Selected year snapshot
For 1999, the active event in this file is Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG).
20%
Current rationale
As of 1990-01-01, the most permissive research-relevant exception is § 53(2) No. 1 UrhG, which permits making individual copies of a work for one's own scientific use (eigener wissenschaftlicher Gebrauch), provided the reproduction is necessary for that purpose and does not serve commercial purposes. This exception covers reproduction of full works for scientific research. However, it does NOT cover sharing, communication, or distribution — it is limited to 'Vervielfältigungen' (reproductions) for one's own use. It is open to any user (not restricted to institutions), but the word 'eigenen' (own) limits it to personal/individual use. § 53(2) No. 1 would individually be LIGHT BLUE (personal scientific use, reproduction only, all works). However, § 53(4) (as in force at the time) excluded certain categories of works from the scope of § 53(1)-(2): specifically, § 53(4)(a) prohibited reproduction of a work of music (Noten eines Musikwerkes) by essentially writing it out or copying it, and § 53(4)(b) excluded essentially complete reproduction of books and periodicals under certain conditions. The exclusion of musical scores (Noten) from the reproduction right means that not all categories of works are covered. This work-type restriction makes the classification ORANGE rather than LIGHT BLUE. The non-commercial restriction and single-copy limit are classification-neutral factors and were not considered in the color assignment. No fair use, fair dealing, or three-step-test general clause existed in German law at this time.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction by a natural person for private use on any medium, not for commercial purposes
Individual copies for one's own scientific use, if necessary and non-commercial
Reproduction for inclusion in one's own archive using own copy as source
Other personal use limited to small parts of published works or individual journal articles, or out-of-print works
Quotations: reproduction and distribution of passages of a work for purposes of quotation in an independent work
Law changes
Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG)
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
20%
Relevant section: § 53
Dates: Effective 1990-01-01 · Enacted 1985-06-24
Why this score
As of 1990-01-01, the most permissive research-relevant exception is § 53(2) No. 1 UrhG, which permits making individual copies of a work for one's own scientific use (eigener wissenschaftlicher Gebrauch), provided the reproduction is necessary for that purpose and does not serve commercial purposes. This exception covers reproduction of full works for scientific research. However, it does NOT cover sharing, communication, or distribution — it is limited to 'Vervielfältigungen' (reproductions) for one's own use. It is open to any user (not restricted to institutions), but the word 'eigenen' (own) limits it to personal/individual use. § 53(2) No. 1 would individually be LIGHT BLUE (personal scientific use, reproduction only, all works). However, § 53(4) (as in force at the time) excluded certain categories of works from the scope of § 53(1)-(2): specifically, § 53(4)(a) prohibited reproduction of a work of music (Noten eines Musikwerkes) by essentially writing it out or copying it, and § 53(4)(b) excluded essentially complete reproduction of books and periodicals under certain conditions. The exclusion of musical scores (Noten) from the reproduction right means that not all categories of works are covered. This work-type restriction makes the classification ORANGE rather than LIGHT BLUE. The non-commercial restriction and single-copy limit are classification-neutral factors and were not considered in the color assignment. No fair use, fair dealing, or three-step-test general clause existed in German law at this time.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction by a natural person for private use on any medium, not for commercial purposes
Individual copies for one's own scientific use, if necessary and non-commercial
Reproduction for inclusion in one's own archive using own copy as source
Other personal use limited to small parts of published works or individual journal articles, or out-of-print works
Quotations: reproduction and distribution of passages of a work for purposes of quotation in an independent work
Original text
