 2008-01-01 · Enacted 2008-01-01
Why this score
Law No. 12 of 2008 amended Law No. 22 of 2006. Based on the consolidated text header, the 2008 amendment substituted 'Minister of Finance' with 'the concerned Minister of customs affairs' wherever mentioned. This appears to be an administrative/institutional change related to customs enforcement, not a change to the exceptions and limitations provisions. The research-relevant exceptions (Articles 19 and 20) remained unchanged. The classification remains LIGHT BLUE based on the same analysis as the 2006 baseline: Art. 19(1) personal copy exception is the most permissive for research use.
Exceptions considered
Single personal copy for exclusively personal use of the copier, subject to three-step test
Quotation of excerpts from lawfully published works
Use for illustration for teaching
Reproduction by libraries, documentation centres, educational/scientific institutions
Source links
Law No. 3 of 2011 on Amendments to Law on Trademarks and Law on Copyright
Relevant update · Effective 2011-01-01
60%
Dates: Effective 2011-01-01 · Enacted 2011-01-01
Why this score
Law No. 3 of 2011 amended both the trademarks law and the copyright law (Law No. 22 of 2006). The full text of this amendment could not be retrieved via web search. Based on the consolidated text available, the exceptions in Articles 19 and 20 do not appear to have been materially changed by this amendment. The classification remains LIGHT BLUE based on the same analysis: Art. 19(1) personal copy exception remains the most permissive for research use.
Exceptions considered
Single personal copy for exclusively personal use of the copier, subject to three-step test
Quotation of excerpts from lawfully published works
Use for illustration for teaching
Reproduction by libraries, documentation centres, educational/scientific institutions
Source links
Law No. 5 of 2014 amending some provisions of Law No. 22 of 2006 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights
Relevant update · Effective 2014-01-01
60%
Dates: Effective 2014-01-01 · Enacted 2014-01-01
Why this score
Law No. 5 of 2014 is the most recent amendment to the copyright law. The consolidated text (as amended up to Law No. 5 of 2014) is available from bahrain.bh. Based on the consolidated text, the exceptions in Articles 19 and 20 remain substantively the same. The classification remains LIGHT BLUE: Art. 19(1) permits a single personal copy for exclusively personal use (full works, any type, but restricted to individual private use, no sharing). No TDM exception has been introduced.
Exceptions considered
Single personal copy for exclusively personal use of the copier, subject to three-step test
Quotation of excerpts from lawfully published works
Use for illustration for teaching in publications, broadcasts, recordings
Reproduction by libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, educational/scientific institutions in the interest of the public
Source links
Legislative Decree No. 22 of 2006 with Respect to the Protection of Author's Rights and Attendant Rights (as amended up to Law No. 5 of 2014)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2014-01-01
60%
Relevant section: Articles 19, 20
Dates: Effective 2014-01-01 · Enacted 2014-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the copyright law in force in Bahrain is Legislative Decree No. 22 of 2006 as amended by Laws No. 12 of 2008, No. 3 of 2011, and No. 5 of 2014. No further amendments to the exceptions provisions have been identified. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Article 19(1): a single personal copy for exclusively personal use. This permits reproduction of full works of any type but is restricted to individuals acting privately and does not authorize sharing, communication, or distribution. This maps to LIGHT BLUE. Article 20(3) provides an institutional exception (PURPLE) for libraries and scientific institutions but is more restrictive in the color hierarchy because it limits users to institutions. Article 20(2) covers teaching illustration (potentially GREEN individually as 'use' covers any exclusive right), but it is specifically for 'teaching' purposes, not research as a standalone purpose. Even if Art. 20(2) were read to cover research conducted in educational settings, the most clearly applicable exception for a researcher copying a full work remains Art. 19(1). No TDM-specific exception exists. Non-commercial restriction and single-copy limit in Art. 19(1) are classification-neutral factors. No amendments to the copyright exceptions have been identified between 2014 and 2025.
Exceptions considered
Single personal copy for exclusively personal use of the copier, subject to three-step test. Covers full works, any type, but restricted to individual private use only, no sharing.
Quotation of excerpts from lawfully published works, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose. Limited to excerpts only.
Use for illustration for teaching purposes in publications, broadcasts, recordings. Compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose. Open to any user but limited to teaching illustration.
Reproduction by libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, educational institutions, or scientific institutions in the interest of the public, limited to needs of their activities. Institutional users only, reproduction only.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 19 — Without prejudice to the moral rights of the author under this Law, the author may not, after the publication of the work, prevent third parties from carrying out any of the following acts: 1- Performing a single personal copy of the work for the exclusively personal use of the person making the copy, provided that such copy shall not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work and does not cause unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author or the copyright holder. Article 20 — Without prejudice to the moral rights of the author under this Law, the following acts shall be permitted without the authorization of the author and without payment of any compensation: 1- Quoting excerpts from a work that has been lawfully made available to the public, provided that such quotation is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose, including quotations from newspaper articles and periodicals in the form of press summaries. 2- Using the work for illustration for teaching purposes in publications, broadcasts or sound or visual recordings, provided that such use is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose. 3- Reproduction of a work by libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, educational institutions or scientific institutions, where the reproduction is made in the interest of the public and provided that such reproduction and the number of copies made are limited to the needs of their activities.