Selected year snapshot
For 2014, the active event in this file is Ley No. 577, Ley de Reformas y Adiciones a la Ley No. 312, Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos.
60%
Current rationale
Ley No. 577 of 2006 reformed and added provisions to Ley No. 312, primarily strengthening enforcement, adding provisions on technological protection measures, and addressing digital rights management, consistent with CAFTA-DR obligations. The core exceptions in Articles 31-34 were not materially altered with respect to research use. Article 31 (private/personal use reproduction) remains the most permissive research-relevant exception. No TDM exception was added. No fair use or fair dealing clause was introduced. The classification remains LIGHT BLUE for the same reasons as the baseline: the private-use exception permits full-work reproduction for personal/private use by the individual, but does not authorize sharing or institutional use, and no broader research exception exists.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction exclusively for personal or private use, single copy, handwritten or typewritten, of a published work, excluding architectural works as buildings.
Quotation of short fragments of a published work for criticism, commentary, or similar purposes.
Reproduction for illustration for teaching in educational establishments, short extracts/articles only.
Reproduction by libraries/archives of a single copy for preservation or replacement purposes.
Law changes
Ley No. 312, Ley de Derechos de Autor y Derechos Conexos
Baseline · Effective 1999-09-01
60%
Relevant section: Artículos 31, 32, 33, 34
Dates: Effective 1999-09-01 · Enacted 1999-07-06
Why this score
The most permissive research-relevant exception is Art. 31, which permits reproduction for personal or private use by the individual making the copy, in a single copy, handwritten or typewritten. This covers full works (except architectural works as buildings) but is restricted to personal/private use (individual user only) and does not authorize sharing or communication. Art. 32 permits quotation of short fragments. Art. 33 permits reproduction for teaching purposes (illustration for teaching, not research per se). Art. 34 permits reproduction by libraries/archives of a single copy for preservation or replacement, not for research distribution. No general fair use, fair dealing, or open research exception exists. The private-use exception in Art. 31 is the most permissive for a researcher, but it is limited to personal/private use by the individual, hence LIGHT BLUE. The single-copy and handwritten/typewritten restrictions are noted but do not change the color classification per the classification-neutral factors rule (copy limits). However, the handwritten/typewritten limitation is a format restriction that effectively limits practical utility but does not change the color category. The exclusion of architectural works (as buildings) is a minor carve-out but does not change the classification since full-work reproduction is still permitted for most work types. No TDM exception exists. The law was approved on 6 July 1999 and published in La Gaceta Nos. 166 and 167 of 31 August and 1 September 1999. This is the earliest copyright law text verified for Nicaragua in the relevant period. Prior to this law, Nicaragua's copyright was governed by older provisions that could not be verified via search.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction exclusively for personal or private use, single copy, handwritten or typewritten, of a published work, excluding architectural works as buildings. Subject to three-step test language.
Quotation of short fragments of a published work for criticism, commentary, or similar purposes, with source attribution.
Reproduction for illustration for teaching in educational establishments, to the extent justified by the purpose, of articles, short works, or short extracts of works, with source attribution.
Reproduction by libraries, archives, or similar institutions of a single copy for preservation, replacement of lost/damaged copies, or to replace a copy in another library's permanent collection.
Original text
Artículo 31.- Es permitida sin autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, la reproducción de una obra exclusivamente para el uso personal o privado de quien la hace, hecha en un solo ejemplar, manuscrita o mecanografiada, que no sea una obra de arquitectura en forma de edificio o de otra construcción, siempre que se trate de una obra publicada y que la reproducción no sea contraria a la explotación normal de la obra ni cause un perjuicio injustificado a los intereses legítimos del autor.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 31.- Reproduction of a work exclusively for the personal or private use of the person making it is permitted without the author's authorization or payment of remuneration, made in a single copy, handwritten or typewritten, provided it is not a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction, provided it is a published work and the reproduction is not contrary to the normal exploitation of the work nor causes unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author.
