Selected year snapshot
For 2024, the active event in this file is The Copyright Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2001.
20%
Current rationale
Assessment of all exceptions in force under the 2001 Act:
1. Section 14 — Private reproduction for personal purposes: Permits reproduction of a single copy of a published work by a physical person for personal purposes. This covers reproduction only (not sharing/communication). It is restricted to individuals ('physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes'). It excludes works of architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs. Because it permits full-work reproduction but excludes specific categories of works, this exception standing alone would be ORANGE.
2. Section 15 — Quotation: Permits quotations only, not full-work reproduction. Standing alone this is RED.
3. Section 16 — Reproduction for teaching: Covers illustration for teaching, limited to short works or short extracts. Standing alone this is RED for research purposes (it is teaching-focused and limited to short extracts).
4. Section 17 — Library/archive reprographic reproduction: Limited to non-profit libraries/archives making a single copy of 'a published article, other short work or short extract of a work' for study, scholarship, or private research. This is limited to institutions (libraries/archives) AND limited to articles/short works/short extracts. Standing alone this would be RED (limited to short works/extracts) or at best PURPLE (institutional only) intersected with the short-work limitation.
The most permissive exception for research use is Section 14 (private reproduction for personal purposes). It permits reproduction of full works (a single copy of a published work) but excludes architecture, digital databases, and computer programs. It is limited to individuals and to reproduction only (no sharing). The exclusion of specific categories of works from full-work reproduction makes this ORANGE. The non-commercial/personal restriction and single-copy limit are classification-neutral factors and do not affect the color. The work-type exclusions (architecture, digital databases, computer programs) are the binding constraint that prevents a higher classification.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work in a single copy by a physical person exclusively for personal purposes. Excludes architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs.
Quotation from a published work, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose.
Reprographic reproduction for face-to-face teaching in educational institutions, limited to short works or short extracts.
Reprographic reproduction by non-profit libraries/archives of published articles, short works, or short extracts for study, scholarship, or private research of a physical person. Single copy, isolated occasions.
Law changes
Baseline
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
?
Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
No copyright statute has been identified as being in force in Bhutan on 1990-01-01. The Copyright Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan was enacted in 2001 and came into force on 17 July 2001. Prior to that date, no dedicated copyright legislation appears to have existed in Bhutan. Without a statutory text in force on 1990-01-01, no exceptions or limitations can be assessed. The status is AMBIGUOUS because there was no copyright law — meaning there were no statutory copyright restrictions on copying, but also no statutory exceptions framework.
The Copyright Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2001
Relevant update · Effective 2001-07-17
20%
Relevant section: Section 14 (Limitations on Copyright: Private Reproduction for Personal Purposes), Section 15 (Quotation), Section 16 (Reproduction for Teaching), Section 17 (Reprographic Reproduction by Libraries and Archives), Section 18 (Use of Works for the Benefit of Persons with Disabilities), Section 19 (Importation for Personal Purposes)
Dates: Effective 2001-07-17 · Enacted 2001-07-17
Why this score
Assessment of all exceptions in force under the 2001 Act:
1. Section 14 — Private reproduction for personal purposes: Permits reproduction of a single copy of a published work by a physical person for personal purposes. This covers reproduction only (not sharing/communication). It is restricted to individuals ('physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes'). It excludes works of architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs. Because it permits full-work reproduction but excludes specific categories of works, this exception standing alone would be ORANGE.
2. Section 15 — Quotation: Permits quotations only, not full-work reproduction. Standing alone this is RED.
3. Section 16 — Reproduction for teaching: Covers illustration for teaching, limited to short works or short extracts. Standing alone this is RED for research purposes (it is teaching-focused and limited to short extracts).
4. Section 17 — Library/archive reprographic reproduction: Limited to non-profit libraries/archives making a single copy of 'a published article, other short work or short extract of a work' for study, scholarship, or private research. This is limited to institutions (libraries/archives) AND limited to articles/short works/short extracts. Standing alone this would be RED (limited to short works/extracts) or at best PURPLE (institutional only) intersected with the short-work limitation.
The most permissive exception for research use is Section 14 (private reproduction for personal purposes). It permits reproduction of full works (a single copy of a published work) but excludes architecture, digital databases, and computer programs. It is limited to individuals and to reproduction only (no sharing). The exclusion of specific categories of works from full-work reproduction makes this ORANGE. The non-commercial/personal restriction and single-copy limit are classification-neutral factors and do not affect the color. The work-type exclusions (architecture, digital databases, computer programs) are the binding constraint that prevents a higher classification.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work in a single copy by a physical person exclusively for personal purposes. Excludes architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs.
Quotation from a published work, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose.
Reprographic reproduction for face-to-face teaching in educational institutions, limited to short works or short extracts.
Reprographic reproduction by non-profit libraries/archives of published articles, short works, or short extracts for study, scholarship, or private research of a physical person. Single copy, isolated occasions.