§ 53 Vervielfältigungen zum privaten und sonstigen eigenen Gebrauch (1) Zulässig sind einzelne Vervielfältigungen eines Werkes durch eine natürliche Person zum privaten Gebrauch auf beliebigen Trägern, sofern sie weder unmittelbar noch mittelbar Erwerbszwecken dienen, soweit nicht zur Vervielfältigung eine offensichtlich rechtswidrig hergestellte oder öffentlich zugänglich gemachte Vorlage verwendet wird. (2) Zulässig ist, einzelne Vervielfältigungsstücke eines Werkes herzustellen oder herstellen zu lassen 1. zum eigenen wissenschaftlichen Gebrauch, wenn und soweit die Vervielfältigung zu diesem Zweck geboten ist und sie keinen gewerblichen Zwecken dient, 2. zur Aufnahme in ein eigenes Archiv, wenn und soweit die Vervielfältigung zu diesem Zweck geboten ist und als Vorlage für die Vervielfältigung ein eigenes Werkstück benutzt wird, 3. zur eigenen Unterrichtung über Tagesfragen, wenn es sich um ein durch Funk gesendetes Werk handelt, 4. zum sonstigen eigenen Gebrauch, a) wenn es sich um kleine Teile eines erschienenen Werkes oder um einzelne Beiträge handelt, die in Zeitungen oder Zeitschriften erschienen sind, b) wenn es sich um ein seit mindestens zwei Jahren vergriffenes Werk handelt.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: § 53 Reproductions for private and other personal use (1) Individual reproductions of a work by a natural person for private use on any medium are permissible provided they serve neither directly nor indirectly commercial purposes, insofar as no obviously unlawfully produced or made publicly available source is used for the reproduction. (2) It is permissible to produce or have produced individual copies of a work 1. for one's own scientific use, if and to the extent that the reproduction is necessary for that purpose and does not serve commercial purposes, 2. for inclusion in one's own archive, if and to the extent that the reproduction is necessary for that purpose and one's own copy of the work is used as the source, 3. for one's own information about current events, if the work is a broadcast work, 4. for any other personal use, a) if it concerns small parts of a published work or individual articles published in newspapers or periodicals, b) if it concerns a work that has been out of print for at least two years.
Source links
Gesetz zur Regelung des Urheberrechts in der Informationsgesellschaft (Erstes Korb)
Relevant update · Effective 2003-09-13
20%
Relevant section: § 52a, § 53
Dates: Effective 2003-09-13 · Enacted 2003-09-10
Why this score
The 2003 amendment introduced § 52a, which for the first time permitted making works available to the public (öffentliche Zugänglichmachung) for scientific research. However, § 52a(2) limited this to 'published parts of a work, works of minor scope, and individual articles' — not full works of all types. This adds a sharing/communication right but only for partial works or small works. § 53(2) No. 1 still permits reproduction of full works for own scientific use, but with the exclusion of musical scores under § 53(4)(a). The combination means: reproduction of full works is available for research (§ 53(2) No. 1) but not for all work types (musical scores excluded), and communication/sharing is available but only for parts of works (§ 52a). The most permissive exception for full-work reproduction remains § 53(2) No. 1, which is ORANGE due to the musical scores exclusion. § 52a does not change this because it does not permit full-work reproduction/communication. The non-commercial restriction is classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Making available published parts of works, works of minor scope, and individual journal articles to a defined group for their own scientific research, non-commercial
Reproduction by natural person for private use, non-commercial
Individual copies for own scientific use, necessary and non-commercial; musical scores excluded by § 53(4)(a)
Quotation right
Original text
§ 52a Öffentliche Zugänglichmachung für Unterricht und Forschung (1) Zulässig ist, 1. veröffentlichte kleine Teile eines Werkes, Werke geringen Umfangs sowie einzelne Beiträge aus Zeitungen oder Zeitschriften zur Veranschaulichung im Unterricht an Schulen, Hochschulen, nichtgewerblichen Einrichtungen der Aus- und Weiterbildung sowie an Einrichtungen der Berufsbildung ausschließlich für den bestimmt abgegrenzten Kreis von Unterrichtsteilnehmern oder 2. veröffentlichte Teile eines Werkes, Werke geringen Umfangs sowie einzelne Beiträge aus Zeitungen oder Zeitschriften ausschließlich für einen bestimmt abgegrenzten Kreis von Personen für deren eigene wissenschaftliche Forschung öffentlich zugänglich zu machen, soweit dies zu dem jeweiligen Zweck geboten und zur Verfolgung nicht gewerblicher Zwecke gerechtfertigt ist.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: § 52a Making available to the public for teaching and research (1) It is permissible to 1. make available to the public published small parts of a work, works of minor scope, and individual articles from newspapers or periodicals for illustration in teaching at schools, universities, non-commercial institutions of education and training, and vocational training institutions, exclusively for a defined group of course participants, or 2. make available to the public published parts of a work, works of minor scope, and individual articles from newspapers or periodicals exclusively for a defined group of persons for their own scientific research, insofar as this is necessary for the respective purpose and justified for the pursuit of non-commercial purposes.
