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Netherlands

Auteurswet (geconsolideerd 2025).

Copyright exception history

0%20%40%60%80%100%199019952000200520102015202020251990: 60%1991: 60%1992: 60%1993: 60%1994: 60%1995: 60%1996: 60%1997: 60%1998: 60%1999: 60%2000: 60%2001: 60%2002: 60%2003: 60%2004: 60%2005: 60%2006: 60%2007: 60%2008: 60%2009: 60%2010: 60%2011: 60%2012: 60%2013: 60%2014: 60%2015: 60%2016: 60%2017: 60%2018: 60%2019: 60%2020: 60%2021: 80%2022: 80%2023: 80%2024: 80%2025: 80%YearOpenness score (%)

Selected year snapshot

For 1999, the active event in this file is Wet van 21 december 1995 tot wijziging van de Auteurswet 1912 (thuiskopie).

60%

Current rationale

Art. 16c introduced a private copying levy system for reproductions on recording media. The scope of the private use exception remains essentially the same as Art. 16b: reproduction for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without commercial purpose. This does not change the overall classification. Art. 16b remains in force alongside Art. 16c. The most permissive exception remains private use/study by natural persons (LIGHT BLUE). No sharing is authorized. The levy is a classification-neutral factor.

Exceptions considered

Art. 16b60%Private UseMost permissive

Reproduction limited to a few copies for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without commercial purpose.

Art. 16c60%Private Use

Private copying on recording media for own practice, study or use of a natural person, with levy system.

Art. 15a0%Quotation

Quotation right for scientific treatise etc.

Art. 1640%Educational

Reproduction for illustration for teaching.

Law changes

Auteurswet 1912

Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01

60%

Relevant section: Art. 16b, Art. 16c, Art. 15a, Art. 16

Dates: Effective 1990-01-01

Why this score

The most permissive research-relevant exception in force on 1990-01-01 is Art. 16b (private copying/study). It permits reproduction of full works (limited to a few copies) for own practice, study or use by a natural person without commercial purpose. This covers reproduction of full works of all types, but is restricted to natural persons (private/personal use) and does not authorize sharing/communication. Art. 15a (quotation) only permits quotation/excerpts, not full-work reproduction. Art. 16 (educational use) permits limited reproduction for illustration for teaching but is restricted to short works/short passages and to educational contexts. There is no general fair use or fair dealing clause, no open three-step-test enabling clause, and no institutional research exception that would be more permissive. The private-use restriction to natural persons makes this LIGHT BLUE. The non-commercial restriction and few-copies limit are classification-neutral factors.

Exceptions considered

Art. 16b60%Private UseMost permissive

Reproduction limited to a few copies exclusively for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without direct or indirect commercial purpose. Covers all types of works.

Art. 15a0%Quotation

Quotation from a lawfully published work in an announcement, criticism, polemic or scientific treatise, in accordance with what is reasonably accepted by social custom and justified by the purpose.

Art. 1640%Educational

Reproduction of short works or short passages for illustration for teaching, limited to the purpose of education.

Original text

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Wet van 21 december 1995 tot wijziging van de Auteurswet 1912 (thuiskopie)

Relevant update · Effective 1995-12-29

60%

Relevant section: Art. 16c

Dates: Effective 1995-12-29 · Enacted 1995-12-21

Why this score

Art. 16c introduced a private copying levy system for reproductions on recording media. The scope of the private use exception remains essentially the same as Art. 16b: reproduction for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without commercial purpose. This does not change the overall classification. Art. 16b remains in force alongside Art. 16c. The most permissive exception remains private use/study by natural persons (LIGHT BLUE). No sharing is authorized. The levy is a classification-neutral factor.

Exceptions considered

Art. 16b60%Private UseMost permissive

Reproduction limited to a few copies for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without commercial purpose.

Art. 16c60%Private Use

Private copying on recording media for own practice, study or use of a natural person, with levy system.

Art. 15a0%Quotation

Quotation right for scientific treatise etc.

Art. 1640%Educational

Reproduction for illustration for teaching.

Original text

English rendering

Source links

Wet van 6 juli 2004 tot aanpassing van de Auteurswet 1912 (implementatie Richtlijn 2001/29/EG – Auteursrecht in de informatiemaatschappij)

Relevant update · Effective 2004-09-01

60%

Relevant section: Art. 15h, Art. 15i, Art. 16b, Art. 16c

Dates: Effective 2004-09-01 · Enacted 2004-07-06

Why this score

The 2004 implementation of the EU InfoSoc Directive (2001/29/EC) introduced Art. 15h (dedicated terminals in libraries/archives/museums) and Art. 15i (reproductions by libraries/archives for preservation). Art. 15h only permits on-premises display on dedicated terminals — not lending or providing copies to users — so it does not qualify as PURPLE. Art. 15i permits preservation copies by institutions but not research copies for users. Art. 16b (private use/study) was slightly amended but retained its core scope: reproduction for own practice, study or use of a natural person. Art. 16c was also retained. The most permissive exception for research remains Art. 16b: private use/study by natural persons, covering full works of all types, but limited to reproduction only and to natural persons. Classification remains LIGHT BLUE.

