Selected year snapshot
For 1999, the active event in this file is Loi n° 73-52 du 4 décembre 1973 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur.
60%
Current rationale
Under the 1973 law, the most permissive research-relevant exception is Article 13, which permits reproduction of a work exclusively for the private use of the person making the copy. This covers reproduction of full works, all types of works, but is restricted to private/personal use by individuals — it does not authorize sharing or institutional copying. Article 12(1) only permits 'analyses and short quotations' (not full-work reproduction). Article 12(4) permits only 'extracts' for teaching. There is no general fair dealing, fair use, or open research exception. The private-use exception (Art. 13) is the most permissive and yields LIGHT BLUE: full-work reproduction is permitted, but only for private use by individuals, with no sharing right. Non-commercial restriction and copy limits are classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations justified by critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character
Reproduction or communication to the public of extracts of literary or artistic works for teaching
Reproduction of a work exclusively for the private use of the person making it
Law changes
Loi n° 73-52 du 4 décembre 1973 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur
Baseline · Effective 1973-12-04
60%
Relevant section: Articles 12-14
Dates: Effective 1973-12-04 · Enacted 1973-12-04
Why this score
Under the 1973 law, the most permissive research-relevant exception is Article 13, which permits reproduction of a work exclusively for the private use of the person making the copy. This covers reproduction of full works, all types of works, but is restricted to private/personal use by individuals — it does not authorize sharing or institutional copying. Article 12(1) only permits 'analyses and short quotations' (not full-work reproduction). Article 12(4) permits only 'extracts' for teaching. There is no general fair dealing, fair use, or open research exception. The private-use exception (Art. 13) is the most permissive and yields LIGHT BLUE: full-work reproduction is permitted, but only for private use by individuals, with no sharing right. Non-commercial restriction and copy limits are classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations justified by critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character
Reproduction or communication to the public of extracts of literary or artistic works for teaching
Reproduction of a work exclusively for the private use of the person making it
Original text
Article 12 - Lorsque l'oeuvre a été licitement publiée, l'auteur ne peut interdire : 1° Les analyses et courtes citations justifiées par le caractère critique, polémique, pédagogique, scientifique ou d'information de l'oeuvre à laquelle elles sont incorporées ; 2° Les revues de presse ; 3° La diffusion, même intégrale, par la voie de la presse ou de la radiodiffusion, à titre d'information d'actualité, des discours destinés au public prononcés dans les assemblées politiques, administratives, judiciaires ou académiques, ainsi que dans les réunions publiques d'ordre politique et les cérémonies officielles ; 4° La reproduction ou la communication au public d'extraits d'oeuvres littéraires ou artistiques dans des publications, des émissions de radiodiffusion ou des enregistrements sonores ou visuels destinés à l'enseignement ; 5° La reproduction d'oeuvres d'art exposées en permanence dans un lieu public, à l'exclusion de toute utilisation commerciale. Article 13 - Nonobstant les dispositions de l'article 4, la reproduction d'une oeuvre exclusivement destinée à l'usage privé de celui qui la fait n'est pas illicite.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 12 - When the work has been lawfully published, the author may not prohibit: 1° Analyses and short quotations justified by the critical, polemical, pedagogical, scientific or informational character of the work in which they are incorporated; 2° Press reviews; 3° The dissemination, even in full, by the press or broadcasting, as current news information, of speeches intended for the public delivered in political, administrative, judicial or academic assemblies, as well as in public political meetings and official ceremonies; 4° The reproduction or communication to the public of extracts of literary or artistic works in publications, broadcasts or sound or visual recordings intended for teaching; 5° The reproduction of works of art permanently exhibited in a public place, excluding any commercial use. Article 13 - Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 4, the reproduction of a work exclusively intended for the private use of the person making it is not unlawful.