Source links
Ley No. 577, Ley de Reformas y Adiciones a la Ley No. 312, Ley de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos
Relevant update · Effective 2006-04-06
60%
Relevant section: Artículos 31, 32, 33, 34 (as amended/maintained by Ley 577)
Dates: Effective 2006-04-06 · Enacted 2006-03-16
Why this score
Ley No. 577 of 2006 reformed and added provisions to Ley No. 312, primarily strengthening enforcement, adding provisions on technological protection measures, and addressing digital rights management, consistent with CAFTA-DR obligations. The core exceptions in Articles 31-34 were not materially altered with respect to research use. Article 31 (private/personal use reproduction) remains the most permissive research-relevant exception. No TDM exception was added. No fair use or fair dealing clause was introduced. The classification remains LIGHT BLUE for the same reasons as the baseline: the private-use exception permits full-work reproduction for personal/private use by the individual, but does not authorize sharing or institutional use, and no broader research exception exists.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction exclusively for personal or private use, single copy, handwritten or typewritten, of a published work, excluding architectural works as buildings.
Quotation of short fragments of a published work for criticism, commentary, or similar purposes.
Reproduction for illustration for teaching in educational establishments, short extracts/articles only.
Reproduction by libraries/archives of a single copy for preservation or replacement purposes.
Original text
Artículo 31.- Es permitida sin autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, la reproducción de una obra exclusivamente para el uso personal o privado de quien la hace, hecha en un solo ejemplar, manuscrita o mecanografiada, que no sea una obra de arquitectura en forma de edificio o de otra construcción, siempre que se trate de una obra publicada y que la reproducción no sea contraria a la explotación normal de la obra ni cause un perjuicio injustificado a los intereses legítimos del autor.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 31.- Reproduction of a work exclusively for the personal or private use of the person making it is permitted without the author's authorization or payment of remuneration, made in a single copy, handwritten or typewritten, provided it is not a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction, provided it is a published work and the reproduction is not contrary to the normal exploitation of the work nor causes unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author.
Source links
Ley No. 312, Ley de Derechos de Autor y Derechos Conexos (as amended by Ley No. 577 of 2006, consolidated text per Digesto Jurídico 2020)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
60%
Relevant section: Artículos 31, 32, 33, 34
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, Nicaragua's copyright law remains Ley No. 312 of 1999 as amended by Ley No. 577 of 2006, with the consolidated text published in 2020 via the Digesto Jurídico Nicaragüense. No further amendments affecting research-related exceptions have been identified. The exception inventory remains the same: Art. 31 (private/personal use reproduction — LIGHT BLUE), Art. 32 (quotation of short fragments — RED), Art. 33 (educational illustration with short extracts — RED), Art. 34 (library/archive preservation copies — PURPLE). No TDM exception exists. No fair use or fair dealing clause exists. No general research exception exists. The most permissive exception for a researcher remains Art. 31, which permits reproduction of full works (except architectural works as buildings) for personal/private use, in a single handwritten or typewritten copy. This does not authorize sharing, communication, or institutional use. Classification: LIGHT BLUE. The handwritten/typewritten format restriction and single-copy limit are noted but treated as classification-neutral per the rules (copy-limit and format restrictions do not change the color). The exclusion of architectural works as buildings is a minor carve-out that does not change the overall classification since full-work reproduction is still available for virtually all other work types.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction exclusively for personal or private use, single copy, handwritten or typewritten, of a published work, excluding architectural works as buildings. Subject to three-step test.
Quotation of short fragments of a published work for criticism, commentary, or similar purposes, with source attribution.
Reproduction for illustration for teaching in educational establishments, limited to articles, short works, or short extracts, with source attribution.
Reproduction by libraries, archives, or similar non-profit institutions of a single copy for preservation or replacement of lost/damaged copies, or to supply another library's permanent collection.
Original text
Artículo 31.- Es permitida sin autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, la reproducción de una obra exclusivamente para el uso personal o privado de quien la hace, hecha en un solo ejemplar, manuscrita o mecanografiada, que no sea una obra de arquitectura en forma de edificio o de otra construcción, siempre que se trate de una obra publicada y que la reproducción no sea contraria a la explotación normal de la obra ni cause un perjuicio injustificado a los intereses legítimos del autor.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 31.- Reproduction of a work exclusively for the personal or private use of the person making it is permitted without the author's authorization or payment of remuneration, made in a single copy, handwritten or typewritten, provided it is not a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction, provided it is a published work and the reproduction is not contrary to the normal exploitation of the work nor causes unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author.