Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act, 1991.
0%
Current rationale
The Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act 1991 came into force on September 30, 1991. It prohibits unauthorized copying of sound recordings and audiovisual works only. It is not a general copyright act. Section 204 provides exceptions, but based on the structure and purpose of the Act (criminal prohibition of piracy of recorded materials), these exceptions are narrow and do not include research, private study, fair use, fair dealing, TDM, library, or educational exceptions. The Act does not cover literary works, artistic works, or other categories of copyrightable works. No general copyright statute exists in the Marshall Islands. Classification remains RED because no provision permits full-work reproduction for research purposes. The three dimensions: Uses — no research reproduction authorized; Works — only sound recordings and audiovisual works are addressed; Users — no user class is granted research copying rights.
Exceptions considered
Exceptions to the prohibition on unauthorized copying of sound recordings and audiovisual works. The full text was not retrievable but the Act's narrow scope (anti-piracy of recorded materials) indicates these are not research-related exceptions.
Law changes
Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act, 1991
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
0%
Relevant section: §203, §204
Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
The Marshall Islands does not have a general copyright act. As of 1990-01-01, there was no copyright statute in force in the Marshall Islands. The only intellectual property legislation related to copyright that has been enacted is the Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act 1991 (P.L. 1991-132), which came into force on September 30, 1991. This Act is narrowly focused on prohibiting unauthorized copying of sound recordings and audiovisual works. It does not establish a general copyright regime and does not contain any general fair use, fair dealing, research, private study, TDM, library, or educational exceptions. Section 204 provides limited exceptions but these relate to law enforcement and similar narrow purposes, not to research or private study. The Marshall Islands Revised Code 2012 Table of Contents (Title 20 - Business Regulation and Practice) confirms that no general copyright act exists. Without any copyright statute in force on 1990-01-01, there were no copyright exceptions or limitations for research. The classification is RED because no provision permits full-work reproduction for research purposes for any type of work.
Source links
Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act, 1991
Relevant update · Effective 1991-09-30
0%
Relevant section: §203, §204
Dates: Effective 1991-09-30 · Enacted 1991-09-30
Why this score
The Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act 1991 came into force on September 30, 1991. It prohibits unauthorized copying of sound recordings and audiovisual works only. It is not a general copyright act. Section 204 provides exceptions, but based on the structure and purpose of the Act (criminal prohibition of piracy of recorded materials), these exceptions are narrow and do not include research, private study, fair use, fair dealing, TDM, library, or educational exceptions. The Act does not cover literary works, artistic works, or other categories of copyrightable works. No general copyright statute exists in the Marshall Islands. Classification remains RED because no provision permits full-work reproduction for research purposes. The three dimensions: Uses — no research reproduction authorized; Works — only sound recordings and audiovisual works are addressed; Users — no user class is granted research copying rights.
Exceptions considered
Exceptions to the prohibition on unauthorized copying of sound recordings and audiovisual works. The full text was not retrievable but the Act's narrow scope (anti-piracy of recorded materials) indicates these are not research-related exceptions.
Original text
§203. Sound Recordings and Audiovisual Works. Unless otherwise exempt under Section 204 of this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association: (1) to transfer or cause to be transferred any sound recordings or audiovisual works on a phono-record, disc, wire, tape, film, or ot
English rendering
§203. Sound Recordings and Audiovisual Works. Unless otherwise exempt under Section 204 of this Chapter, it shall be unlawful for any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association: (1) to transfer or cause to be transferred any sound recordings or audiovisual works on a phono-record, disc, wire, tape, film, or other article...
Source links
Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act, 1991
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
0%
Relevant section: §203, §204
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the Marshall Islands still does not have a general copyright act. The only copyright-related legislation remains the Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act 1991, which is a narrow anti-piracy statute covering only sound recordings and audiovisual works. It does not contain any exceptions for research, private study, fair use, fair dealing, TDM, library copying, or educational use. The Marshall Islands Revised Code 2012 (the most recent consolidated code available) confirms no general copyright statute exists. The WIPO Lex database for the Marshall Islands lists no other copyright legislation. Classification is RED because: (1) Uses — no provision authorizes reproduction or communication for research; (2) Works — no general copyright regime exists covering literary, artistic, or other works; (3) Users — no user class is granted research copying rights. There is no provision in Marshall Islands law that permits a researcher to reproduce a complete work of any type for research purposes.
Exceptions considered
Exceptions under the Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act 1991. Narrow exceptions to anti-piracy prohibitions on sound recordings and audiovisual works. Not research-related.