Source links
Loi n° 2008-09 du 25 janvier 2008 sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins
Relevant update · Effective 2008-01-25
20%
Relevant section: Articles 34-43
Dates: Effective 2008-01-25 · Enacted 2008-01-25
Why this score
The 2008 law replaced the 1973 law. Article 35 permits reproduction of a single copy of a lawfully published work exclusively for private use, but explicitly excludes: (a) architectural works as buildings, (b) reprographic reproduction of an entire book or musical work in graphic form, (c) all or essential parts of a digital database, (d) computer programs (except Art. 37). This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some types of works (e.g., audiovisual works, sound recordings, articles, shorter literary works) but NOT for entire books (reprographically), musical scores, databases, computer programs, or architectural works. This carve-out of specific categories of works from full-work reproduction is the hallmark of ORANGE. Article 34(1) only permits 'analyses and short quotations' for scientific research — this is RED standing alone. Article 35 is the most permissive exception but its work-type exclusions make it ORANGE rather than LIGHT BLUE. The private-use restriction and single-copy limit are noted but the work-type exclusions are the binding constraint. Non-commercial restriction and copy limits are classification-neutral factors that were not used to determine the color.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations from a lawfully disclosed work for criticism, polemic, teaching, pedagogy or scientific research
Reproduction or communication to the public of extracts of literary or artistic works for teaching
Reproduction in a single copy for private use, excluding architectural works, entire books (reprographically), musical scores, databases, and computer programs
Reproduction of computer programs: backup copy and study of functioning by lawful user
Reprographic reproduction by libraries, archives, documentation centers of articles or short extracts for internal needs or requests from individuals
Original text
Article 34 - Nonobstant les dispositions de l'article 28, sont licites, sans l'autorisation de l'auteur et sans le paiement d'une rémunération, sous réserve de la mention du nom de l'auteur et de la source : 1° les analyses et courtes citations d'une oeuvre déjà divulguée licitement, à des fins de critique, de polémique, d'enseignement, de pédagogie ou de recherche scientifique, dans la mesure justifiée par le but à atteindre ; 2° les revues de presse ; 3° la diffusion, même intégrale, par la voie de la presse ou de la radiodiffusion, à titre d'information d'actualité, des discours destinés au public prononcés dans les assemblées politiques, administratives, judiciaires ou académiques, ainsi que dans les réunions publiques d'ordre politique et les cérémonies officielles ; 4° la reproduction ou la communication au public d'extraits d'oeuvres littéraires ou artistiques dans des publications, des émissions de radiodiffusion ou des enregistrements sonores ou visuels destinés à l'enseignement ; 5° la reproduction d'oeuvres d'art exposées en permanence dans un lieu public, à l'exclusion de toute utilisation commerciale. Article 35 - Nonobstant les dispositions de l'article 28, sont licites, sans l'autorisation de l'auteur et sans le paiement d'une rémunération, la reproduction, en un seul exemplaire, d'une oeuvre licitement publiée, effectuée exclusivement pour l'usage privé de celui qui la fait, à l'exception : a) de la reproduction d'une oeuvre d'architecture se présentant sous la forme d'un bâtiment ou d'une autre construction ; b) de la reproduction reprographique d'un livre entier ou d'une oeuvre musicale sous forme graphique ; c) de la reproduction de la totalité ou de parties essentielles d'une base de données sous forme numérique ; d) de la reproduction de programmes d'ordinateur sauf dans les cas prévus à l'article 37 ; e) de toute autre reproduction d'une oeuvre qui porterait atteinte à l'exploitation normale de l'oeuvre ou causerait un préjudice injustifié aux intérêts légitimes de l'auteur.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 34 - Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 28, the following are lawful, without the authorization of the author and without payment of remuneration, subject to mention of the author's name and source: 1° analyses and short quotations from a work already lawfully disclosed, for purposes of criticism, polemic, teaching, pedagogy or scientific research, to the extent justified by the purpose to be achieved; 2° press reviews; 3° dissemination, even in full, by the press or broadcasting, as current news information, of speeches intended for the public delivered in political, administrative, judicial or academic assemblies, as well as in public political meetings and official ceremonies; 4° reproduction or communication to the public of extracts of literary or artistic works in publications, broadcasts or sound or visual recordings intended for teaching; 5° reproduction of works of art permanently exhibited in a public place, excluding any commercial use. Article 35 - Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 28, the following are lawful, without the authorization of the author and without payment of remuneration: the reproduction, in a single copy, of a lawfully published work, made exclusively for the private use of the person making it, with the exception of: (a) the reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (b) the reprographic reproduction of an entire book or a musical work in graphic form; (c) the reproduction of all or essential parts of a database in digital form; (d) the reproduction of computer programs except as provided in Article 37; (e) any other reproduction of a work that would prejudice the normal exploitation of the work or cause unjustified harm to the legitimate interests of the author.
