Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Baseline.
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Current rationale
Latvia regained independence on 4 May 1990 and did not have a modern copyright statute in force on 1 January 1990. The Soviet-era Civil Code of the Latvian SSR contained copyright provisions, but the actual text of those provisions as in force on 1990-01-01 could not be retrieved or verified via web search. Latvia's first post-independence copyright law was adopted on 6 April 2000. No verified statutory text for the 1990-01-01 baseline could be located.
Law changes
Baseline
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
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Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
Latvia regained independence on 4 May 1990 and did not have a modern copyright statute in force on 1 January 1990. The Soviet-era Civil Code of the Latvian SSR contained copyright provisions, but the actual text of those provisions as in force on 1990-01-01 could not be retrieved or verified via web search. Latvia's first post-independence copyright law was adopted on 6 April 2000. No verified statutory text for the 1990-01-01 baseline could be located.
Autortiesību likums (Copyright Law)
Relevant update · Effective 2000-05-11
100%
Relevant section: Section 19, Section 20, Section 21
Dates: Effective 2000-05-11 · Enacted 2000-04-06
Why this score
Section 19(1)(4) permits both reproduction AND making available to the public for the purposes of scientific research, covering lawfully published works, to the extent justified by the purpose. This exception is open to any user (not restricted to individuals or institutions), covers any type of work (except works specifically created for educational purposes), and covers both reproduction and communication/making available. This maps to GREEN. Section 20 provides personal-use reproduction (LIGHT BLUE due to personal-use restriction and exclusions for databases, computer programs, whole books, and musical scores). Section 21 provides institutional copying by libraries/archives/museums (PURPLE). The most permissive exception is Section 19(1)(4), which determines the overall classification as GREEN. The non-commercial restriction implicit in 'scientific research' and the 'extent justified by the purpose' proportionality qualifier are classification-neutral factors.
Exceptions considered
Permits reproduction and making available to the public for purposes of scientific research or teaching, to the extent justified by the purpose, of lawfully published works (except works specifically created for educational purposes). Open to any user.
Permits a natural person to reproduce a lawfully published work for personal use, but excludes: architecture, databases, computer programs, reprographic reproduction of whole books, and musical scores by any means.
Permits libraries, archives and museums to reproduce lawfully published works for their activities, not for commercial purposes.
Permits use of quotations from lawfully published works for scientific, critical, polemic, or other purposes, to the extent justified by the purpose.
Original text
Section 19. Free Use of a Work for Informative Purposes (1) Without the consent of the author and without payment of remuneration, but indicating the name of the author and the source, it shall be permitted: ... 4) to reproduce and make available to the public for the purposes of scientific research or teaching, to the extent justified by the purpose, a work which has been lawfully published, except for a work which has been specifically created for educational purposes; ... Section 20. Free Reproduction of a Work for Personal Use (1) Without the consent of the author and without payment of remuneration, a natural person may reproduce a work which has been lawfully published, for personal use. (2) The provisions of Paragraph one of this Section shall not apply to: 1) the reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or a similar structure; 2) the reproduction of a database or an essential part thereof; 3) the reproduction of a computer program, except for the cases referred to in Section 25 of this Law; 4) the reprographic reproduction of the whole of a book or a musical work (notes); 5) the reproduction of a musical work (notes) by any means. Section 21. Free Use of a Work for the Purposes of Libraries, Archives and Museums (1) Without the consent of the author and without payment of remuneration, libraries, archives and museums may reproduce a work which has been lawfully published, for the purposes of their activities, if the reproduction is not carried out for direct or indirect commercial purposes.
Source links
Grozījumi Autortiesību likumā (Amendments to the Copyright Law, 22 April 2004)
Relevant update · Effective 2004-05-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 19(1)(4), Section 20, Section 21
Dates: Effective 2004-05-01 · Enacted 2004-04-22
Why this score
The 22 April 2004 amendments (in force 1 May 2004) amended the Copyright Law to transpose EU Directive 2001/29/EC (InfoSoc Directive). The consolidated text shows Section 19(1)(4) was retained with its core permission to reproduce and make available to the public for scientific research purposes. Section 20 on personal use and Section 21 on library use were also adjusted. The overall classification remains GREEN because Section 19(1)(4) continues to permit reproduction and making available to the public for scientific research, open to any user, for lawfully published works.
