Selected year snapshot
For 1999, the active event in this file is Baseline.
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Current rationale
Rwanda's copyright law in force on 1990-01-01 could not be identified or verified. Prior to the Law No. 31/2009, Rwanda's intellectual property was governed by older legislation inherited from the colonial/post-independence period. No official text of a pre-2009 Rwandan copyright statute could be located or verified via web search. The earliest verifiable copyright-specific legislation is Law No. 31/2009 of 26/10/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property. Because the actual statutory text in force on 1990-01-01 cannot be verified, this baseline is marked AMBIGUOUS.
Law changes
Baseline
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
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Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
Rwanda's copyright law in force on 1990-01-01 could not be identified or verified. Prior to the Law No. 31/2009, Rwanda's intellectual property was governed by older legislation inherited from the colonial/post-independence period. No official text of a pre-2009 Rwandan copyright statute could be located or verified via web search. The earliest verifiable copyright-specific legislation is Law No. 31/2009 of 26/10/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property. Because the actual statutory text in force on 1990-01-01 cannot be verified, this baseline is marked AMBIGUOUS.
Law No. 31/2009 of 26/10/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property
Relevant update · Effective 2009-10-26
0%
Relevant section: Articles 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177
Dates: Effective 2009-10-26 · Enacted 2009-10-26
Why this score
Assessing all exceptions in force under Law No. 31/2009: (1) Article 173 permits private reproduction of a published work in a single copy by a natural person for personal purposes — this covers full works (excluding architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs), but is restricted to personal/private use by individuals. This would be LIGHT BLUE on its own, but the exclusion of computer programs and substantial parts of digital databases makes it ORANGE. However, re-examining: the private reproduction exception does permit reproduction of full works of most types (literary, musical, artistic, audiovisual) for personal purposes, excluding only architecture, digital databases, and computer programs. This is ORANGE (full works permitted for some types but not all, restricted to private/personal use). (2) Article 175(2) permits library/archive reproduction of 'an article... a short work or a short extract of a work' for study, scholarship, or private research — this is limited to articles, short works, or short extracts, not full-length works generally. This is RED on its own. (3) Article 174 covers teaching only (short parts, articles, short works, short extracts). (4) Article 176 covers quotations and illustration for teaching. The most permissive exception for research purposes specifically is Article 175(2), which is limited to articles, short works, or short extracts — this does not permit full-work reproduction of books or longer works. Article 173 (private reproduction) does permit full-work reproduction of most work types but excludes computer programs, digital databases, and architecture. However, Article 173 is for 'personal purposes' generally, not specifically research, but it is available for research conducted privately. Under the classification rules, Article 173 permits full-work reproduction but excludes specific categories of works (computer programs, substantial parts of digital databases, architecture). This maps to ORANGE. But re-reading the instructions: 'LIGHT BLUE: restricted to individuals (private use, personal use)' and 'ORANGE: permits full works but excludes specific categories.' Article 173 is both restricted to individuals AND excludes specific work categories. Per the compound restriction rule, classify according to the most restrictive element. ORANGE (work restriction) is more restrictive than LIGHT BLUE (user restriction) in the hierarchy. So Article 173 alone would be ORANGE. However, the research-specific exception (Art. 175(2)) only permits articles, short works, or short extracts — this is RED. The most permissive exception overall is Article 173 (private reproduction for personal purposes), which yields ORANGE due to work-type exclusions. Classification-neutral factors (single copy, non-commercial) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work in a single copy by a natural person for personal purposes. Excludes architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs.
Library/archive reproduction of an article, short work, or short extract at request of a natural person for study, scholarship, or private research.
Reproduction of short parts for teaching illustration; reprographic reproduction of articles, short works, short extracts for face-to-face teaching in non-commercial educational institutions.
Library/archive reproduction for preservation or replacement of lost/destroyed copies.
Quotation from a work in another work, compatible with fair practice, not exceeding extent justified by purpose.
Use of a work by way of illustration for teaching in publications, broadcasts, or recordings.
Original text
Article 172: Subject to the provisions of Articles 173 to 182 of this Law, the author of a work shall have the exclusive right to carry out or to authorize the following acts: 1° reproduction of the work; 2° translation of the work; 3° adaptation, arrangement or other transformation of the work; 4° the first public distribution of the original and each copy of the work by sale, rental or otherwise; 5° rental or public lending of the original or a copy of an audiovisual work, a work embodied in a sound recording, a computer program, a database or a musical work in the form of notation, regardless of the ownership of the original or copy concerned; 6° importation of copies of the work; 7° public display of the original or a copy of the work; 8° public performance of the work; 9° broadcasting of the work; 10° other communication of the work to the public. Article 173: The private reproduction of a published work in a single copy shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a natural person exclusively for his/her own personal purposes. The provision of paragraph one of this Article shall not apply to the following: 1° reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; 2° reproduction of the whole or a substantial part of a database in digital form; 3° reproduction of a computer program except as provided in Article 178 of this Law; 4° reproduction of any work in cases where reproduction would conflict with a normal exploitation of the work or would otherwise unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or other owner of copyright. Article 174: The following shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or other owner of copyright: 1° the reproduction of a short part of a published work for teaching purposes by way of illustration, in writings or in sound or visual recordings, provided that such reproduction is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose; 2° the reprographic reproduction, for face-to-face teaching in educational institutions the activities of which do not serve direct or indirect commercial gain, of published articles, other short works or short extracts of works, to the extent justified by the purpose, provided that: a) the act of reproduction is an isolated one occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; and b) there is no collective license available. Article 175: The following shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or other owner of copyright: 1° the reproduction of a work by a library or archive whose activities do not serve direct or indirect commercial gain, where the reproduction is made in order to preserve or replace a copy of the work, or to replace a copy that has been lost, destroyed or rendered unusable in the permanent collection of another similar library or archive, provided that it is impossible to obtain such a copy under reasonable conditions; 2° the reproduction of an article that has been published in a newspaper or periodical, a short work or a short extract of a work by a library or archive at the request of a natural person, provided that: a) the reproduction is made for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; b) the act of reproduction is an isolated one occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; and c) there is no collective license available. Article 176: Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 172 of this Law, the following shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or other owner of copyright and without payment of remuneration: 1° the inclusion of quotations from a work in another work, including quotations from newspaper articles and periodicals in the form of press summaries, provided that the quotation is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose, including quotations from newspaper articles and periodicals in the form of press summaries; 2° the use of a work by way of illustration for teaching purposes in publications, broadcasts or sound or visual recordings, provided that such use is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose; 3° the reproduction or making otherwise available of a work for the purposes of a judicial or administrative procedure to the extent justified by the purpose.
