Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (1994).
100%
Current rationale
Section 32 paragraph 1 establishes a general three-step test: any act against a copyright work that does not conflict with normal exploitation and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate right of the copyright owner is not an infringement. Section 32(1) then specifically provides that 'research or study of the work which is not for profit' is not an infringement, subject to the three-step test in paragraph 1. The term used is 'act against a copyright work' (การกระทำต่องานอันมีลิขสิทธิ์), which covers any exclusive right — not limited to reproduction. It applies to any user (not restricted to individuals or institutions) and to all types of works. The non-profit restriction is a classification-neutral factor. Section 32(2) also provides for personal use. The combination of the general three-step test clause (paragraph 1) and the specific research exception (paragraph 2(1)) covering any 'act' for research purposes, open to all users and all works, maps to GREEN. The non-commercial restriction does not change the classification per the rules.
Exceptions considered
General three-step test: any act against a copyright work that does not conflict with normal exploitation and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate right of the owner is not infringement.
Research or study of the work which is not for profit — covers any 'act against a copyright work', all works, all users.
Use for personal benefit or for self benefit together with family members or close relatives.
Comment, criticism or introduction of the work with acknowledgement.
Reproduction, adaptation, exhibition or display by a teacher for instruction, not for profit.
Reproduction, adaptation in part of a work or abridgement by instructor or educational institution for distribution to students, not for profit.
Reproduction of a copyright work by a librarian for use in a library or for another library, subject to conditions.
Law changes
Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (1994)
Baseline · Effective 1995-03-21
100%
Relevant section: Section 32
Dates: Effective 1995-03-21 · Enacted 1994-12-09
Why this score
Section 32 paragraph 1 establishes a general three-step test: any act against a copyright work that does not conflict with normal exploitation and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate right of the copyright owner is not an infringement. Section 32(1) then specifically provides that 'research or study of the work which is not for profit' is not an infringement, subject to the three-step test in paragraph 1. The term used is 'act against a copyright work' (การกระทำต่องานอันมีลิขสิทธิ์), which covers any exclusive right — not limited to reproduction. It applies to any user (not restricted to individuals or institutions) and to all types of works. The non-profit restriction is a classification-neutral factor. Section 32(2) also provides for personal use. The combination of the general three-step test clause (paragraph 1) and the specific research exception (paragraph 2(1)) covering any 'act' for research purposes, open to all users and all works, maps to GREEN. The non-commercial restriction does not change the classification per the rules.
Exceptions considered
General three-step test: any act against a copyright work that does not conflict with normal exploitation and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate right of the owner is not infringement.
Research or study of the work which is not for profit — covers any 'act against a copyright work', all works, all users.
Use for personal benefit or for self benefit together with family members or close relatives.
Comment, criticism or introduction of the work with acknowledgement.
Reproduction, adaptation, exhibition or display by a teacher for instruction, not for profit.
Reproduction, adaptation in part of a work or abridgement by instructor or educational institution for distribution to students, not for profit.
Reproduction of a copyright work by a librarian for use in a library or for another library, subject to conditions.
Original text
Section 32. An act against a copyright work by virtue of this Act of another person which does not conflict with a normal exploitation of the copyright work by the owner of copyright and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate right of the owner of copyright shall not be deemed an infringement of copyright. Subject to paragraph one, any act against the copyright work in paragraph one is not deemed an infringement of copyright; provided that the act is each of the followings: (1) research or study of the work which is not for profit; (2) use for personal benefit or for self benefit together or the benefit of other family members or close relatives; (3) comment, criticism or introduction of the work with an acknowledgement of the ownership of copyright in such work; (4) reporting the news through mass media with an acknowledgement of the ownership of copyright in such work; (5) reproduction, adaptation, exhibition or display for the benefit of judicial proceedings or administrative proceedings by authorized officials or reporting such proceedings; (6) reproduction, adaptation, exhibition or display by a teacher for the benefit of instruction provided that the act is not for profit; (7) reproduction, adaptation in part of a work or abridgement or making a summary by an instructor or an educational institution so as to distribute or sell to students in a class or in an educational institution provided that the act is not for profit; (8) use of the work as part of questions and answers in an examination.
English rendering
Section 32. An act against a copyright work by virtue of this Act of another person which does not conflict with a normal exploitation of the copyright work by the owner of copyright and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate right of the owner of copyright shall not be deemed an infringement of copyright. Subject to paragraph one, any act against the copyright work in paragraph one is not deemed an infringement of copyright; provided that the act is each of the followings: (1) research or study of the work which is not for profit; (2) use for personal benefit or for self benefit together or the benefit of other family members or close relatives; ...
Source links
Copyright Act (No. 2) B.E. 2558 (2015)
Relevant update · Effective 2015-08-04
100%
Relevant section: Section 32(9) (added), Section 32/1, Section 32/2, Section 32/3
Dates: Effective 2015-08-04 · Enacted 2015-02-05
Why this score
The Copyright Act (No. 2) B.E. 2558 added several new exceptions including Section 32(9) for disability access, Section 32/1 for study or research of computer programs, Section 32/2 for decompilation of computer programs for interoperability, and Section 32/3 for temporary reproduction as part of a technological process. Section 32/1 specifically extends the research exception to cover computer programs. The pre-existing Section 32(1) research exception and the general three-step test in Section 32 paragraph 1 remain in force and unchanged. The overall classification remains GREEN because Section 32(1) still provides a broad research exception covering any 'act' against any work for non-profit research, open to all users. The new provisions supplement but do not narrow the existing framework.
Exceptions considered
General three-step test clause — unchanged from 1994.
