Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Baseline.
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Current rationale
As of 1990-01-01, Palau had no dedicated copyright statute. Palau became independent in 1994 under the Compact of Free Association with the United States. Prior to independence, Palau was part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands administered by the US. It is unclear whether US copyright law (Title 17 USC) applied directly to Palau during the trusteeship period, and no specific Trust Territory copyright ordinance has been located. Without being able to verify the actual statutory text governing copyright exceptions in Palau as of 1990-01-01, the status is AMBIGUOUS.
Law changes
Baseline
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
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Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
As of 1990-01-01, Palau had no dedicated copyright statute. Palau became independent in 1994 under the Compact of Free Association with the United States. Prior to independence, Palau was part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands administered by the US. It is unclear whether US copyright law (Title 17 USC) applied directly to Palau during the trusteeship period, and no specific Trust Territory copyright ordinance has been located. Without being able to verify the actual statutory text governing copyright exceptions in Palau as of 1990-01-01, the status is AMBIGUOUS.
Palau Copyright Act (RPPL No. 6-36)
Relevant update · Effective 2003-11-07
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Relevant section: Sections 1201–1206 (Chapter 12, Title 35 Palau National Code)
Dates: Effective 2003-11-07 · Enacted 2003-11-07
Why this score
Palau's first copyright statute was enacted in 2003 (RPPL No. 6-36), codified in Title 35 of the Palau National Code. The WIPO Lex record confirms the existence of this act and hosts it, but the full statutory text of the exceptions and limitations provisions could not be retrieved in a readable format from the WIPO Lex page or any other primary source during this search. News reports from RNZ (2003-12-03) confirm President Remengesau signed the law and that it protects literary works, sound recordings, architectural works, computer programs, and performers' rights. A secondary source (lawgratis.com) describes exceptions for 'private use,' 'fair use for criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research,' and 'use by libraries and archives,' but this is not a primary statutory source and cannot be relied upon for verbatim text or precise section numbers. Without access to the actual statutory text of the exceptions provisions, the classification remains AMBIGUOUS. If the secondary source description is accurate, the law would likely be GREEN (fair use for research open to any user, any work, covering 'use' broadly), but this cannot be confirmed from primary sources.
Exceptions considered
Reportedly permits fair use for criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research — but verbatim text not verified from primary source
Reportedly permits private use — but verbatim text not verified from primary source
Reportedly permits use by libraries and archives — but verbatim text not verified from primary source
Source links
Palau Copyright Act (RPPL No. 6-36, as codified in Title 35 Palau National Code)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
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Relevant section: Sections within Chapter 12, Title 35 PNC (exact section numbers for exceptions unverified)
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the Palau Copyright Act (RPPL No. 6-36) remains the governing copyright statute. No amending legislation was found via web search. The WIPO Lex record does not list any subsequent amendments. The full verbatim text of the exceptions and limitations provisions could not be retrieved from any primary source during this search. Based on the unverified secondary description (lawgratis.com), the law reportedly includes: (1) a fair use exception covering research, criticism, commentary, news reporting, and teaching; (2) a private use exception; and (3) a library/archive exception. If the fair use provision is indeed a general fair use clause open to any user, any work, and covering 'use' broadly (not limited to reproduction), the classification would be GREEN. However, because the actual statutory text has not been verified, the classification must remain AMBIGUOUS. The three classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, copy limits, remuneration) were not factored into this assessment.
Exceptions considered
Reportedly permits fair use for criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research — verbatim text not verified from primary source
Reportedly permits private use — verbatim text not verified from primary source
Reportedly permits use by libraries and archives — verbatim text not verified from primary source