Selected year snapshot
For 1999, the active event in this file is Baseline.
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Current rationale
As of 1990-01-01, Syria did not have a dedicated copyright statute. Copyright matters were governed by scattered provisions in the Criminal Code (particularly Articles 708–715 of the Penal Code, Legislative Decree 148/1949) and media/press laws. No comprehensive copyright exceptions and limitations framework existed in statutory form. The first dedicated copyright law was Law No. 12/2001, which entered into force on 19 February 2001. Without access to the full text of the pre-2001 provisions governing copyright (the relevant Penal Code articles and press law provisions), it is impossible to determine whether any research-relevant exception existed. The absence of a dedicated copyright statute makes the baseline classification genuinely 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, Syria did not have a dedicated copyright statute. Copyright matters were governed by scattered provisions in the Criminal Code (particularly Articles 708–715 of the Penal Code, Legislative Decree 148/1949) and media/press laws. No comprehensive copyright exceptions and limitations framework existed in statutory form. The first dedicated copyright law was Law No. 12/2001, which entered into force on 19 February 2001. Without access to the full text of the pre-2001 provisions governing copyright (the relevant Penal Code articles and press law provisions), it is impossible to determine whether any research-relevant exception existed. The absence of a dedicated copyright statute makes the baseline classification genuinely ambiguous.
قانون حماية حقوق المؤلف والحقوق المجاورة رقم 12 لعام 2001 (Law No. 12/2001 on Copyright)
Relevant update · Effective 2001-02-19
60%
Relevant section: المادة 24, المادة 25 (Articles 24, 25)
Dates: Effective 2001-02-19 · Enacted 2001-02-19
Why this score
Law 12/2001 introduced Syria's first comprehensive copyright statute. Article 24 permits reproduction ('نسخ' — copying) of a lawfully published work for personal use ('الاستعمال الشخصي'), subject to the three-step test. This is a personal/private use exception covering reproduction only, open to all works, but restricted to individual personal use. Article 25 permits quotation from a published work for purposes of criticism, discussion, or education, but this is limited to excerpts/quotations, not full works. There is no general fair dealing or fair use clause, no institutional/library exception for research, and no TDM exception. The most permissive research-relevant exception is Article 24 (personal use copying of full works), which maps to LIGHT BLUE: reproduction of full works is permitted, but only for personal/individual use, and sharing/communication is not authorized. The three-step test language and non-commercial restriction are classification-neutral factors.
Exceptions considered
Permits copying of a lawfully published work for personal use without author's permission or remuneration, subject to three-step test.
Permits quotation from a published work for criticism, discussion, or educational purposes, limited to excerpts proportionate to the purpose.
Original text
المادة/24/ يجوز بدون إذن المؤلف ودون دفع مكافأة له نسخ مصنف منشور بصورة مشروعة وذلك للاستعمال الشخصي على ألا يتعارض ذلك مع الاستثمار العادي للمصنف ولا يلحق ضرراً غير مبرر بالمصالح المشروعة للمؤلف.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 24: It is permissible, without the author's permission and without payment of remuneration, to copy a lawfully published work for personal use, provided that this does not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work and does not cause unjustified harm to the legitimate interests of the author.
Source links
المرسوم التشريعي رقم 62 لعام 2013 بشأن حماية حقوق المؤلف والحقوق المجاورة (Legislative Decree No. 62/2013 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights)
Relevant update · Effective 2013-09-16
60%
Relevant section: المادة 28, المادة 29, المادة 30 (Articles 28, 29, 30)
Dates: Effective 2013-09-16 · Enacted 2013-09-16
Why this score
Legislative Decree 62/2013 repealed Law 12/2001 and replaced it with a more comprehensive copyright and neighboring rights law. Based on the Arabic Wikipedia article on Syrian copyright law and the syria.law summary, the decree grants 50-year protection periods and protects moral and economic rights. The law contains exceptions including personal/private use copying (similar to the former Article 24), quotation rights, and provisions for educational use. According to the Arabic Wikipedia source, the law permits reproduction for personal use and contains provisions on exceptions and compulsory licenses. No general fair use/fair dealing clause, no TDM exception, and no broad institutional research exception have been identified. The personal use exception remains the most permissive research-relevant provision, permitting reproduction of full works for personal/private use only. This maps to LIGHT BLUE. I was unable to retrieve the full verbatim text of the specific exception articles of Decree 62/2013 via web search, so the excerpt fields are left empty.
Exceptions considered
Permits reproduction of a lawfully published work for personal/private use, subject to three-step test conditions. Continuation of the personal use exception from the prior law.
Permits quotation from published works for purposes of criticism, review, or education, limited to excerpts proportionate to the purpose.
Permits use for educational/teaching illustration purposes, likely limited in scope.
Source links
المرسوم التشريعي رقم 62 لعام 2013 بشأن حماية حقوق المؤلف والحقوق المجاورة (Legislative Decree No. 62/2013 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2013-09-16
60%
Relevant section: المادة 28 (Art. 28, estimated)
Dates: Effective 2013-09-16 · Enacted 2013-09-16
Why this score
As of 2025, Legislative Decree 62/2013 remains the copyright law in force in Syria. The Arabic Wikipedia article confirms this law is still in effect ('مازال هذا القانون ساريا حتى الآن'). No subsequent amendments to the copyright exceptions have been identified via web search. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains the personal/private use copying provision, which permits reproduction of full works of any type for personal use, but does not authorize sharing/communication and is restricted to individual private use. No fair use, fair dealing, TDM, or broad institutional research exception exists. This maps to LIGHT BLUE. Uses: reproduction only (no sharing). Works: all types. Users: individuals only (personal use). The three-step test qualification and non-commercial nature are classification-neutral. No TDM-specific exception exists.
Exceptions considered
Permits reproduction of a lawfully published work for personal/private use without author's permission, subject to three-step test.
Permits quotation from published works for criticism, review, or education, limited to excerpts.
Permits use for educational/teaching illustration purposes.