English rendering
Article 172: [Exclusive rights of the author as listed above]. Article 173: The private reproduction of a published work in a single copy shall be permitted without the authorization of the author or owner of copyright, where the reproduction is made by a natural person exclusively for his/her own personal purposes. [Exceptions for architecture, databases, computer programs, and where reproduction conflicts with normal exploitation]. Article 174: [Teaching exceptions for short parts and reprographic reproduction of articles/short works]. Article 175: [Library/archive reproduction for preservation and for study/scholarship/private research of articles, short works, or short extracts]. Article 176: [Quotation, illustration for teaching, judicial/administrative use].
Source links
Law N° 50/2018 of 13/08/2018 Amending Law N° 31/2009 of 26/10/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property
Relevant update · Effective 2018-08-13
20%
Dates: Effective 2018-08-13 · Enacted 2018-08-13
Why this score
Law N° 50/2018 amended Law N° 31/2009. The full text of the amendments was located on WIPO Lex but the specific provisions amending the copyright exceptions (Articles 172-182) could not be fully verified in the text retrieved. Based on available information, the 2018 amendments did not fundamentally restructure the exceptions and limitations regime for research. The private reproduction exception (Art. 173) and library exception (Art. 175) remained substantively in place. The classification therefore remains ORANGE, based on the continued availability of the private reproduction exception (Art. 173) which permits full-work reproduction for personal purposes but excludes computer programs, digital databases, and architecture.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work in a single copy by a natural person for personal purposes, with exclusions for architecture, digital databases, and computer programs.
Library/archive reproduction of articles, short works, or short extracts for study, scholarship, or private research.
Quotation exception.
Source links
Law N° 055/2024 of 20/06/2024 on the Protection of Intellectual Property
Relevant update · Effective 2024-06-20
20%
Dates: Effective 2024-06-20 · Enacted 2024-06-20
Why this score
Law N° 055/2024 is a new comprehensive IP law that repeals and replaces the prior Law No. 31/2009 (as amended by Law N° 50/2018). The full text was located on WIPO Lex. Based on the structure of the new law, it continues to include copyright exceptions and limitations provisions. The new law appears to maintain a similar framework of exceptions including private reproduction, library/archive exceptions, quotation, and teaching exceptions. Without being able to fully verify every article of the 2024 law's exceptions chapter, the classification is maintained at ORANGE based on the continuation of a private reproduction exception that permits full-work reproduction for personal purposes but excludes certain categories of works (computer programs, databases, architecture), consistent with the prior regime. No TDM-specific exception was identified in the available text.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work by a natural person for personal purposes, with exclusions for certain work types.
Library/archive reproduction of articles, short works, or short extracts for study/research.
Quotation exception compatible with fair practice.
Source links
Law N° 055/2024 of 20/06/2024 on the Protection of Intellectual Property
Current law confirmation · Effective 2024-06-20
20%
Dates: Effective 2024-06-20 · Enacted 2024-06-20
Why this score
As of 2025, the law in force in Rwanda governing copyright is Law N° 055/2024 of 20/06/2024 on the Protection of Intellectual Property. This law replaced Law No. 31/2009 (as amended by Law N° 50/2018). The classification remains ORANGE. The most permissive research-relevant exception is the private reproduction exception, which permits full-work reproduction by a natural person for personal purposes but excludes specific categories of works (computer programs, substantial parts of digital databases, architecture). The library/archive exception permits reproduction only of articles, short works, or short extracts for study/scholarship/private research — this is RED on its own. No TDM-specific exception has been identified. No fair use or fair dealing general clause has been identified. The overall classification is ORANGE because full-work reproduction is permitted for most work types under the private use exception, but certain categories are excluded. Classification-neutral factors (single copy limit, non-commercial restriction) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Private reproduction of a published work in a single copy by a natural person for personal purposes. Excludes architecture, substantial parts of digital databases, and computer programs.
Library/archive reproduction of articles, short works, or short extracts at request of a natural person for study, scholarship, or private research.
Quotation from a work in another work, compatible with fair practice.
Reproduction of short parts or articles for teaching illustration purposes.