Source links
Zweites Gesetz zur Regelung des Urheberrechts in der Informationsgesellschaft (Zweiter Korb)
Relevant update · Effective 2008-01-01
20%
Relevant section: § 53, § 53a
Dates: Effective 2008-01-01 · Enacted 2007-10-26
Why this score
The 2008 amendment introduced § 53a, permitting public libraries to supply copies on demand (Kopienversand auf Bestellung) of individual journal articles and small parts of works, including by electronic means for scientific research purposes. This is a library/institutional exception for communication of partial works. It does not change the overall classification because: (1) § 53(2) No. 1 still permits full-work reproduction for own scientific use but excludes musical scores (ORANGE); (2) § 53a only covers articles and small parts, not full works; (3) § 52a remains in force for making available parts of works for research. The most permissive exception for full-work reproduction remains § 53(2) No. 1 (ORANGE due to musical scores exclusion).
Exceptions considered
Individual copies for own scientific use, necessary and non-commercial; musical scores excluded
Making available parts of works and small works to defined group for scientific research
Library supply of copies of articles and small parts on demand, including electronically for scientific research
Private reproduction by natural person, non-commercial
Quotation right
Original text
§ 53a Kopienversand auf Bestellung (1) Zulässig ist auf Einzelbestellung die Vervielfältigung und Übermittlung einzelner in Zeitungen und Zeitschriften erschienener Beiträge sowie kleiner Teile eines erschienenen Werkes im Wege des Post- oder Faxversands durch öffentliche Bibliotheken, sofern die Nutzung durch den Besteller nach § 53 zulässig ist. Die Vervielfältigung und Übermittlung in sonstiger elektronischer Form ist ausschließlich als grafische Datei und zur Veranschaulichung des Unterrichts oder für Zwecke der wissenschaftlichen Forschung zulässig, soweit dies zur Verfolgung nicht gewerblicher Zwecke gerechtfertigt ist.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: § 53a Supply of copies on demand (1) It is permissible, on individual order, for public libraries to reproduce and transmit individual articles published in newspapers and periodicals and small parts of a published work by post or fax, provided the use by the person ordering is permissible under § 53. Reproduction and transmission in other electronic form is permissible exclusively as a graphic file and for illustration in teaching or for purposes of scientific research, insofar as this is justified for the pursuit of non-commercial purposes.
Source links
Gesetz zur Angleichung des Urheberrechts an die aktuellen Erfordernisse der Wissensgesellschaft (UrhWissG)
Relevant update · Effective 2018-03-01
20%
Relevant section: § 60c, § 60d, § 60e
Dates: Effective 2018-03-01 · Enacted 2017-09-01
Why this score
The UrhWissG replaced § 52a and introduced new §§ 60a-60h. For research: § 60c permits reproduction of up to 75% of a work for own scientific research (para 2), and reproduction + distribution + making available of up to 15% for a defined group (para 1). Full works may be used only for illustrations, individual journal articles, works of minor scope, and out-of-print works (para 3). § 60d introduced a TDM exception permitting reproduction of source material and making the corpus available to a defined group for scientific research, but limited to research organizations, individual non-commercial researchers, libraries and archives. § 53(2) No. 1 was repealed for scientific use as § 60c became the lex specialis. Evaluating the most permissive exception: § 60d permits full-work reproduction for TDM and sharing of the corpus, but is restricted to specific user classes (research organizations, non-commercial researchers, libraries/archives — PURPLE for user restriction). § 60c(3) permits full use of certain work types (articles, small works, out-of-print works) including sharing, but not full books or other large works — this is a work-type restriction. § 60c(2) permits 75% reproduction for own research — not full works in general. The combination means full-work reproduction is available for some categories (articles, small works, out-of-print) but not all. This remains ORANGE. The TDM exception (§ 60d) permits full-work reproduction but restricts users to institutions/non-commercial researchers, which would be PURPLE individually, but since § 60c(3) already provides ORANGE-level access, the overall classification remains ORANGE.
Exceptions considered
Scientific research: up to 15% reproduction+distribution+making available for defined group; up to 75% reproduction for own research; full use of articles, small works, out-of-print works
TDM: full reproduction of source material and making corpus available to defined group; limited to research organizations, non-commercial researchers, libraries, archives
Libraries: reproduction and making available on dedicated terminals on premises; supply of copies on demand
Private reproduction by natural person, non-commercial
Quotation right
Original text
§ 60c Wissenschaftliche Forschung (1) Zum Zweck der nicht kommerziellen wissenschaftlichen Forschung dürfen bis zu 15 Prozent eines Werkes vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden 1. für einen bestimmt abgegrenzten Kreis von Personen für deren eigene wissenschaftliche Forschung sowie 2. für einzelne Dritte, soweit dies der Überprüfung der Qualität wissenschaftlicher Forschung dient. (2) Für die eigene wissenschaftliche Forschung dürfen bis zu 75 Prozent eines Werkes vervielfältigt werden. (3) Abbildungen, einzelne Beiträge aus derselben Fachzeitschrift oder wissenschaftlichen Zeitschrift, sonstige Werke geringen Umfangs und vergriffene Werke dürfen abweichend von den Absätzen 1 und 2 vollständig genutzt werden. (4) Nicht nach den Absätzen 1 bis 3 zulässig ist es, während öffentlicher Vorträge, Aufführungen oder Vorführungen eines Werkes diese auf Bild- oder Tonträger aufzunehmen und sie später öffentlich zugänglich zu machen. § 60d Text und Data Mining (1) Um eine Vielzahl von Werken (Ursprungsmaterial) zur Gewinnung von Informationen insbesondere über Korrelationen und Trends (Text und Data Mining) automatisiert auszuwerten, ist es zulässig, 1. das Ursprungsmaterial auch automatisiert und systematisch zu vervielfältigen, um daraus insbesondere durch Normalisierung, Strukturierung und Kategorisierung ein auszuwertendes Korpus zu erstellen, und 2. das Korpus einem bestimmt abgegrenzten Kreis von Personen für die gemeinsame wissenschaftliche Forschung sowie einzelnen Dritten zur Überprüfung der Qualität wissenschaftlicher Forschung öffentlich zugänglich zu machen. (2) Berechtigte nach Absatz 1 sind Forschungsorganisationen (§ 60d Absatz 2 des Urheberrechtsgesetzes) und einzelne Forscher, sofern sie nicht kommerzielle Zwecke verfolgen, sowie Bibliotheken und Archive. (3) Das Korpus und die Vervielfältigungen des Ursprungsmaterials sind nach Abschluss der Forschungsarbeiten zu löschen; die öffentliche Zugänglichmachung ist zu beenden. Zulässig ist es jedoch, das Korpus und die Vervielfältigungen des Ursprungsmaterials den in den Absätzen 1 und 2 genannten Institutionen zur dauerhaften Aufbewahrung zu übermitteln.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: § 60c Scientific Research (1) For the purpose of non-commercial scientific research, up to 15 percent of a work may be reproduced, distributed and made available to the public 1. for a specifically defined group of persons for their own scientific research, and 2. for individual third parties, insofar as this serves the verification of the quality of scientific research. (2) For one's own scientific research, up to 75 percent of a work may be reproduced. (3) Illustrations, individual articles from the same specialist journal or scientific journal, other works of minor scope and out-of-print works may, by way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, be used in their entirety. (4) It is not permissible under paragraphs 1 to 3 to record public lectures, performances or presentations of a work on image or sound carriers and subsequently make them available to the public. § 60d Text and Data Mining (1) In order to evaluate a large number of works (source material) in an automated manner to obtain information, in particular about correlations and trends (text and data mining), it is permissible to 1. reproduce the source material, including in an automated and systematic manner, in order to create a corpus for evaluation, in particular through normalisation, structuring and categorisation, and 2. make the corpus available to the public for a specifically defined group of persons for joint scientific research and for individual third parties for the verification of the quality of scientific research. (2) Those entitled under paragraph 1 are research organisations and individual researchers, provided they do not pursue commercial purposes, as well as libraries and archives. (3) The corpus and the reproductions of the source material are to be deleted after the completion of the research work; the making available to the public is to be terminated. However, it is permissible to transmit the corpus and the reproductions of the source material to the institutions mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 for permanent storage.
Source links
Gesetz zur Anpassung des Urheberrechts an die Erfordernisse des digitalen Binnenmarktes
Relevant update · Effective 2021-06-07
80%
Relevant section: § 44b, § 60c, § 60d
Dates: Effective 2021-06-07 · Enacted 2021-05-31
Why this score
The 2021 amendment transposing the DSM Directive introduced § 44b, a general TDM exception open to ANY user (not restricted to researchers or institutions) permitting reproduction of lawfully accessible works for TDM purposes. This covers all types of works and all users. However, § 44b only covers 'Vervielfältigungen' (reproductions), not sharing/communication/distribution. Rights holders may opt out via machine-readable reservation (§ 44b(4)), but this is a proportionality qualifier and classification-neutral. § 60d provides a more specific scientific research TDM exception that cannot be opted out of, covering reproduction AND making available (sharing), but restricted to research organizations, cultural heritage institutions, and individual non-commercial researchers. § 60c continues to permit research use of up to 75% for own research and full use of articles/small works/out-of-print works. Evaluating the most permissive exception: § 44b permits reproduction of full works for TDM by any user — this is BLUE (reproduction of full works, all work types, all users, but no sharing). § 60d permits reproduction + sharing but is restricted to specific user classes (PURPLE individually). § 60c permits partial works with sharing for research. The most permissive single exception is § 44b: full-work reproduction, all works, all users, but reproduction only (no sharing) = BLUE. The opt-out possibility in § 44b(4) is treated as classification-neutral (analogous to a proportionality qualifier). Non-commercial restrictions in § 60d are classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
General TDM: reproduction of lawfully accessible works for TDM by any user; rights holder may opt out via machine-readable reservation; reproduction only, no sharing
Scientific research TDM: reproduction + making available to defined group; restricted to research organizations, cultural heritage institutions, individual non-commercial researchers; no opt-out by rights holder
Scientific research: up to 15% reproduction+distribution+making available for defined group; up to 75% reproduction for own research; full use of articles, small works, out-of-print works
Private reproduction by natural person, non-commercial
Quotation right
Libraries: reproduction and making available on terminals; supply of copies
Original text
§ 44b Text und Data Mining (1) Text und Data Mining ist die automatisierte Analyse von einzelnen oder mehreren digitalen oder digitalisierten Werken, um daraus Informationen insbesondere über Muster, Trends und Korrelationen zu gewinnen. (2) Vervielfältigungen von rechtmäßig zugänglichen Werken für das Text und Data Mining sind zulässig. (3) Vervielfältigungen nach Absatz 2 sind zu löschen, wenn sie für das Text und Data Mining nicht mehr erforderlich sind. (4) Nutzungen nach Absatz 2 sind nur zulässig, wenn der Rechtsinhaber sich diese nicht vorbehalten hat. Ein Nutzungsvorbehalt bei online zugänglichen Werken ist nur dann wirksam, wenn er in maschinenlesbarer Form erfolgt. § 60d Text und Data Mining für Zwecke der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (1) Vervielfältigungen für Text und Data Mining (§ 44b Absatz 1 und 2 Satz 1) sind für Zwecke der wissenschaftlichen Forschung nach Maßgabe der nachfolgenden Bestimmungen zulässig. (2) Zu Vervielfältigungen berechtigt sind Forschungsorganisationen. Forschungsorganisationen sind Hochschulen, Forschungsinstitute oder sonstige Einrichtungen, die wissenschaftliche Forschung betreiben, sofern sie 1. nicht kommerzielle Zwecke verfolgen, 2. sämtliche Gewinne in die wissenschaftliche Forschung reinvestieren oder 3. im Rahmen eines staatlich anerkannten Auftrags im öffentlichen Interesse tätig sind. Nicht nach Satz 1 berechtigt sind Forschungsorganisationen, die mit einem privaten Unternehmen zusammenarbeiten, das einen bestimmenden Einfluss auf die Forschungsorganisation und einen bevorzugten Zugang zu den Ergebnissen der wissenschaftlichen Forschung hat. (3) Zu Vervielfältigungen berechtigt sind ferner 1. Bibliotheken und Museen, sofern sie öffentlich zugänglich sind, sowie Archive und Einrichtungen im Bereich des Film- oder Tonerbes (Kulturerbe-Einrichtungen), 2. einzelne Forscher, sofern sie nicht kommerzielle Zwecke verfolgen. (4) Berechtigte nach den Absätzen 2 und 3, die nicht kommerzielle Zwecke verfolgen, dürfen Vervielfältigungen nach Absatz 1 folgenden Personen öffentlich zugänglich machen: 1. einem bestimmt abgegrenzten Kreis von Personen für deren gemeinsame wissenschaftliche Forschung sowie 2. einzelnen Dritten zur Überprüfung der Qualität wissenschaftlicher Forschung. Sobald die gemeinsame wissenschaftliche Forschung oder die Überprüfung der Qualität wissenschaftlicher Forschung abgeschlossen ist, ist die öffentliche Zugänglichmachung zu beenden. (5) Berechtigte nach den Absätzen 2 und 3 Nummer 1 dürfen Vervielfältigungen nach Absatz 1 mit angemessenen Sicherheitsvorkehrungen gegen unbefugte Benutzung aufbewahren, solange sie für Zwecke der wissenschaftlichen Forschung oder zur Überprüfung wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse erforderlich sind. (6) Rechtsinhaber sind befugt, erforderliche Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um zu verhindern, dass die Sicherheit und Integrität ihrer Netze und Datenbanken durch Vervielfältigungen nach Absatz 1 gefährdet werden.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: § 44b Text and Data Mining (1) Text and data mining is the automated analysis of individual or multiple digital or digitised works in order to obtain information, in particular about patterns, trends and correlations. (2) Reproductions of lawfully accessible works for text and data mining are permissible. (3) Reproductions under paragraph 2 are to be deleted when they are no longer required for text and data mining. (4) Uses under paragraph 2 are only permissible if the rights holder has not reserved them. A reservation of use for works accessible online is only effective if it is made in machine-readable form. § 60d Text and Data Mining for Purposes of Scientific Research (1) Reproductions for text and data mining (§ 44b(1) and (2) sentence 1) are permissible for purposes of scientific research in accordance with the following provisions. (2) Research organisations are entitled to make reproductions. Research organisations are universities, research institutes or other institutions that conduct scientific research, provided they 1. pursue non-commercial purposes, 2. reinvest all profits in scientific research, or 3. operate within the framework of a state-recognised mandate in the public interest. Research organisations that cooperate with a private enterprise that has a controlling influence on the research organisation and preferential access to the results of scientific research are not entitled under sentence 1. (3) Also entitled to make reproductions are 1. libraries and museums, provided they are publicly accessible, as well as archives and institutions in the field of film or audio heritage (cultural heritage institutions), 2. individual researchers, provided they do not pursue commercial purposes. (4) Entitled persons under paragraphs 2 and 3 who do not pursue commercial purposes may make reproductions under paragraph 1 available to the public to the following persons: 1. a specifically defined group of persons for their joint scientific research, and 2. individual third parties for the verification of the quality of scientific research. Once the joint scientific research or the verification of the quality of scientific research is completed, the making available to the public is to be terminated. (5) Entitled persons under paragraphs 2 and 3(1) may store reproductions under paragraph 1 with appropriate security measures against unauthorised use, as long as they are required for purposes of scientific research or for the verification of scientific findings. (6) Rights holders are entitled to take necessary measures to prevent the security and integrity of their networks and databases from being endangered by reproductions under paragraph 1.