Exceptions considered
Permits reproduction and making available to the public for purposes of scientific research or teaching, to the extent justified by the purpose, of lawfully published works (except works specifically created for educational purposes).
Personal use reproduction by natural persons, with exclusions for architecture, databases, computer programs, whole books (reprographic), and musical scores.
Library, archive, and museum reproduction for institutional purposes, non-commercial.
Quotation from lawfully published works for scientific or other purposes.
Source links
Grozījumi Autortiesību likumā (Amendments to the Copyright Law, 12 September 2013)
Relevant update · Effective 2014-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 19(1)(4), Section 20, Section 21
Dates: Effective 2014-01-01 · Enacted 2013-09-12
Why this score
The 12 September 2013 amendments (in force 1 January 2014) transposed EU Directive 2012/28/EU on orphan works and made other adjustments. The consolidated text confirms Section 19(1)(4) remained in force with its permission to reproduce and make available to the public for scientific research. The overall classification remains GREEN.
Exceptions considered
Permits reproduction and making available to the public for purposes of scientific research or teaching, to the extent justified by the purpose, of lawfully published works.
Personal use reproduction by natural persons with exclusions.
Library, archive, and museum reproduction for institutional purposes.
Source links
Autortiesību likums (Copyright Law), as amended
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 19(1)(4), Section 20, Section 21
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, Latvia's Copyright Law contains Section 19(1)(4), which permits both reproduction and making available to the public for the purposes of scientific research, open to any user, covering lawfully published works of all types (with only a minor exclusion for works specifically created for educational purposes). This covers all three dimensions broadly: Uses (reproduction + making available), Works (all works except educational-specific), Users (any person). This maps to GREEN. Additionally, Latvia has transposed the DSM Directive's TDM exceptions, which further support research uses. Section 20 (personal use with exclusions) and Section 21 (library/archive/museum use) remain in force but are less permissive. The 'to the extent justified by the purpose' proportionality qualifier is a classification-neutral factor. The exclusion of works 'specifically created for educational purposes' is a narrow carve-out that does not change the GREEN classification, as it does not exclude a major category of works from research use.
Exceptions considered
Permits reproduction and making available to the public for purposes of scientific research or teaching, to the extent justified by the purpose, of lawfully published works (except works specifically created for educational purposes). Open to any user.
Quotation from lawfully published works for scientific, critical, polemic, or other purposes, to the extent justified by the purpose.
Personal use reproduction by natural persons. Excludes: architecture, databases, computer programs, reprographic reproduction of whole books, and musical scores by any means.
Libraries, archives and museums may reproduce lawfully published works for their activities, non-commercial.
TDM exceptions transposing DSM Directive Articles 3 and 4. Art. 3 transposition: TDM by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions for scientific research. Art. 4 transposition: general TDM with opt-out.
Original text
Section 19. Free Use of a Work for Informative Purposes (1) Without the consent of the author and without payment of remuneration, but indicating the name of the author and the source, it shall be permitted: ... 4) to reproduce and make available to the public for the purposes of scientific research or teaching, to the extent justified by the purpose, a work which has been lawfully published, except for a work which has been specifically created for educational purposes;
Source links
Grozījumi Autortiesību likumā (Amendments to the Copyright Law transposing DSM Directive)
Relevant update · undated in this pass
100%
Relevant section: Section 19(1)(4), Section 20, Section 21, new TDM provisions
Why this score
Latvia transposed EU Directive 2019/790 (DSM Directive) into national law. The DSM Directive required member states to introduce mandatory TDM exceptions (Articles 3 and 4). Latvia's transposition added TDM-specific provisions to the Copyright Law. However, even before the TDM provisions, Latvia already had Section 19(1)(4) permitting reproduction and making available to the public for scientific research, which already yielded a GREEN classification. The addition of TDM provisions reinforces or maintains the GREEN classification. The pre-existing Section 19(1)(4) research exception remains the most permissive provision for general research use.
Exceptions considered
Permits reproduction and making available to the public for purposes of scientific research or teaching, to the extent justified by the purpose.
TDM exception for research organizations and cultural heritage institutions (Art. 3 transposition) and general TDM exception with opt-out (Art. 4 transposition).
Personal use reproduction by natural persons with exclusions.
Library, archive, and museum reproduction for institutional purposes.