Selected year snapshot
For 2024, the active event in this file is Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos (Decreto 33-98, as amended by Decretos 11-2006 and 21-2018).
20%
Current rationale
As of 2025, the Guatemalan copyright law (Decreto 33-98 as amended) contains no general fair use or fair dealing clause, no TDM exception, and no specific research exception. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Art. 65, which permits reproduction in a single copy for private use by a natural person without profit motive, but explicitly excludes the entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual/cinematographic works, and substantial parts of digital databases. This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some categories of works (e.g., individual articles, photographs, short literary works not constituting a 'book', visual art works) but not for books, entire musical works, or audiovisual works. This maps to ORANGE. Uses: reproduction only (no sharing/communication). Works: some but not all (books, musical works, audiovisual works, digital databases excluded from full reproduction). Users: natural persons only (private use). The Marrakesh Treaty exceptions (Arts. 65 Bis/Ter) are limited to persons with print disabilities and do not constitute general research exceptions. Art. 64(a) provides a broader single-copy personal use right but is read together with Art. 65's specific limitations. Art. 66 (quotation) only permits passages. Art. 63(c) (educational communication) is limited to teaching institutions. No classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, single-copy limit) were used to determine the color.
Exceptions considered
Single copy for personal and exclusive use of the person making it, without direct or indirect profit motive
Reproduction in single copy for private use by natural person, excluding entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual works, substantial part of digital databases
Reproduction and distribution of accessible format copies for persons with visual or print disabilities (Marrakesh Treaty)
Quotation of pertinent passages with attribution
Communication for exclusively didactic purposes in teaching institutions
Reproduction, distribution and communication of current articles for information purposes
Law changes
Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos (Decreto 33-98)
Baseline · Effective 1998-05-22
20%
Relevant section: ArtÃculos 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
Dates: Effective 1998-05-22 · Enacted 1998-04-19
Why this score
The most permissive research-relevant exception is Art. 65, which permits reproduction of a literary or artistic work in a single copy for private use without profit motive by a natural person. However, Art. 65 explicitly prohibits reproduction of the entirety of a book, the entirety of a musical work, the entirety or substantial part of an audiovisual/cinematographic work, or all or a substantial part of a digital database. This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some categories of works (e.g., a single article, a short literary work that is not a 'book', a visual art work, a photograph) but not for books, entire musical works, or audiovisual works. This maps to ORANGE: full-work reproduction is available for at least some types of works but specific categories are excluded. Art. 64(a) similarly permits a single copy for personal and exclusive use without profit, but Art. 65 provides the more detailed regime with the work-type exclusions. There is no general fair use or fair dealing clause, no TDM exception, and no institutional/library exception for research. The quotation exception (Art. 66) only permits passages/excerpts, not full works. Art. 63(c) covers communication for didactic purposes only, not research generally. The private-use restriction (natural person, single copy, no profit) means this is not GREEN or BLUE. The work-type exclusions in Art. 65 prevent LIGHT BLUE classification (which requires full works of all types). The non-commercial restriction and single-copy limit are classification-neutral factors and were not used to determine the color.
Exceptions considered
Single copy for personal and exclusive use of the person making it, without direct or indirect profit motive
Reproduction in a single copy for private use by a natural person, without profit; but may NOT extend to entirety of a book, musical work, audiovisual/cinematographic work, or substantial part of a digital database
Quotation of pertinent passages with attribution, provided not so extensive as to constitute substantial reproduction
Communication for exclusively didactic purposes in teaching institutions, by staff and students, non-profit, closed audience
Reproduction, distribution and communication of current articles of economic/political/religious discussion and broadcast works for information purposes, in accordance with fair practice
Original text
ARTICULO 63. Las obras literarias o artÃsticas podrán ser comunicadas lÃcitamente, sin necesidad de autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración alguna, en los casos siguientes: a) Cuando se realice en un ámbito exclusivamente doméstico, siempre que no exista un interés económico, directo o indirecto, y que la comunicación no fuere deliberadamente propalada al exterior, en todo o en parte, por cualquier medio. b) Las efectuadas en el curso de actos oficiales o ceremonias religiosas, de pequeños fragmentos musicales o de partes de obras de música, siempre que el público pueda asistir a ellos gratuitamente y ninguno de los participantes en la comunicación perciba una remuneración especÃfica por su intervención en el acto. c) Las que se realicen con fines exclusivamente didácticos, en el curso de las actividades de una institución de enseñanza por el personal y los estudiantes de tal institución, siempre que la comunicación no persiga fines lucrativos, directos o indirectos, y el público esté compuesto exclusivamente por el personal y estudiantes del centro educativo o padres o tutores de alumnos y otras personas directamente vinculadas con las actividades de la institución. d) Las realizadas dentro de establecimientos de comercio, para los fines demostrativos de la clientela, de equipos receptores, reproductores u otros similares o para la venta de los soportes sonoros o audiovisuales que contienen las obras, siempre y cuando la comunicación no fuere deliberadamente propalada al exterior, en todo o en parte. ARTICULO 64. Es permitida la reproducción de una obra, sin necesidad de autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, en los siguientes casos: a) Cuando se trate de una copia única para el uso personal y exclusivo de quien la haga, realizada por él mismo o a su solicitud, sin fines de lucro directo o indirecto. b) Cuando se trate de una copia de respaldo o seguridad de un programa de computación. ARTICULO 65. Es lÃcita la reproducción, por cualquier medio, de una obra literaria o artÃstica, ordenada u obtenida por el interesado en un solo ejemplar para su uso privado y sin fines de lucro. La reproducción deberá ser realizada por una persona natural, no pudiendo alcanzar a la totalidad o a una parte sustancial de una obra audiovisual o cinematográfica, ni a la totalidad de una obra musical o de un libro, ni a todo o parte sustancial de una base de datos en forma digital. La anterior limitación no será aplicable a la copia de un programa de computación, la cual se regirá por lo dispuesto en el artÃculo 30 de esta ley. ARTICULO 66. Es permitido citar a un autor, transcribiendo los pasajes pertinentes, siempre que éstos no sean tantos y seguidos que puedan considerarse como una reproducción simulada y sustancial, que redunde en perjuicio del autor de la obra de donde se toman. En cada cita deberá mencionarse el nombre del autor de la obra citada y el tÃtulo de dicha obra. Cuando la inclusión de obras ajenas constituya la parte principal de la nueva obra, a solicitud de parte interesada, los tribunales podrán fijar equitativamente y en sentencia, la cantidad proporcional que corresponda a cada uno de los titulares de las obras incluidas. ARTICULO 67. Es lÃcita la reproducción, distribución y comunicación pública de artÃculos de actualidad, de discusión económica, polÃtica o religiosa y de obras radiodifundidas que tengan el mismo carácter, de obras vistas u oÃdas en el curso de acontecimientos de actualidad, a los fines de información y de conformidad con las prácticas leales, en la medida justificada por el fin perseguido, siempre que se indique la fuente y el nombre del autor, si éste figurare en la fuente.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: ARTICLE 63. Literary or artistic works may be lawfully communicated, without the need for authorization from the author or payment of any remuneration, in the following cases: a) When carried out in an exclusively domestic setting, provided there is no direct or indirect economic interest, and the communication is not deliberately disseminated to the outside... c) Those carried out for exclusively didactic purposes, in the course of activities of a teaching institution... ARTICLE 64. Reproduction of a work is permitted, without the need for authorization from the author or payment of remuneration, in the following cases: a) When it is a single copy for the personal and exclusive use of the person making it, made by that person or at their request, without direct or indirect profit motive. b) When it is a backup copy of a computer program. ARTICLE 65. The reproduction, by any means, of a literary or artistic work, ordered or obtained by the interested party in a single copy for private use and without profit motive, is lawful. The reproduction must be carried out by a natural person, and may not extend to the entirety or a substantial part of an audiovisual or cinematographic work, nor to the entirety of a musical work or a book, nor to all or a substantial part of a database in digital form... ARTICLE 66. It is permitted to quote an author, transcribing the pertinent passages, provided these are not so many and consecutive as to be considered a simulated and substantial reproduction... ARTICLE 67. The reproduction, distribution and public communication of current articles of economic, political or religious discussion and of broadcast works of the same character, of works seen or heard in the course of current events, for information purposes and in accordance with fair practice, to the extent justified by the purpose pursued, is lawful, provided the source and the author's name are indicated...
Source links
Decreto 11-2006, Reformas a la Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos (Decreto 33-98)
Relevant update · Effective 2006-03-22
20%
Relevant section: ArtÃculos 63, 64, 65 (as amended)
Dates: Effective 2006-03-22 · Enacted 2006-03-01
Why this score
Decreto 11-2006 amended various provisions of Decreto 33-98, primarily strengthening enforcement and adding provisions related to technological protection measures and rights management information, in line with CAFTA-DR obligations. The core exceptions in Articles 63-67 were not materially changed with respect to research-relevant limitations. Art. 65 remains the most permissive research-relevant exception, still permitting single-copy private-use reproduction by a natural person but excluding the entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual works, and substantial parts of digital databases. The classification remains ORANGE for the same reasons as the baseline: full-work reproduction is available for some types of works but not for books, entire musical works, or audiovisual works. No fair use, fair dealing, TDM, or general research exception was added. No library/institutional exception for research was added.
Exceptions considered
Single copy for personal and exclusive use without profit motive
Reproduction in single copy for private use by natural person, excluding entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual works, substantial part of digital databases
Quotation of pertinent passages with attribution
Communication for exclusively didactic purposes in teaching institutions
Reproduction, distribution and communication of current articles for information purposes
Original text
ARTICULO 65. Es lÃcita la reproducción, por cualquier medio, de una obra literaria o artÃstica, ordenada u obtenida por el interesado en un solo ejemplar para su uso privado y sin fines de lucro. La reproducción deberá ser realizada por una persona natural, no pudiendo alcanzar a la totalidad o a una parte sustancial de una obra audiovisual o cinematográfica, ni a la totalidad de una obra musical o de un libro, ni a todo o parte sustancial de una base de datos en forma digital. La anterior limitación no será aplicable a la copia de un programa de computación, la cual se regirá por lo dispuesto en el artÃculo 30 de esta ley.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: ARTICLE 65. The reproduction, by any means, of a literary or artistic work, ordered or obtained by the interested party in a single copy for private use and without profit motive, is lawful. The reproduction must be carried out by a natural person, and may not extend to the entirety or a substantial part of an audiovisual or cinematographic work, nor to the entirety of a musical work or a book, nor to all or a substantial part of a database in digital form. The above limitation shall not apply to the copy of a computer program, which shall be governed by the provisions of article 30 of this law.
Source links
Decreto 21-2018, Reformas al Decreto 33-98, Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos
Relevant update · Effective 2018-10-18
20%
Relevant section: ArtÃculos 65 Bis, 65 Ter (new), and related provisions
Dates: Effective 2018-10-18 · Enacted 2018-10-04
Why this score
Decreto 21-2018 added new exceptions (Arts. 65 Bis and 65 Ter) specifically for the benefit of persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled, implementing the Marrakesh Treaty. These new provisions permit reproduction and distribution of accessible format copies for beneficiary persons. While these are important exceptions, they are restricted to a specific beneficiary class (persons with print disabilities) and do not constitute a general research exception. The pre-existing exceptions in Articles 63-67 remain unchanged. Art. 65 remains the most permissive general research-relevant exception, still permitting single-copy private-use reproduction by a natural person but excluding the entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual works, and substantial parts of digital databases. The overall classification remains ORANGE. No TDM exception, general fair use/fair dealing clause, or general research exception was added.
Exceptions considered
Single copy for personal and exclusive use without profit motive
Reproduction in single copy for private use by natural person, excluding entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual works, substantial part of digital databases
Reproduction and distribution of accessible format copies for persons with visual or print disabilities (Marrakesh Treaty implementation)
Quotation of pertinent passages with attribution
Communication for exclusively didactic purposes in teaching institutions
Reproduction, distribution and communication of current articles for information purposes
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Decreto 21-2018 implements the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. It adds exceptions permitting the creation and distribution of accessible format copies for beneficiary persons with visual disabilities or other print disabilities, and permits cross-border exchange of such copies.
Source links
Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos (Decreto 33-98, as amended by Decretos 11-2006 and 21-2018)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2018-10-18
20%
Relevant section: ArtÃculos 63, 64, 65, 65 Bis, 65 Ter, 66, 67
Dates: Effective 2018-10-18
Why this score
As of 2025, the Guatemalan copyright law (Decreto 33-98 as amended) contains no general fair use or fair dealing clause, no TDM exception, and no specific research exception. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Art. 65, which permits reproduction in a single copy for private use by a natural person without profit motive, but explicitly excludes the entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual/cinematographic works, and substantial parts of digital databases. This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some categories of works (e.g., individual articles, photographs, short literary works not constituting a 'book', visual art works) but not for books, entire musical works, or audiovisual works. This maps to ORANGE. Uses: reproduction only (no sharing/communication). Works: some but not all (books, musical works, audiovisual works, digital databases excluded from full reproduction). Users: natural persons only (private use). The Marrakesh Treaty exceptions (Arts. 65 Bis/Ter) are limited to persons with print disabilities and do not constitute general research exceptions. Art. 64(a) provides a broader single-copy personal use right but is read together with Art. 65's specific limitations. Art. 66 (quotation) only permits passages. Art. 63(c) (educational communication) is limited to teaching institutions. No classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, single-copy limit) were used to determine the color.
Exceptions considered
Single copy for personal and exclusive use of the person making it, without direct or indirect profit motive
Reproduction in single copy for private use by natural person, excluding entirety of books, musical works, audiovisual works, substantial part of digital databases
Reproduction and distribution of accessible format copies for persons with visual or print disabilities (Marrakesh Treaty)
Quotation of pertinent passages with attribution
Communication for exclusively didactic purposes in teaching institutions
Reproduction, distribution and communication of current articles for information purposes
Original text
ARTICULO 65. Es lÃcita la reproducción, por cualquier medio, de una obra literaria o artÃstica, ordenada u obtenida por el interesado en un solo ejemplar para su uso privado y sin fines de lucro. La reproducción deberá ser realizada por una persona natural, no pudiendo alcanzar a la totalidad o a una parte sustancial de una obra audiovisual o cinematográfica, ni a la totalidad de una obra musical o de un libro, ni a todo o parte sustancial de una base de datos en forma digital. La anterior limitación no será aplicable a la copia de un programa de computación, la cual se regirá por lo dispuesto en el artÃculo 30 de esta ley.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: ARTICLE 65. The reproduction, by any means, of a literary or artistic work, ordered or obtained by the interested party in a single copy for private use and without profit motive, is lawful. The reproduction must be carried out by a natural person, and may not extend to the entirety or a substantial part of an audiovisual or cinematographic work, nor to the entirety of a musical work or a book, nor to all or a substantial part of a database in digital form. The above limitation shall not apply to the copy of a computer program, which shall be governed by the provisions of article 30 of this law.