Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Baseline.
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Current rationale
Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union on 1990-01-01. The applicable copyright law would have been the Soviet-era copyright provisions (likely the 1961 Fundamentals of Civil Legislation of the USSR and the Lithuanian SSR Civil Code). Lithuania declared independence on March 11, 1990. I was unable to retrieve or verify the actual text of the Soviet-era or early Lithuanian copyright provisions in force on 1990-01-01 via web search. No official digital source for the pre-independence copyright law text was located. The first verifiable Lithuanian copyright statute is the 1999 Law on Copyright and Related Rights (No. VIII-1185). Because the actual statutory text in force on 1990-01-01 cannot be verified, this baseline is marked AMBIGUOUS.
Law changes
Baseline
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
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Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union on 1990-01-01. The applicable copyright law would have been the Soviet-era copyright provisions (likely the 1961 Fundamentals of Civil Legislation of the USSR and the Lithuanian SSR Civil Code). Lithuania declared independence on March 11, 1990. I was unable to retrieve or verify the actual text of the Soviet-era or early Lithuanian copyright provisions in force on 1990-01-01 via web search. No official digital source for the pre-independence copyright law text was located. The first verifiable Lithuanian copyright statute is the 1999 Law on Copyright and Related Rights (No. VIII-1185). Because the actual statutory text in force on 1990-01-01 cannot be verified, this baseline is marked AMBIGUOUS.
Lietuvos Respublikos autorių teisių ir gretutinių teisių įstatymas (Law on Copyright and Related Rights, No. VIII-1185)
Relevant update · Effective 1999-06-09
60%
Relevant section: Art. 20 (asmeninio naudojimo tikslais / for personal use), Art. 21 (reprografinis atgaminimas / reprographic reproduction)
Dates: Effective 1999-06-09 · Enacted 1999-05-18
Why this score
The 1999 Law on Copyright and Related Rights entered into force on 1999-06-09. It contained exceptions for personal use (Art. 20 — reproduction of a lawfully published work for personal use without authorization, subject to conditions), reprographic reproduction by libraries and archives (Art. 21), and quotation (Art. 22). The personal use exception (Art. 20) permitted reproduction of a published work by a natural person for personal purposes (including research/private study), covering all types of works with certain exclusions (e.g., computer programs, databases, architectural works, reprographic reproduction of musical scores and entire books). This is a private/personal use exception open to individuals, covering reproduction of full works (with some category exclusions), but not sharing/communication. The library reprographic exception (Art. 21) was limited to institutional copying. The quotation exception (Art. 22) was limited to excerpts. The most permissive exception for research was the personal use provision (Art. 20), which permitted full-work reproduction for personal purposes but excluded certain categories of works (computer programs, databases, entire books via reprography, musical scores). Because it is restricted to personal/private use AND excludes certain work categories, the classification is LIGHT BLUE (the personal/individual restriction is the binding constraint under the hierarchy). Non-commercial restriction and copy-number limits are classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction of a lawfully published work by a natural person for personal use (including private study/research), single copy, non-commercial, with exclusions for computer programs, databases, reprographic reproduction of entire books and musical scores, architectural works
Reprographic reproduction by libraries, archives, educational/research institutions of articles or short works, or portions of published works, for internal needs or requests of natural persons for research/private study
Quotation from a lawfully published work for purposes of criticism, review, or information, proportionate to the purpose
Source links
Lietuvos Respublikos autorių teisių ir gretutinių teisių įstatymo pakeitimo įstatymas (Law Amending the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, No. IX-1355)
Relevant update · Effective 2003-03-21
60%
Relevant section: Art. 20 (Laisvas atgaminimas asmeniniais tikslais / Free reproduction for personal purposes), Art. 21 (Reprografinis atgaminimas / Reprographic reproduction), Art. 22 (Citavimas / Quotation), Art. 23 (Naudojimas mokymo ir mokslinių tyrimų tikslais / Use for teaching and scientific research purposes)
Dates: Effective 2003-03-21 · Enacted 2003-03-05
Why this score
The 2003 comprehensive amendment (No. IX-1355, in force 2003-03-21) rewrote the entire Law on Copyright and Related Rights. It retained and refined the personal use exception (Art. 20), the reprographic reproduction exception (Art. 21), the quotation exception (Art. 22), and introduced/refined Art. 23 on use for teaching and scientific research purposes. Art. 20 continued to permit reproduction of a lawfully published work by a natural person for personal (non-commercial) purposes, with exclusions for computer programs, databases, reprographic reproduction of entire books and musical scores, and architectural works. Art. 23 permitted use of works for illustration in teaching and scientific research, to the extent justified by the non-commercial purpose, with attribution. The teaching/research exception (Art. 23) covered 'use' (naudojimas) which could encompass multiple exclusive rights, but was qualified as being for 'illustration' purposes in teaching and scientific research, which limits the scope. The personal use exception (Art. 20) remained the most permissive for individual researchers — permitting full-work reproduction for personal purposes. Classification remains LIGHT BLUE because the most permissive exception (Art. 20) is restricted to personal/individual use. Art. 23's research provision is for 'illustration' in scientific research, which is narrower in scope. Non-commercial restrictions are classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Free reproduction of a lawfully published work by a natural person for personal non-commercial purposes, single copy, with exclusions for computer programs, databases, reprographic reproduction of entire books and musical scores, architectural works, electronic databases