Exceptions considered

Art. 16b60%Private UseMost permissive

Reproduction limited to a few copies for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without commercial purpose. All types of works.

Art. 16c60%Private Use

Private copying on recording media for own practice, study or use of a natural person, with levy.

Art. 15h0%Library Institutional

On-premises display on dedicated terminals by libraries, archives, museums, educational institutions. No copies provided to users.

Art. 15i40%Library Institutional

Reproduction by libraries, archives, museums for preservation purposes (not for providing research copies to users).

Art. 15a0%Quotation

Quotation right.

Art. 1640%Educational

Reproduction for illustration for teaching.

Original text

English rendering

Source links

Implementatiewet richtlijn auteursrecht in de digitale eengemaakte markt (DSM-richtlijn implementatie)

Relevant update · Effective 2021-06-07

80%

Relevant section: Art. 15n, Art. 15o, Art. 16b

Dates: Effective 2021-06-07 · Enacted 2021-06-07

Why this score

With the DSM implementation, Art. 15o introduces a TDM exception open to any user ('one') for reproduction of works to which lawful access exists, covering all types of works. It does not authorize communication/sharing — only reproduction. The rightsholder opt-out is treated as a classification-neutral factor (analogous to contractual override). Art. 15n is narrower (institutional only, scientific research only) but also covers extraction. Art. 16b (private use/study by natural persons) remains in force (LIGHT BLUE). The most permissive exception is now Art. 15o: reproduction of full works of all types by any user for TDM, but no sharing = BLUE. Non-commercial restrictions, lawful access requirements, and opt-out mechanisms are classification-neutral.

Exceptions considered

Art. 15o80%TdmMost permissive

TDM exception for any user: reproduction of works to which lawful access exists for text and data mining. Subject to rightsholder opt-out. No communication/sharing authorized.

Art. 15n40%Tdm

TDM exception for research organisations and cultural heritage institutions: reproduction and extraction for scientific research. Not subject to opt-out. Contract-override protection.

Art. 16b60%Private Use

Private use: reproduction for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without commercial purpose.

Art. 16c60%Private Use

Private copying on recording media with levy.

Art. 15a0%Quotation

Quotation right.

Art. 15h0%Library Institutional

On-premises dedicated terminal display by libraries/archives/museums.

Art. 15i40%Library Institutional

Preservation copies by libraries/archives.

Art. 1640%Educational

Reproduction for illustration for teaching.

Original text

English rendering

Source links

Auteurswet (geconsolideerd 2025)

Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01

80%

Relevant section: Art. 15n, Art. 15o, Art. 16b, Art. 16c, Art. 15a, Art. 15h, Art. 15i, Art. 16

Dates: Effective 2025-01-01

Why this score

As of 2025, the most permissive research-relevant exception in Dutch copyright law is Art. 15o (general TDM exception): it permits reproduction of full works of all types by any user ('one') for text and data mining, provided lawful access. It does not authorize communication/sharing — only reproduction. The rightsholder opt-out (Art. 15o(3)) and lawful access requirement are classification-neutral factors. Art. 15n provides a narrower institutional TDM exception (research organisations and cultural heritage institutions) for scientific research, covering reproduction and extraction, not subject to opt-out — this is PURPLE individually. Art. 16b (private use/study) remains LIGHT BLUE. No exception authorizes sharing/communication of research copies to third parties in a general manner. Therefore the overall classification is BLUE: reproduction of full works, all types, any user, but no sharing.

Exceptions considered

Art. 15o80%TdmMost permissive

General TDM exception: reproduction of works for text and data mining by any user with lawful access. Subject to rightsholder opt-out. No communication/sharing.

Art. 15n40%Tdm

Institutional TDM exception: reproduction and extraction by research organisations and cultural heritage institutions for scientific research. Not subject to opt-out.

Art. 16b60%Private Use

Private use: reproduction for own practice, study or use of a natural person, without commercial purpose. All works, few copies.

Art. 16c60%Private Use

Private copying on recording media with levy system.

Art. 15a0%Quotation

Quotation right in scientific treatise, criticism, polemic etc.

Art. 15h0%Library Institutional

On-premises dedicated terminal display by libraries, archives, museums, educational institutions.

Art. 15i40%Library Institutional

Preservation copies by libraries, archives, museums.

Art. 1640%Educational

Reproduction for illustration for teaching purposes.

Original text

English rendering

Source links