Original text
14. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, the private reproduction of a published work in a single copy shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. The permission under this sub-section shall not extend to reproduction: (a) of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (b) of the whole or a substantial part of a database in digital form; (c) of a computer program, except as provided in Section 22; (d) of any work in cases where reproduction would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright. 15. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, the following shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright: (i) the inclusion in a publication, broadcast, or other communication to the public, of quotations from a published work, provided that the quotation is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose, and provided that the source is indicated and the name of the author is mentioned; 17. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, any library or archive whose activities are not for profit may, without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, make a single copy of the work by reprographic reproduction: (a) where the work reproduced is a published article, other short work or short extract of a work, and where the purpose of the reproduction is to satisfy the request of a physical person, provided that: (1) the library or archive is satisfied that the copy will be used solely for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; (2) the making of the single copy is an isolated event occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; (b) where the copy is made in order to preserve and, if necessary in the case where the work would otherwise be lost, replace a copy, or to replace, in the permanent collection of another similar library or archive, a copy which has been lost, destroyed or rendered unusable. (ii) The permission under sub-section (i) shall not extend to reproduction: (a) of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (b) of the whole or a substantial part of a database in digital form; (c) of a computer program, except as provided in Section 22; (d) in cases where reproduction would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright.
English rendering
14. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, the private reproduction of a published work in a single copy shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. The permission under this sub-section shall not extend to reproduction: (a) of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (b) of the whole or a substantial part of a database in digital form; (c) of a computer program, except as provided in Section 22; (d) of any work in cases where reproduction would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright. 15. (i) the inclusion in a publication, broadcast, or other communication to the public, of quotations from a published work, provided that the quotation is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose, and provided that the source is indicated and the name of the author is mentioned; 17. (i) any library or archive whose activities are not for profit may, without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, make a single copy of the work by reprographic reproduction: (a) where the work reproduced is a published article, other short work or short extract of a work, and where the purpose of the reproduction is to satisfy the request of a physical person, provided that: (1) the library or archive is satisfied that the copy will be used solely for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; (2) the making of the single copy is an isolated event occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; (b) where the copy is made in order to preserve and, if necessary in the case where the work would otherwise be lost, replace a copy, or to replace, in the permanent collection of another similar library or archive, a copy which has been lost, destroyed or rendered unusable.
Source links
The Copyright Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2001
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
20%
Relevant section: Section 14 (Private Reproduction for Personal Purposes), Section 15 (Quotation), Section 16 (Reproduction for Teaching), Section 17 (Reprographic Reproduction by Libraries and Archives)
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the Copyright Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2001 remains the operative copyright statute. No amendments to the exceptions and limitations provisions have been identified through web search of the Office of the Attorney General of Bhutan, WIPO Lex, or other official sources. The same exceptions assessed in the 2001 baseline remain in force.
The most permissive exception for research use remains Section 14 (private reproduction for personal purposes), which permits a physical person to reproduce a single copy of a published work for personal purposes. This covers full-work reproduction but excludes: (a) works of architecture, (b) substantial parts of digital databases, and (c) computer programs. It covers reproduction only, not sharing/communication. It is limited to individuals.
The exclusion of specific categories of works from full-work reproduction makes this ORANGE. There is no fair use, fair dealing, general research exception, TDM exception, or three-step-test enabling clause in the Act. The library exception (Section 17) is more restrictive (limited to articles/short works/short extracts and to institutional actors). The quotation exception (Section 15) is limited to quotations (RED). No other exception provides broader coverage.
Classification-neutral factors noted but not affecting color: single-copy limit, personal/non-commercial restriction, three-step-test qualifier in Section 14(i)(d).
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work in a single copy by a physical person exclusively for personal purposes. Excludes architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs.
Quotation from a published work, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose.
Reprographic reproduction for face-to-face teaching in educational institutions, limited to short works or short extracts.
Reprographic reproduction by non-profit libraries/archives of published articles, short works, or short extracts for study, scholarship, or private research. Single copy, isolated occasions.
Original text
14. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, the private reproduction of a published work in a single copy shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. The permission under this sub-section shall not extend to reproduction: (a) of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (b) of the whole or a substantial part of a database in digital form; (c) of a computer program, except as provided in Section 22; (d) of any work in cases where reproduction would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright. 17. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, any library or archive whose activities are not for profit may, without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, make a single copy of the work by reprographic reproduction: (a) where the work reproduced is a published article, other short work or short extract of a work, and where the purpose of the reproduction is to satisfy the request of a physical person, provided that: (1) the library or archive is satisfied that the copy will be used solely for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; (2) the making of the single copy is an isolated event occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions;
English rendering
14. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, the private reproduction of a published work in a single copy shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. The permission under this sub-section shall not extend to reproduction: (a) of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (b) of the whole or a substantial part of a database in digital form; (c) of a computer program, except as provided in Section 22; (d) of any work in cases where reproduction would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright. 17. (i) any library or archive whose activities are not for profit may, without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, make a single copy of the work by reprographic reproduction: (a) where the work reproduced is a published article, other short work or short extract of a work, and where the purpose of the reproduction is to satisfy the request of a physical person, provided that: (1) the library or archive is satisfied that the copy will be used solely for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; (2) the making of the single copy is an isolated event occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions;