Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Ley de Fomento y Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (Decreto Legislativo N° 604, as amended).
20%
Current rationale
As of 2025, the Ley de Fomento y Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (Decreto Legislativo N° 604 of 1993) remains the principal copyright statute of El Salvador. No amendments introducing a general fair use, fair dealing, open research exception, or TDM exception have been identified. The Ley de Cultura (Decreto N° 442 of 2016) addresses cultural heritage and does not modify the copyright exceptions in the IP law. The exceptions in Arts. 44-46 remain unchanged. Art. 44 (private copy) remains the most permissive exception for research use. It permits reproduction of a work for personal use but explicitly excludes the entirety of a book, musical works in graphic form, original artworks signed by the author, and databases. Full-work reproduction is therefore available for some categories of works (e.g., journal articles, audiovisual works, photographs, shorter literary works not constituting a 'book') but not all. This work-type restriction maps to ORANGE. The exception is limited to personal use (no sharing/communication), and there is no broader exception covering sharing. The non-commercial nature and three-step-test language are classification-neutral. Art. 46(a) covers only brief extracts for educational purposes (RED). Art. 46(b) is a narrow library preservation exception (PURPLE). No TDM-specific exception exists. The Código Penal (Decreto 1030/1997) Arts. 226-227 address criminal penalties for IP infringement but do not create exceptions.
Exceptions considered
Private copy for personal use, made by the interested party with own means, subject to three-step test. Excludes: entirety of a book, musical work in graphic form, original/copy of artwork signed by author, databases.
Quotation right: permits citing published works in another work, provided the quotation is justified by the purpose and does not exceed the extent justified by the end pursued.
Reproduction/communication of press articles on current topics, works during current events, public speeches, artworks permanently in public places.
Reprographic reproduction for teaching or examinations in educational institutions of articles from periodicals or brief extracts of published works. Non-profit, fair practice required.
Individual reproduction by public libraries/archives for preservation or replacement of lost/destroyed copies in permanent collections.
Reproduction for judicial or administrative proceedings.
Law changes
Ley de Fomento y Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (Decreto Legislativo N° 604)
Baseline · Effective 1993-07-16
20%
Relevant section: Art. 44, Art. 45, Art. 46
Dates: Effective 1993-07-16 · Enacted 1993-07-15
Why this score
The most permissive exception for research use is Art. 44 (private copy / personal use). It permits reproduction of a work for personal use ('uso personal' / 'copia privada') by the interested party with their own means, subject to the three-step test. However, Art. 44 explicitly excludes: (c) reproduction of the entirety of a book, a musical work in graphic form, or the original/copy of a work of art signed by the author; and (d) reproduction of databases/compilations. This means full-work reproduction IS permitted for some types of works (e.g., journal articles, audiovisual works, photographs, short literary works that are not 'books') but NOT for books, musical scores, original artworks, or databases. This is a work-type restriction that maps to ORANGE. Art. 44 is limited to personal use (individual user, no sharing), which would be LIGHT BLUE on the user dimension, but the work-type exclusion is more restrictive (ORANGE < LIGHT BLUE in the hierarchy), so ORANGE governs. Art. 46(a) only covers 'brief extracts' for educational purposes (RED individually). Art. 46(b) is a library preservation exception, not a general research exception. There is no general fair use, fair dealing, or open research exception. There is no TDM exception. The non-commercial restriction and three-step-test language in Art. 44 are classification-neutral factors and were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Private copy for personal use, made by the interested party with own means, subject to three-step test. Excludes: entirety of a book, musical work in graphic form, original/copy of artwork signed by author, databases.
Reproduction/communication of press articles on current topics, works seen/heard during current events, public speeches, and artworks permanently in public places. Not research-specific.
Reprographic reproduction for teaching or examinations in educational institutions of articles from periodicals or brief extracts of published works. Limited to brief extracts, not full works.
Individual reproduction by public libraries/archives for preservation or replacement of lost/destroyed copies in permanent collections. Not a general research exception.
Reproduction for judicial or administrative proceedings.
