Selected year snapshot
For 2024, the active event in this file is Loi n° 491 du 24 novembre 1948 sur la protection des œuvres littéraires et artistiques (telle que modifiée par la loi n° 1.526 du 1er juillet 2022).
100%
Current rationale
As of 2025, the consolidated version of Law No. 491 of 24 November 1948 (as amended up to Law No. 1.526 of 1 July 2022) remains in force. The most permissive research-relevant exception is Art. 22-1, the TDM exception, which permits both reproduction and representation (communication) of works for text and data mining purposes, open to any user (not restricted to institutions or individuals), covering all types of works, from a lawful source. The exclusion of exclusively commercial purposes is classification-neutral. The pre-existing Art. 21(1°) quotation exception also remains in force but is less permissive (RED). No further amendments to the research/TDM exceptions have been identified between July 2022 and early 2025. The Sovereign Order n° 10.300 of 22 December 2023 relates to the resale right, not to copyright exceptions for research or TDM. Classification: GREEN.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations justified by critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character
TDM exception permitting reproduction and representation of works for text and data mining from lawful source, not for exclusively commercial purposes
Provisional reproduction of a transitory or incidental nature as part of a technical process
Law changes
Loi n° 491 du 24 novembre 1948 sur la protection des œuvres littéraires et artistiques
Baseline · Effective 1948-11-24
0%
Relevant section: Art. 21
Dates: Effective 1948-11-24 · Enacted 1948-11-24
Why this score
The only research-relevant exception in the 1948 law (as in force around 1990) is Art. 21(1°), which permits 'analyses and short quotations' ('analyses et courtes citations') justified by scientific or other purposes. This is limited to short quotations and analyses — it does not permit reproduction of full works. There is no private-use exception, no library/institutional exception, no fair dealing or fair use clause, and no TDM exception. The ceiling on reproduction is excerpts/quotations, not full works. This maps to RED. The reproduction of works of figurative art in public places (Art. 21(3°)) is not a research exception. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, lawful publication requirement) were not considered in the color assignment.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations justified by critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character of the incorporating work
Reproduction of works of figurative art located in a place accessible to the public, by a different process than the original
Provisional reproduction of a transitory or incidental nature as part of a technical process with no independent economic significance
Original text
Lorsque l'œuvre a été licitement publiée, l'auteur ne peut interdire : 1° Les analyses et courtes citations justifiées par le caractère critique, polémique, pédagogique, scientifique ou d'information de l'œuvre à laquelle elles sont incorporées ; 2° Les revues de presse ; 3° La reproduction, même intégrale, d'œuvres d'art figurant dans un lieu accessible au public, par un procédé autre que celui utilisé pour la création de l'original ; 4° La parodie, le pastiche et la caricature, compte tenu des lois du genre ; 5° La reproduction provisoire présentant un caractère transitoire ou accessoire, lorsqu'elle est une partie intégrante et essentielle d'un procédé technique et qu'elle n'a pas de signification économique indépendante.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: When the work has been lawfully published, the author may not prohibit: 1° Analyses and short quotations justified by the critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character of the work in which they are incorporated; 2° Press reviews; 3° The reproduction, even in full, of works of figurative art located in a place accessible to the public, by a process other than that used for the creation of the original; 4° Parody, pastiche and caricature, taking into account the laws of the genre; 5° Provisional reproduction of a transitory or incidental nature, where it is an integral and essential part of a technical process and has no independent economic significance.