Source links
Loi n° 2008-09 du 25 janvier 2008 sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins
Current law confirmation · Effective 2008-01-25
20%
Relevant section: Articles 34-38
Dates: Effective 2008-01-25 · Enacted 2008-01-25
Why this score
As of 2025, the 2008 law remains in force without amendment to the exceptions and limitations provisions relevant to research. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Article 35 (private-use reproduction in a single copy), which permits full-work reproduction for some types of works but explicitly excludes entire books (reprographically), musical scores in graphic form, databases in digital form, computer programs, and architectural works. This exclusion of specific work categories from full-work reproduction yields ORANGE. Article 34(1) permits only short quotations and analyses for scientific research (RED individually). Article 38 permits libraries to reproduce only articles or short extracts (RED individually). There is no fair use, fair dealing, general research exception, TDM exception, or three-step-test enabling clause in the law. No sharing/communication right is granted under any exception. The single-copy limit and private-use restriction are classification-neutral factors. No amendments to the copyright exceptions provisions have been identified between 2008 and 2025.
Exceptions considered
Analyses and short quotations from a lawfully disclosed work for criticism, polemic, teaching, pedagogy or scientific research
Reproduction or communication to the public of extracts of literary or artistic works for teaching
Reproduction in a single copy for private use, excluding architectural works, entire books (reprographically), musical scores, databases, and computer programs
Reproduction of computer programs: backup copy and study of functioning by lawful user
Reprographic reproduction by libraries, archives, documentation centers of articles or short extracts for internal needs or requests from individuals
Original text
Article 35 - Nonobstant les dispositions de l'article 28, sont licites, sans l'autorisation de l'auteur et sans le paiement d'une rémunération, la reproduction, en un seul exemplaire, d'une oeuvre licitement publiée, effectuée exclusivement pour l'usage privé de celui qui la fait, à l'exception : a) de la reproduction d'une oeuvre d'architecture se présentant sous la forme d'un bâtiment ou d'une autre construction ; b) de la reproduction reprographique d'un livre entier ou d'une oeuvre musicale sous forme graphique ; c) de la reproduction de la totalité ou de parties essentielles d'une base de données sous forme numérique ; d) de la reproduction de programmes d'ordinateur sauf dans les cas prévus à l'article 37 ; e) de toute autre reproduction d'une oeuvre qui porterait atteinte à l'exploitation normale de l'oeuvre ou causerait un préjudice injustifié aux intérêts légitimes de l'auteur.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 35 - Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 28, the following are lawful, without the authorization of the author and without payment of remuneration: the reproduction, in a single copy, of a lawfully published work, made exclusively for the private use of the person making it, with the exception of: (a) the reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (b) the reprographic reproduction of an entire book or a musical work in graphic form; (c) the reproduction of all or essential parts of a database in digital form; (d) the reproduction of computer programs except as provided in Article 37; (e) any other reproduction of a work that would prejudice the normal exploitation of the work or cause unjustified harm to the legitimate interests of the author.