Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Copyright Act 1997.
100%
Current rationale
The Copyright Act 1997 (Act No. 12 of 1997) was the copyright law in force in Mauritius from 1997. It replaced the earlier Copyright Act (which was based on the UK Copyright Act 1956 as extended to Mauritius). The 1997 Act contained exceptions including: Section 12 on fair dealing for purposes of research and private study, and Section 13 on fair dealing for criticism, review, and news reporting. Section 12 provided for fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study. The term 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and it is open to any user and any work. This maps to GREEN. The baseline is set at the date this Act came into force rather than 1990-01-01 because the full statutory text of the pre-1997 law (the Copyright Act based on the UK 1956 Act as extended to Mauritius) could not be verified via web search. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, copy limits) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study — open to any user, any work, covers any exclusive right ('dealing')
Fair dealing for purposes of criticism, review, and news reporting
Law changes
Copyright Act 1997
Baseline · Effective 1997-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Sections 12, 13
Dates: Effective 1997-01-01 · Enacted 1997-01-01
Why this score
The Copyright Act 1997 (Act No. 12 of 1997) was the copyright law in force in Mauritius from 1997. It replaced the earlier Copyright Act (which was based on the UK Copyright Act 1956 as extended to Mauritius). The 1997 Act contained exceptions including: Section 12 on fair dealing for purposes of research and private study, and Section 13 on fair dealing for criticism, review, and news reporting. Section 12 provided for fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study. The term 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and it is open to any user and any work. This maps to GREEN. The baseline is set at the date this Act came into force rather than 1990-01-01 because the full statutory text of the pre-1997 law (the Copyright Act based on the UK 1956 Act as extended to Mauritius) could not be verified via web search. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, copy limits) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study — open to any user, any work, covers any exclusive right ('dealing')
Fair dealing for purposes of criticism, review, and news reporting
Source links
Copyright Act 2014 (Act No. 8 of 2014)
Relevant update · Effective 2014-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Sections 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Dates: Effective 2014-01-01 · Enacted 2014-01-01
Why this score
The Copyright Act 2014 replaced the Copyright Act 1997 entirely. It introduced a modernized set of exceptions and limitations. The 2014 Act contains provisions on: fair dealing for research and private study (Section 12); fair dealing for criticism, review, and news reporting (Section 13); reproduction for personal or private use (Section 14); reproduction by libraries and archives (Section 15); reproduction for teaching (Section 16); and other exceptions. Section 12 of the 2014 Act provides for fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study. This is open to any user, any work, and 'dealing' covers any exclusive right. This maps to GREEN. The private use exception (Section 14) would be LIGHT BLUE standing alone, but the broader fair dealing exception determines the overall classification. Classification-neutral factors were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study — open to any user, any work, covers any exclusive right
Reproduction for personal or private use — restricted to individual users making copies for their own private use
Reproduction by libraries and archives — institutional exception for preservation and supply of copies to users
Reproduction for teaching purposes — educational exception
Fair dealing for criticism, review, and news reporting
Source links
Copyright (Amendment) Act 2017 (Act No. 13 of 2017)
Relevant update · Effective 2017-11-23
100%
Relevant section: Various sections amending the Copyright Act 2014
Dates: Effective 2017-11-23 · Enacted 2017-11-23
Why this score
The Copyright (Amendment) Act 2017 amended the Copyright Act 2014. Based on the WIPO Lex record, this amendment was published on 23 November 2017. The amendment made various changes to the 2014 Act but the core fair dealing exception for research and private study (Section 12 of the 2014 Act) remained in force. The overall classification remains GREEN because the fair dealing for research/private study exception continues to apply to any user, any work, and covers any exclusive right through the term 'dealing'. Classification-neutral factors were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study — open to any user, any work, covers any exclusive right
Reproduction for personal or private use
Reproduction by libraries and archives
Reproduction for teaching purposes
Source links
Copyright Act 2014 (as amended by the Copyright (Amendment) Act 2017)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2017-11-23
100%
Relevant section: Section 12
Dates: Effective 2017-11-23 · Enacted 2017-11-23
Why this score
As of 2025, the Copyright Act 2014 as amended by the Copyright (Amendment) Act 2017 remains the copyright law in force in Mauritius. The fair dealing exception for research and private study (Section 12) remains in force. This exception is open to any user, applies to any work, and the term 'dealing' covers any exclusive right (reproduction, communication, etc.). This maps to GREEN. The private use exception (Section 14), library/archive exception (Section 15), and educational exception (Section 16) also remain in force but are less permissive than the fair dealing provision. No TDM-specific exception has been identified in the Mauritian copyright law. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restrictions, copy limits, remuneration requirements) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study — open to any user, any work, covers any exclusive right ('dealing')
Reproduction for personal or private use — restricted to individual private users
Reproduction by libraries and archives — institutional exception
Reproduction for teaching purposes — educational exception that may also cover scientific research in teaching context
Fair dealing for criticism, review, and news reporting