Source links
Loi n° 1.526 du 1er juillet 2022 modifiant la loi n° 491 du 24 novembre 1948 sur la protection des œuvres littéraires et artistiques
Relevant update · Effective 2022-07-01
100%
Relevant section: Art. 21, Art. 22-1 (new)
Dates: Effective 2022-07-01 · Enacted 2022-07-01
Why this score
Law No. 1.526 of 1 July 2022 introduced Art. 22-1, a TDM exception that permits both 'reproduction' and 'representation' (i.e., communication/making available) of works for text and data mining purposes, from a lawful source. It applies to all types of works and is not restricted to specific user classes (any user may invoke it, not only institutions). It covers both reproduction and communication ('représentation'), satisfying the sharing dimension. It applies to all works without category exclusions. It is open to any user (not limited to individuals or institutions), though it excludes exclusively commercial purposes — this is a classification-neutral factor per the instructions. The pre-existing Art. 21(1°) quotation exception remains in force but is less permissive (RED). The TDM exception is the most permissive and determines the color as GREEN. The deletion requirement and lawful-access requirement are classification-neutral factors and do not affect the color.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations justified by critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character
TDM exception permitting reproduction and representation of works for text and data mining from lawful source, not for exclusively commercial purposes, copies deleted after process
Provisional reproduction of a transitory or incidental nature as part of a technical process
Original text
Art. 22-1. – Nonobstant la cession de son droit de reproduction, l'auteur ne peut interdire la reproduction ou la représentation d'une œuvre effectuée à des fins de fouille de textes et de données telle que définie au III de l'article 10-1, sous réserve que cette reproduction ou représentation soit réalisée à partir d'une source licite d'accès. Les copies réalisées en application du premier alinéa sont supprimées à l'issue du processus de fouille de textes et de données. Les dispositions du présent article ne s'appliquent pas aux reproductions ou représentations d'œuvres réalisées à des fins de fouille de textes et de données à des fins exclusivement commerciales.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Art. 22-1. – Notwithstanding the assignment of the right of reproduction, the author may not prohibit the reproduction or representation of a work carried out for the purposes of text and data mining as defined in Article 10-1(III), provided that such reproduction or representation is made from a lawful source of access. Copies made pursuant to the first paragraph shall be deleted at the end of the text and data mining process. The provisions of this article shall not apply to reproductions or representations of works carried out for text and data mining for exclusively commercial purposes.
Source links
Loi n° 491 du 24 novembre 1948 sur la protection des œuvres littéraires et artistiques (telle que modifiée par la loi n° 1.526 du 1er juillet 2022)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2022-07-01
100%
Relevant section: Art. 21, Art. 22-1
Dates: Effective 2022-07-01 · Enacted 2022-07-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the consolidated version of Law No. 491 of 24 November 1948 (as amended up to Law No. 1.526 of 1 July 2022) remains in force. The most permissive research-relevant exception is Art. 22-1, the TDM exception, which permits both reproduction and representation (communication) of works for text and data mining purposes, open to any user (not restricted to institutions or individuals), covering all types of works, from a lawful source. The exclusion of exclusively commercial purposes is classification-neutral. The pre-existing Art. 21(1°) quotation exception also remains in force but is less permissive (RED). No further amendments to the research/TDM exceptions have been identified between July 2022 and early 2025. The Sovereign Order n° 10.300 of 22 December 2023 relates to the resale right, not to copyright exceptions for research or TDM. Classification: GREEN.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations justified by critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character
TDM exception permitting reproduction and representation of works for text and data mining from lawful source, not for exclusively commercial purposes
Provisional reproduction of a transitory or incidental nature as part of a technical process
Original text
Art. 22-1. – Nonobstant la cession de son droit de reproduction, l'auteur ne peut interdire la reproduction ou la représentation d'une œuvre effectuée à des fins de fouille de textes et de données telle que définie au III de l'article 10-1, sous réserve que cette reproduction ou représentation soit réalisée à partir d'une source licite d'accès. Les copies réalisées en application du premier alinéa sont supprimées à l'issue du processus de fouille de textes et de données. Les dispositions du présent article ne s'appliquent pas aux reproductions ou représentations d'œuvres réalisées à des fins de fouille de textes et de données à des fins exclusivement commerciales.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Art. 22-1. – Notwithstanding the assignment of the right of reproduction, the author may not prohibit the reproduction or representation of a work carried out for the purposes of text and data mining as defined in Article 10-1(III), provided that such reproduction or representation is made from a lawful source of access. Copies made pursuant to the first paragraph shall be deleted at the end of the text and data mining process. The provisions of this article shall not apply to reproductions or representations of works carried out for text and data mining for exclusively commercial purposes.