Selected year snapshot
For 2015, the active event in this file is Loi N° 2005-30 du 05 avril 2006 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur et des droits voisins en République du Bénin.
20%
Current rationale
As of 2025, Loi N° 2005-30 of 05 April 2006 remains the copyright law in force in Benin. No amending legislation affecting the exceptions and limitations provisions (Articles 15-27) was identified through web search. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Article 15 (private reproduction for personal use), which permits reproduction of full works for private use but explicitly excludes: entire books (reprographic), entire musical scores (graphic form), databases (digital, entirety or substantial part), computer programs, and architectural works as buildings. This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some categories (e.g., journal articles, audiovisual works, photographs, shorter literary works, sound recordings) but not for all categories. This is ORANGE: full-work reproduction is available for at least some types of works, but specific categories are carved out. The exception covers reproduction only (not sharing/communication) and is limited to private/personal use (individual users). No fair use, fair dealing, general research exception, or TDM exception exists in the law. Article 18 provides a library/institutional exception but is narrower (single copy for preservation/replacement/interlibrary loan). Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial purpose, single-copy limits, three-step-test qualifier in Art. 15(e)) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction for personal use of the user, excluding: architectural works as buildings, reprographic reproduction of entire books or musical scores, entirety/substantial part of digital databases, computer programs. Reproduction only, no sharing.
Short quotations from a lawfully published work, compatible with fair practice, for criticism, review, or illustration of teaching, with source attribution
Reproduction or communication for illustration of teaching in publications, broadcasts, or sound/visual recordings, to the extent justified by the purpose, compatible with fair practice, with source indication
Reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, educational establishments - single copy for preservation, replacement of lost/damaged copy, or to fulfill requests from other libraries
Reproduction of a single copy of a computer program by the lawful possessor for backup/archival purposes or adaptation necessary for use with a computer
Law changes
Loi N° 84-008 du 15 Mars 1984 relative à la Protection du Droit d'Auteur en République populaire du Bénin
Baseline · Effective 1984-03-15
60%
Relevant section: Articles 21-26
Dates: Effective 1984-03-15 · Enacted 1984-03-15
Why this score
The 1984 Copyright Act (Loi N° 84-008) was the law in force on 1990-01-01. Based on the partial text retrieved from the official Secrétariat général du Gouvernement download, the law includes provisions on moral rights (Articles 1-2) and patrimonial rights (exclusive rights of reproduction, representation, translation, etc.). The exceptions chapter of this law follows the model of many francophone African copyright laws of the era, typically including: (1) a private/personal reproduction exception limited to the copier's own use, (2) a quotation/short excerpt exception for criticism or illustration, and (3) educational use provisions. The full text of the exceptions articles (likely Articles 21-26 based on the structure of similar-era Benin law) could not be fully retrieved from the OCR'd PDF download. However, based on the structure visible and the francophone OAPI/Berne model this law follows, the most permissive research-relevant exception would be a private reproduction exception permitting an individual to make a copy for personal/private use. This is restricted to individuals (not institutions or any user broadly), covering reproduction only (not sharing/communication). No fair use, fair dealing, or general three-step-test enabling clause is typical of this era of Benin law. The classification is LIGHT BLUE based on the private use exception being the most permissive available for research purposes.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction for personal use of the copier, single copy, non-commercial
Quotation of short passages from a published work for criticism, review, or illustration
Source links
Loi N° 2005-30 du 05 avril 2006 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur et des droits voisins en République du Bénin
Relevant update · Effective 2006-04-05
20%
Relevant section: Articles 15-27 (Titre III: Des limitations du droit d'auteur)
Dates: Effective 2006-04-05 · Enacted 2006-04-05
Why this score
Loi N° 2005-30 replaced the 1984 law and introduced a detailed set of exceptions in Titre III (Articles 15-27). The most permissive research-relevant exception is Article 15, which permits reproduction of a work exclusively for the private use of the user without consent or remuneration. However, Article 15 explicitly excludes: (a) architectural works as buildings, (b) reprographic reproduction of the entirety of a book or musical work in graphic form, (c) the entirety or substantial part of a digital database, and (d) computer programs (except as per Art. 19). This means full-work reproduction IS permitted for some types of works (e.g., articles, audiovisual works, sound recordings, shorter literary works) but NOT for entire books, entire musical scores, databases, computer programs, or architectural works. This is a classic ORANGE pattern: full-work reproduction is available for at least some types of works but specific categories are carved out. The exception is limited to reproduction only (not sharing/communication) and to private use (individual users). Article 16 permits short quotations compatible with fair practice for criticism/review/illustration. Article 17 permits reproduction for teaching illustration. Article 18 covers reprographic reproduction by libraries/archives of a single copy for preservation or replacement. None of these are more permissive than Article 15 for general research purposes. There is no general fair use, fair dealing, or TDM exception. The three-step test language in Art. 15(e) operates as a limitation on the exception, not as an enabling clause. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, single-copy limits) were not factored into the color decision. The key factor driving ORANGE rather than LIGHT BLUE is the explicit exclusion of certain categories of works from the private reproduction right.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction for personal use of the user, excluding: architectural works as buildings, reprographic reproduction of entire books or musical scores, entirety/substantial part of digital databases, computer programs. Reproduction only, no sharing.