Source links
Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
80%
Relevant section: § 44b, § 51, § 53, § 60c, § 60d, § 60e
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01 · Enacted 2024-10-23
Why this score
As of 2025, the UrhG as last amended by Article 28 of the Act of 23 October 2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 323) remains in force. The research-relevant exceptions are: § 44b (general TDM — reproduction of full works by any user, all work types, but reproduction only, no sharing; rights holder opt-out possible); § 60d (scientific research TDM — reproduction + making available, but restricted to research organizations, cultural heritage institutions, non-commercial researchers; no opt-out); § 60c (scientific research — up to 75% reproduction for own research, full use of articles/small works/out-of-print; sharing of up to 15%); § 53(1) (private reproduction by natural person); § 51 (quotation); § 60e (library exceptions). The most permissive exception is § 44b: it permits reproduction of full works for TDM, covers all types of works, and is open to any user. It does not permit sharing/communication. This maps to BLUE. The opt-out mechanism in § 44b(4) is treated as classification-neutral per the instructions. The 2024 amendment (Article 28 of the Act of 23 October 2024) did not materially change the research/TDM exceptions — it concerned other provisions of the UrhG.
Exceptions considered
General TDM: reproduction of lawfully accessible works for TDM by any user; opt-out by rights holder via machine-readable reservation; reproduction only
Scientific research TDM: reproduction + making available to defined group; restricted to research organizations, cultural heritage institutions, individual non-commercial researchers; no opt-out; storage permitted
Scientific research: up to 15% reproduction+distribution+making available for defined group; up to 75% reproduction for own research; full use of articles, small works, out-of-print works
Private reproduction by natural person for private use, non-commercial
Quotation right: reproduction and distribution of passages for quotation purposes
Libraries: reproduction, making available on terminals on premises, supply of copies; restricted to publicly accessible libraries, museums, archives
Original text
§ 44b Text und Data Mining (1) Text und Data Mining ist die automatisierte Analyse von einzelnen oder mehreren digitalen oder digitalisierten Werken, um daraus Informationen insbesondere über Muster, Trends und Korrelationen zu gewinnen. (2) Vervielfältigungen von rechtmäßig zugänglichen Werken für das Text und Data Mining sind zulässig. (3) Vervielfältigungen nach Absatz 2 sind zu löschen, wenn sie für das Text und Data Mining nicht mehr erforderlich sind. (4) Nutzungen nach Absatz 2 sind nur zulässig, wenn der Rechtsinhaber sich diese nicht vorbehalten hat. Ein Nutzungsvorbehalt bei online zugänglichen Werken ist nur dann wirksam, wenn er in maschinenlesbarer Form erfolgt.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: § 44b Text and Data Mining (1) Text and data mining is the automated analysis of individual or multiple digital or digitised works in order to obtain information, in particular about patterns, trends and correlations. (2) Reproductions of lawfully accessible works for text and data mining are permissible. (3) Reproductions under paragraph 2 are to be deleted when they are no longer required for text and data mining. (4) Uses under paragraph 2 are only permissible if the rights holder has not reserved them. A reservation of use for works accessible online is only effective if it is made in machine-readable form.