Reprographic reproduction by libraries, archives, museums, educational and research institutions — articles, short works, or short extracts of published works for internal needs or for requests of natural persons for research/private study
Quotation from a lawfully disclosed work for criticism, review, polemic, or information purposes, proportionate to the purpose
Use of works for illustration in teaching and scientific research, to the extent justified by the non-commercial purpose, with attribution
Source links
Lietuvos Respublikos autorių teisių ir gretutinių teisių įstatymo Nr. VIII-1185 pakeitimo įstatymas (Law Amending Law No. VIII-1185 on Copyright and Related Rights, No. XIV-970)
Relevant update · Effective 2022-04-01
60%
Relevant section: Art. 20 (Laisvas atgaminimas asmeniniais tikslais), Art. 21 (Reprografinis atgaminimas), Art. 22 (Citavimas), Art. 23 (Naudojimas mokymo ir mokslinių tyrimų tikslais), Art. 22¹ or new TDM provisions
Dates: Effective 2022-04-01 · Enacted 2022-03-24
Why this score
Law No. XIV-970 of March 24, 2022 transposed the EU DSM Directive (2019/790) into Lithuanian law. This amendment introduced TDM-specific exceptions. Under the transposition, Art. 22² (or equivalent new provision) introduced a TDM exception for research organizations and cultural heritage institutions (transposing Art. 3 of the DSM Directive) and a general TDM exception (transposing Art. 4 of the DSM Directive). The research-organization TDM exception (DSM Art. 3 transposition) permits reproduction and extraction of lawfully accessed works for TDM for scientific research purposes by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions. This is an institutional exception (PURPLE). The general TDM exception (DSM Art. 4 transposition) permits reproduction and extraction for TDM by any person with lawful access, but rightsholders may opt out (reserve rights). The general TDM exception covers reproduction only (not communication/sharing) and is subject to opt-out. The pre-existing personal use exception (Art. 20) remained in force, still permitting reproduction of full works for personal purposes by natural persons. The most permissive exception for an individual researcher remains Art. 20 (personal use — LIGHT BLUE). The new TDM exceptions add capabilities but: the research-org TDM is institutional (PURPLE), and the general TDM is subject to opt-out and covers reproduction only (BLUE at best, but with opt-out). The personal use exception (Art. 20) remains the most permissive for individual researchers. Classification remains LIGHT BLUE. Non-commercial restrictions and lawful-access requirements are classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Free reproduction of a lawfully published work by a natural person for personal non-commercial purposes, with exclusions for certain work categories
Reprographic reproduction by libraries, archives, museums, educational and research institutions
Quotation for criticism, review, polemic, or information purposes
Use of works for illustration in teaching and scientific research
TDM by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions for scientific research, covering reproduction and extraction of lawfully accessed works
General TDM exception for any person with lawful access, covering reproduction and extraction, subject to rightsholder opt-out
Source links
Lietuvos Respublikos autorių teisių ir gretutinių teisių įstatymas (Law on Copyright and Related Rights, No. VIII-1185, as amended through 2023)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2024-05-01
60%
Relevant section: Art. 20, Art. 21, Art. 22, Art. 23, TDM provisions (DSM transposition)
Dates: Effective 2024-05-01 · Enacted 2023-06-29
Why this score
As of 2025, the Lithuanian Law on Copyright and Related Rights (No. VIII-1185) as last amended by Law No. XIV-2141 (2023-06-29) remains in force. The research-relevant exceptions include: (1) Art. 20 — personal use reproduction by natural persons (LIGHT BLUE); (2) Art. 21 — reprographic reproduction by libraries/archives/research institutions (PURPLE); (3) Art. 22 — quotation (RED); (4) Art. 23 — use for illustration in teaching and scientific research (BLUE); (5) TDM exception for research organizations (PURPLE); (6) General TDM exception with opt-out (BLUE). The most permissive exception for an individual researcher remains Art. 20 (personal use), which permits reproduction of full works (with exclusions for computer programs, databases, reprographic reproduction of entire books and musical scores, architectural works) by a natural person for personal non-commercial purposes. This is restricted to individuals (not institutional or collaborative use) and does not authorize sharing/communication. Classification: LIGHT BLUE. The exclusion of certain work categories from Art. 20 could suggest ORANGE, but the personal-use restriction (individual only) is the more restrictive element in the hierarchy, so LIGHT BLUE applies. Non-commercial restrictions, copy-number limits, and lawful-access requirements are classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Free reproduction of a lawfully published work by a natural person for personal non-commercial purposes, with exclusions for computer programs, databases, reprographic reproduction of entire books and musical scores, architectural works
Reprographic reproduction by libraries, archives, museums, educational and research institutions for internal needs or for requests of natural persons for research/private study
Quotation from a lawfully disclosed work for criticism, review, polemic, or information purposes
Use of works for illustration in teaching and scientific research, to the extent justified by the non-commercial purpose
TDM by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions for scientific research purposes, covering reproduction and extraction
General TDM exception for any person with lawful access, covering reproduction and extraction, subject to rightsholder opt-out