Short quotations from a lawfully published work, compatible with fair practice, for criticism, review, or illustration of teaching, with source attribution
Reproduction or communication for illustration of teaching in publications, broadcasts, or sound/visual recordings, to the extent justified by the purpose, compatible with fair practice, with source indication
Reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, educational establishments - single copy for preservation, replacement of lost/damaged copy, or to fulfill requests from other libraries
Reproduction of a single copy of a computer program by the lawful possessor for backup/archival purposes or adaptation necessary for use with a computer
Original text
Article 15. - Nonobstant les dispositions de l'article 9, sera licite, sans le consentement de l'auteur et sans paiement d'une rémunération, la reproduction d'une œuvre exclusivement pour l'usage privé de l'utilisateur, à l'exception de la reproduction : a) d'une œuvre d'architecture se présentant sous la forme d'un bâtiment ou d'une autre construction ; b) d'une œuvre reprographique d'une totalité d'un livre ou d'une œuvre musicale sous forme graphique ; c) de la totalité ou d'une partie substantielle d'une base de données sous forme numérique ; d) d'un programme d'ordinateur sauf dans les cas prévus à l'article 19 ; e) de toute œuvre dans les cas où la reproduction serait incompatible avec l'exploitation normale de l'œuvre ou causerait un préjudice injustifié aux intérêts légitimes de l'auteur.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 15. - Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 9, the reproduction of a work exclusively for the private use of the user shall be lawful, without the consent of the author and without payment of remuneration, with the exception of the reproduction of: a) a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; b) a reprographic reproduction of the entirety of a book or a musical work in graphic form; c) the entirety or a substantial part of a database in digital form; d) a computer program except in the cases provided for in Article 19; e) any work in cases where the reproduction would be incompatible with the normal exploitation of the work or would cause unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author.
Source links
Loi N° 2005-30 du 05 avril 2006 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur et des droits voisins en République du Bénin
Current law confirmation · Effective 2006-04-05
20%
Relevant section: Articles 15-19 (Titre III: Des limitations du droit d'auteur)
Dates: Effective 2006-04-05 · Enacted 2006-04-05
Why this score
As of 2025, Loi N° 2005-30 of 05 April 2006 remains the copyright law in force in Benin. No amending legislation affecting the exceptions and limitations provisions (Articles 15-27) was identified through web search. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Article 15 (private reproduction for personal use), which permits reproduction of full works for private use but explicitly excludes: entire books (reprographic), entire musical scores (graphic form), databases (digital, entirety or substantial part), computer programs, and architectural works as buildings. This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some categories (e.g., journal articles, audiovisual works, photographs, shorter literary works, sound recordings) but not for all categories. This is ORANGE: full-work reproduction is available for at least some types of works, but specific categories are carved out. The exception covers reproduction only (not sharing/communication) and is limited to private/personal use (individual users). No fair use, fair dealing, general research exception, or TDM exception exists in the law. Article 18 provides a library/institutional exception but is narrower (single copy for preservation/replacement/interlibrary loan). Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial purpose, single-copy limits, three-step-test qualifier in Art. 15(e)) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction for personal use of the user, excluding: architectural works as buildings, reprographic reproduction of entire books or musical scores, entirety/substantial part of digital databases, computer programs. Reproduction only, no sharing.
Short quotations from a lawfully published work, compatible with fair practice, for criticism, review, or illustration of teaching, with source attribution
Reproduction or communication for illustration of teaching in publications, broadcasts, or sound/visual recordings, to the extent justified by the purpose, compatible with fair practice, with source indication
Reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, educational establishments - single copy for preservation, replacement of lost/damaged copy, or to fulfill requests from other libraries
Reproduction of a single copy of a computer program by the lawful possessor for backup/archival purposes or adaptation necessary for use with a computer
Original text
Article 15. - Nonobstant les dispositions de l'article 9, sera licite, sans le consentement de l'auteur et sans paiement d'une rémunération, la reproduction d'une œuvre exclusivement pour l'usage privé de l'utilisateur, à l'exception de la reproduction : a) d'une œuvre d'architecture se présentant sous la forme d'un bâtiment ou d'une autre construction ; b) d'une œuvre reprographique d'une totalité d'un livre ou d'une œuvre musicale sous forme graphique ; c) de la totalité ou d'une partie substantielle d'une base de données sous forme numérique ; d) d'un programme d'ordinateur sauf dans les cas prévus à l'article 19 ; e) de toute œuvre dans les cas où la reproduction serait incompatible avec l'exploitation normale de l'œuvre ou causerait un préjudice injustifié aux intérêts légitimes de l'auteur.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 15. - Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 9, the reproduction of a work exclusively for the private use of the user shall be lawful, without the consent of the author and without payment of remuneration, with the exception of the reproduction of: a) a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; b) a reprographic reproduction of the entirety of a book or a musical work in graphic form; c) the entirety or a substantial part of a database in digital form; d) a computer program except in the cases provided for in Article 19; e) any work in cases where the reproduction would be incompatible with the normal exploitation of the work or would cause unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author.