Original text
Art. 44.- Es permitido, sin autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, la reproducción de una obra para uso personal o "copia privada", hecha por el interesado con sus propios medios, siempre que se trate de casos especiales que no atenten contra la explotación normal de la obra ni causen perjuicio injustificado a los intereses legítimos del autor. Se exceptúan de esta disposición: a) La reproducción de una obra de arquitectura en forma de edificio o de cualquier otra construcción; b) La reproducción reprográfica que no sea para uso estrictamente personal; c) La reproducción de la totalidad de un libro, de una obra musical en forma gráfica, o del original o de una copia de una obra de arte, hechas y firmadas por el autor; d) La reproducción de bases o compilaciones de datos. Art. 45.- Es permitido sin autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, siempre que se indique el nombre del autor y la fuente, y que la reproducción o comunicación no hayan sido objeto de prohibición expresa por el titular del respectivo derecho: a) La reproducción en la prensa, la radiodifusión o la transmisión por cable, de artículos de actualidad sobre temas económicos, políticos, religiosos o de cualquier otro carácter, publicados en periódicos o colecciones periódicas, u obras radiodifundidas que tengan el mismo carácter; b) La difusión, con ocasión de las informaciones relativas a acontecimientos de actualidad, por medio de la fotografía, la cinematografía, la radiodifusión o la transmisión por cable, de obras vistas u oídas en el curso de tales acontecimientos, en la medida justificada por el fin de la información; c) La reproducción por la prensa, la radiodifusión o la transmisión por cable, de discursos políticos, así como de disertaciones, alocuciones, sermones, discursos pronunciados durante actuaciones judiciales u otras obras de carácter similar pronunciadas en público, con fines de información sobre los hechos de actualidad, en la medida en que lo justifiquen los fines perseguidos, y sin perjuicio del derecho que conservan los autores de tales obras para publicarlas en forma de colección; d) La reproducción de obras artísticas y de arquitectura, por medio de la fotografía, el cine, la televisión y cualquier otro procedimiento análogo, siempre que la obra respectiva se encuentre de modo permanente en un lugar abierto al público. Art. 46.- Es permitido sin autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, siempre que se indique el nombre del autor y la fuente: a) La reproducción por medios reprográficos para la enseñanza o para la realización de exámenes en instituciones educativas, en la medida justificada por el fin que se persiga, de artículos lícitamente publicados en periódicos o colecciones periódicas, o breves extractos de obras lícitamente publicadas, siempre que tal utilización se haga conforme a los usos honrados y que la misma no sea objeto de venta u otra transacción a título oneroso, ni tenga directa o indirectamente fines de lucro; b) La reproducción individual de una obra por bibliotecas o archivos públicos que no tengan directa ni indirectamente fines de lucro, cuando el ejemplar respectivo se encuentre en la colección permanente de la biblioteca o archivo, y dicha reproducción se realice con los siguientes fines: 1) Preservar el ejemplar y sustituirlo en caso de extravío, destrucción o inutilización; o 2) Sustituir, en la colección permanente de otra biblioteca o archivo, un ejemplar que se haya extraviado, destruido o inutilizado, siempre que no resulte posible adquirir tal ejemplar en plazo y condiciones razonables; c) La reproducción de una obra para actuaciones judiciales o administrativas, en la medida justificada por el fin que se persiga.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Art. 44.- It is permitted, without the author's authorization or payment of remuneration, the reproduction of a work for personal use or "private copy," made by the interested party with their own means, provided that it concerns special cases that do not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work nor cause unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author. The following are excepted from this provision: a) The reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or any other construction; b) Reprographic reproduction that is not for strictly personal use; c) The reproduction of the entirety of a book, of a musical work in graphic form, or of the original or a copy of a work of art, made and signed by the author; d) The reproduction of databases or compilations of data. Art. 45.- It is permitted without the author's authorization or payment of remuneration, provided that the name of the author and the source are indicated, and that the reproduction or communication has not been the subject of an express prohibition by the holder of the respective right: [a)-d) cover press/news reproduction, current events reporting, public speeches, and reproduction of artworks permanently in public places]. Art. 46.- It is permitted without the author's authorization or payment of remuneration, provided that the name of the author and the source are indicated: a) Reprographic reproduction for teaching or for examinations in educational institutions, to the extent justified by the purpose pursued, of articles lawfully published in periodicals or periodic collections, or brief extracts of lawfully published works, provided that such use is made in accordance with fair practice and that it is not the subject of sale or other onerous transaction, nor has directly or indirectly profit-making purposes; b) Individual reproduction of a work by public libraries or archives that do not directly or indirectly have profit-making purposes, when the respective copy is in the permanent collection of the library or archive, and said reproduction is carried out for the following purposes: 1) To preserve the copy and replace it in case of loss, destruction or uselessness; or 2) To replace, in the permanent collection of another library or archive, a copy that has been lost, destroyed or rendered useless, provided that it is not possible to acquire such copy within a reasonable time and conditions; c) Reproduction of a work for judicial or administrative proceedings, to the extent justified by the purpose pursued.
