Selected year snapshot
For 1999, the active event in this file is Civil Code of the Empire of Ethiopia, 1960 (Book IV, Title XI – Literary and Artistic Property).
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Current rationale
Ethiopia's copyright law in force on 1990-01-01 was contained in the Civil Code of 1960, Book IV, Title XI (Articles 1647–1674), which governed literary and artistic property. Despite extensive web searching, I was unable to retrieve the full verbatim text of these provisions from any official or WIPO-hosted source. The Civil Code provisions on copyright were known to be relatively brief and modeled on continental European traditions. Without access to the actual statutory text of the exceptions and limitations provisions (if any existed in those articles), I cannot determine the color classification with confidence. The Civil Code remained in force for copyright purposes until it was replaced by Proclamation No. 410/2004.
Law changes
Civil Code of the Empire of Ethiopia, 1960 (Book IV, Title XI – Literary and Artistic Property)
Baseline · Effective 1960-05-05
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Relevant section: Articles 1647–1674
Dates: Effective 1960-05-05 · Enacted 1960-05-05
Why this score
Ethiopia's copyright law in force on 1990-01-01 was contained in the Civil Code of 1960, Book IV, Title XI (Articles 1647–1674), which governed literary and artistic property. Despite extensive web searching, I was unable to retrieve the full verbatim text of these provisions from any official or WIPO-hosted source. The Civil Code provisions on copyright were known to be relatively brief and modeled on continental European traditions. Without access to the actual statutory text of the exceptions and limitations provisions (if any existed in those articles), I cannot determine the color classification with confidence. The Civil Code remained in force for copyright purposes until it was replaced by Proclamation No. 410/2004.
Copyright and Neighboring Rights Protection Proclamation No. 410/2004
Relevant update · Effective 2004-07-19
20%
Relevant section: Articles 9–19 (Part Three: Limitations on Copyright)
Dates: Effective 2004-07-19 · Enacted 2004-07-19
Why this score
The most permissive research-relevant exception is Article 9 (Reproduction for Personal Purposes), which permits private reproduction of a published work by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. This covers reproduction of full works, is open to all types of works, but is restricted to individuals (physical persons) acting for personal purposes. However, Article 9(2) carves out several categories of works: (a) works of architecture in building form, (b) the whole or substantial part of a database in digital form, (c) computer programs, and (d) the whole of a book or musical work in graphic notation form. Because the exception permits full-work reproduction for some types of works (e.g., articles, short literary works, audiovisual works, photographs) but explicitly excludes full reproduction of books, musical scores, databases, computer programs, and architectural works, this is ORANGE — full-work reproduction is available for at least some types of works but not all. Article 11 (library/archive exception) is more restrictive because it only covers 'published articles, other short works or short extracts of a work' — not full books. Article 14 (quotation) only permits 'a short part' — RED individually. Article 12 (teaching) is limited to 'short parts' and 'short works or short extracts.' No general fair use, fair dealing, or three-step-test enabling clause exists. No TDM exception exists. The non-commercial restriction on Article 9 (personal purposes) and the copy-limit aspects are classification-neutral per the rules. The key restriction driving the ORANGE classification is the exclusion of specific work categories from full-work reproduction under Article 9(2).
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work by a physical person exclusively for personal purposes; excludes architecture, databases in digital form, computer programs, whole books, and whole musical works in graphic notation
Non-profit library/archive may make single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract for study/scholarship/private research of a physical person
Reproduction of short part of published work for teaching illustration; reprographic reproduction of articles/short works/short extracts for face-to-face teaching in non-profit educational institutions
Quotation of a short part of a published work, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose
Free use for judicial/administrative proceedings, reproduction of public art, computer program adaptation/decompilation by lawful user
Original text
Article 9. Reproduction for Personal Purposes 1/ Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, the private reproduction of a published work shall be permitted without authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. 2/ The permission under sub-article (1) of this Article shall not extend to: a) the reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of building or other construction; b) the reproduction of the whole or a substantial part of a data base in digital form; c) the reproduction of a computer program except as provided in Article 10; d) the reproduction of the whole of a book or of a musical work in the form of graphic notation; e) any other reproduction of a work that would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright. Article 11. Reproduction by Libraries and Archives 1/ Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, a 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 a 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: i) the library or archive is satisfied that the copy will be used solely for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; ii) the making of the single copy is an isolated case occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; b) where the copy is made in order to preserve and, if necessary, replace a copy, or to replace a copy that has been lost, destroyed or rendered unusable in the permanent collection of another similar library or archive, provided that it is impossible to obtain such a copy under reasonable conditions. Article 12. Reproduction, Broadcasting and Other Communication of Works for the Purpose of Teaching Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, the following uses of a work shall be permitted without authorization of the author or owner of copyright: 1/ the reproduction of a short part of a published work for teaching purposes by way of illustration, in writings or in sound or visual recordings, provided that such reproduction is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose; 2/ the reprographic reproduction, for face-to-face teaching in educational institutions the activities of which are not for profit, of published articles, other short works or short extracts of works, to the extent justified by the purpose, provided that: a) the act of reproduction is an isolated one occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; b) there is no collective license available, that is, a license offered by a collective administration organization of which the author or owner of copyright is a member or which is authorized to act on his behalf, under which reproduction of such kind can be made; 3/ the broadcasting or communication to the public of a work or adaptation of a work for the exclusive purpose of face-to-face teaching in educational institutions the activities of which are not for profit, to the extent justified by the purpose. Article 14. Quotations Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, the quotation of a short part of a published work shall be permitted without authorization of the author or owner of copyright, provided that the quotation is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose. The quotation shall be accompanied by an indication of the source and the name of the author, if his name appears in the work from which the quotation is taken. Article 17. Free Use Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, the following uses of a work shall be permitted without authorization of the author or owner of copyright: 1/ the reproduction or making otherwise available of a work for the purpose of a judicial or administrative proceeding to the extent justified by the purpose; 2/ the reproduction of a work of art situated in a place where it can be viewed by the public, unless the work of art is the main subject of such a reproduction and it is used for commercial purposes; 3/ the reproduction or adaptation of a computer program by a lawful user of that program, provided that the reproduction or adaptation is necessary for: a) the use of the computer program with a computer for the purpose and extent for which the program has been obtained; or b) archival purposes and for the replacement of the lawfully owned copy of the computer program in the event that the said copy of the computer program is lost, destroyed or rendered unusable; 4/ the decompilation of a computer program, that is, the reproduction of the code and translation of the forms of a computer program, where the said acts are indispensable to obtain the information necessary to achieve the interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, provided that the following conditions are met: a) the acts are performed by a person having a right to use a copy of the computer program, or on his behalf by a person authorized to do so; b) the information necessary to achieve interoperability has not previously been easily and rapidly available to the persons referred to in paragraph (a); and c) the acts are confined to the parts of the original program which are necessary to achieve interoperability.
English rendering
Article 9. Reproduction for Personal Purposes 1/ Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, the private reproduction of a published work shall be permitted without authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. 2/ The permission under sub-article (1) of this Article shall not extend to: a) the reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of building or other construction; b) the reproduction of the whole or a substantial part of a data base in digital form; c) the reproduction of a computer program except as provided in Article 10; d) the reproduction of the whole of a book or of a musical work in the form of graphic notation; e) any other reproduction of a work that would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright. Article 11. Reproduction by Libraries and Archives 1/ ... a 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 a 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: i) the library or archive is satisfied that the copy will be used solely for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; ii) the making of the single copy is an isolated case occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions;
Source links
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection (Amendment) Proclamation No. 872/2014
Relevant update · Effective 2015-01-14
20%
Relevant section: Articles 2–14 of the Amendment Proclamation (amending various provisions of Proclamation No. 410/2004)
Dates: Effective 2015-01-14 · Enacted 2015-01-14
Why this score
Proclamation No. 872/2014 amended Proclamation No. 410/2004 primarily to establish a collective management organization framework and strengthen enforcement provisions. Based on the available text of the amendment, the core exceptions and limitations in Part Three of Proclamation No. 410/2004 (Articles 9–19) were not substantively altered with respect to research, private study, or TDM. Article 9 (personal reproduction with its work-category exclusions), Article 11 (library/archive copying of short works/extracts), Article 12 (teaching), Article 14 (quotation), and Article 17 (free use) remain in force as enacted in 2004. No TDM exception was introduced. The classification therefore remains ORANGE for the same reasons as the baseline under Proclamation No. 410/2004: Article 9 permits full-work reproduction for personal purposes but excludes whole books, musical scores in graphic notation, databases in digital form, computer programs, and architectural works.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work by a physical person exclusively for personal purposes; excludes architecture, databases in digital form, computer programs, whole books, and whole musical works in graphic notation
Non-profit library/archive may make single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract for study/scholarship/private research
Reproduction of short part for teaching; reprographic reproduction of articles/short works/short extracts for face-to-face teaching in non-profit institutions
Quotation of a short part of a published work
Free use for judicial/administrative proceedings, public art reproduction, computer program adaptation/decompilation
Source links
Copyright and Neighboring Rights Protection Proclamation No. 410/2004, as amended by Proclamation No. 872/2014
Current law confirmation · Effective 2015-01-14
20%
Relevant section: Articles 9, 11, 12, 14, 17 (Part Three: Limitations on Copyright)
Dates: Effective 2015-01-14
Why this score
As of 2025, the copyright law in force in Ethiopia is Proclamation No. 410/2004 as amended by Proclamation No. 872/2014. No further amendments to the exceptions and limitations provisions have been identified. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Article 9 (Reproduction for Personal Purposes). This permits a physical person to privately reproduce a published work exclusively for personal purposes (which encompasses private study and personal research). However, Article 9(2) excludes full reproduction of: (a) architectural works in building form, (b) the whole or substantial part of a database in digital form, (c) computer programs, and (d) the whole of a book or musical work in graphic notation. This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some categories (e.g., individual articles, photographs, audiovisual works, short literary works) but not for whole books, musical scores, databases, or computer programs. This maps to ORANGE: full-work reproduction is available for at least some types of works but specific categories are excluded. The exception covers only reproduction (not sharing/communication), and is limited to physical persons for personal purposes (not institutional use). Article 11 (library/archive) only covers articles, short works, or short extracts — individually RED. Article 12 (teaching) covers short parts and short works — individually RED. Article 14 (quotation) covers short parts only — RED. No fair use, fair dealing, general three-step-test enabling clause, or TDM exception exists in Ethiopian law. The non-commercial nature of 'personal purposes' and the single-copy implication are classification-neutral factors that do not affect the color.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work by a physical person exclusively for personal purposes; excludes architecture in building form, whole/substantial part of database in digital form, computer programs, whole books, and whole musical works in graphic notation
Non-profit library/archive may make single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract for study/scholarship/private research of a requesting physical person
Reproduction of short part of published work for teaching illustration; reprographic reproduction of articles/short works/short extracts for face-to-face teaching in non-profit educational institutions; broadcasting/communication for face-to-face teaching
Quotation of a short part of a published work, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose
Free use for judicial/administrative proceedings, reproduction of public art, computer program adaptation/decompilation by lawful user
Original text
Article 9. Reproduction for Personal Purposes 1/ Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7, the private reproduction of a published work shall be permitted without authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a physical person exclusively for his own personal purposes. 2/ The permission under sub-article (1) of this Article shall not extend to: a) the reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of building or other construction; b) the reproduction of the whole or a substantial part of a data base in digital form; c) the reproduction of a computer program except as provided in Article 10; d) the reproduction of the whole of a book or of a musical work in the form of graphic notation; e) any other reproduction of a work that would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or owner of copyright.