Source links
Ley de Fomento y Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (Decreto Legislativo N° 604, as amended)
Current law confirmation · Effective 1993-07-16
20%
Relevant section: Art. 44, Art. 45, Art. 46
Dates: Effective 1993-07-16 · Enacted 1993-07-15
Why this score
As of 2025, the Ley de Fomento y Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (Decreto Legislativo N° 604 of 1993) remains the principal copyright statute of El Salvador. No amendments introducing a general fair use, fair dealing, open research exception, or TDM exception have been identified. The Ley de Cultura (Decreto N° 442 of 2016) addresses cultural heritage and does not modify the copyright exceptions in the IP law. The exceptions in Arts. 44-46 remain unchanged. Art. 44 (private copy) remains the most permissive exception for research use. It permits reproduction of a work for personal use but explicitly excludes the entirety of a book, musical works in graphic form, original artworks signed by the author, and databases. Full-work reproduction is therefore available for some categories of works (e.g., journal articles, audiovisual works, photographs, shorter literary works not constituting a 'book') but not all. This work-type restriction maps to ORANGE. The exception is limited to personal use (no sharing/communication), and there is no broader exception covering sharing. The non-commercial nature and three-step-test language are classification-neutral. Art. 46(a) covers only brief extracts for educational purposes (RED). Art. 46(b) is a narrow library preservation exception (PURPLE). No TDM-specific exception exists. The Código Penal (Decreto 1030/1997) Arts. 226-227 address criminal penalties for IP infringement but do not create exceptions.
Exceptions considered
Private copy for personal use, made by the interested party with own means, subject to three-step test. Excludes: entirety of a book, musical work in graphic form, original/copy of artwork signed by author, databases.
Quotation right: permits citing published works in another work, provided the quotation is justified by the purpose and does not exceed the extent justified by the end pursued.
Reproduction/communication of press articles on current topics, works during current events, public speeches, artworks permanently in public places.
Reprographic reproduction for teaching or examinations in educational institutions of articles from periodicals or brief extracts of published works. Non-profit, fair practice required.
Individual reproduction by public libraries/archives for preservation or replacement of lost/destroyed copies in permanent collections.
Reproduction for judicial or administrative proceedings.
Original text
Art. 44.- Es permitido, sin autorización del autor ni pago de remuneración, la reproducción de una obra para uso personal o "copia privada", hecha por el interesado con sus propios medios, siempre que se trate de casos especiales que no atenten contra la explotación normal de la obra ni causen perjuicio injustificado a los intereses legítimos del autor. Se exceptúan de esta disposición: a) La reproducción de una obra de arquitectura en forma de edificio o de cualquier otra construcción; b) La reproducción reprográfica que no sea para uso estrictamente personal; c) La reproducción de la totalidad de un libro, de una obra musical en forma gráfica, o del original o de una copia de una obra de arte, hechas y firmadas por el autor; d) La reproducción de bases o compilaciones de datos.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Art. 44.- It is permitted, without the author's authorization or payment of remuneration, the reproduction of a work for personal use or "private copy," made by the interested party with their own means, provided that it concerns special cases that do not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work nor cause unjustified prejudice to the legitimate interests of the author. The following are excepted from this provision: a) The reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or any other construction; b) Reprographic reproduction that is not for strictly personal use; c) The reproduction of the entirety of a book, of a musical work in graphic form, or of the original or a copy of a work of art, made and signed by the author; d) The reproduction of databases or compilations of data.