Research or study of the work which is not for profit — unchanged from 1994.
Use for personal benefit or for family members or close relatives — unchanged.
Reproduction, adaptation, communication to the public, or making available for benefit of persons with disabilities, not for profit (newly added).
Study or research of a computer program copy, not for profit (newly added).
Temporary reproduction as integral part of technological process for lawful use or network transmission (newly added).
Library reproduction exception — unchanged.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Section 32(9) — reproduction, adaptation, communication to the public, or making available to the public for the benefit of persons with disabilities who cannot access the work due to their disabilities, provided that the act is not for profit. Section 32/1 — study or research of a computer program which is a copy of the work, provided that the act is not for profit. Section 32/3 — temporary reproduction of a work which is an integral and essential part of a technological process for the purpose of enabling lawful use of the work or transmission of the work in a network between third parties by an intermediary.
Source links
Copyright Act (No. 4) B.E. 2561 (2018)
Relevant update · Effective 2019-03-11
100%
Relevant section: Section 32/4 (added, replacing Section 32(9))
Dates: Effective 2019-03-11 · Enacted 2018-11-08
Why this score
The Copyright Act (No. 4) B.E. 2561 repealed Section 32(9) (the general disability exception added in 2015) and replaced it with a more detailed Section 32/4 that restricts the disability exception to authorized entities (implementing the Marrakesh Treaty). This narrowed the disability exception from being open to any person to being limited to authorized entities. However, this change does not affect the research-relevant exceptions. Section 32(1) (research or study, not for profit) and the general three-step test in Section 32 paragraph 1 remain fully in force and unchanged. The classification remains GREEN because the most permissive research-relevant exception — Section 32(1) covering any 'act' for non-profit research, open to all users and all works — is unaffected.
Exceptions considered
General three-step test clause — unchanged.
Research or study of the work which is not for profit — unchanged.
Use for personal benefit or for family members or close relatives — unchanged.
Study or research of a computer program copy, not for profit — unchanged from 2015.
Temporary reproduction as integral part of technological process — unchanged from 2015.
Reproduction, adaptation, and communication to the public by authorized entities for disabled persons (newly added, replacing former Section 32(9)).
Library reproduction exception — unchanged.
Original text
มาตรา ๓ ให้ยกเลิก (๙) ของวรรคสองของมาตรา ๓๒ แห่งพระราชบัญญัติลิขสิทธิ์ พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๗ ซึ่งแก้ไขเพิ่มเติมโดยพระราชบัญญัติลิขสิทธิ์ (ฉบับที่ ๓) พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๘ มาตรา ๔ ให้เพิ่มความต่อไปนี้เป็นมาตรา ๓๒/๔ แห่งพระราชบัญญัติลิขสิทธิ์ พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๗ "มาตรา ๓๒/๔ การกระทำใด ๆ ดังต่อไปนี้ โดยองค์กรที่ได้รับอนุญาตหรือได้รับการยอมรับ เพื่อประโยชน์ของคนพิการซึ่งไม่สามารถเข้าถึงงานอันมีลิขสิทธิ์ตามพระราชบัญญัตินี้ อันเนื่องมาจาก ความบกพร่องทางการเห็น การได้ยิน การเคลื่อนไหว สติปัญญา หรือการเรียนรู้ หรือความบกพร่องอื่น ตามที่รัฐมนตรีประกาศกําหนดในราชกิจจานุเบกษา มิให้ถือว่าเป็นการละเมิดลิขสิทธิ์ หากไม่มี วัตถุประสงค์เพื่อหากําไร และได้ปฏิบัติตามมาตรา ๓๒ วรรคหนึ่ง (๑) ทําซ้ําหรือดัดแปลงงานอันมีลิขสิทธิ์ที่ได้มีการโฆษณาหรือเผยแพร่ต่อสาธารณชนแล้ว และได้มาโดยชอบด้วยกฎหมาย (๒) เผยแพร่ต่อสาธารณชนซึ่งสําเนางานอันมีลิขสิทธิ์ที่ทําซ้ําหรือดัดแปลงตาม (๑) รวมถึง สําเนางานอันมีลิขสิทธิ์ที่ได้รับจากองค์กรที่ได้รับอนุญาตหรือได้รับการยอมรับในประเทศหรือต่างประเทศ"
English rendering
Section 3. (9) of paragraph 2 of section 32 of the Copyright Act, 2537 BE, which has been amended by the Copyright Act (No 3), 2558 BE, shall be repealed. Section 4. The following text shall be inserted in the Copyright Act, 2537 BE as section 32/4: "Section 32/4. The conduct of any of the following acts by an authorised or recognised entity in the interest of a disabled person who is incapable of access a copyrighted work under this Act on account of vision, hearing, movement, intellectual, or learning impairment or such other impairments as designated and published in the Royal Gazette by the Minister, shall not be deemed to be infringement of copyright, if it has no objective for seeking profit and paragraph 1 of section 32 is complied with: (1) reproduction or adaptation of a copyrighted work which has been published or communicated to the public already and has been obtained lawfully; (2) communication to the public of a copy of a copyrighted work which has been reproduced or adapted in accordance with (1), as well as a copy of a copyrighted work which has been obtained from an entity domestically or internationally authorised or recognised."
Source links
Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (1994), as amended through Copyright Act (No. 4) B.E. 2561 (2018)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 32 (paragraphs 1 and 2(1)-(8)), Section 32/1, Section 32/3, Section 32/4, Section 34
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the most permissive research-relevant exception in Thai copyright law is Section 32(1), which provides that 'research or study of the work which is not for profit' is not an infringement, subject to the general three-step test in Section 32 paragraph 1. Analysis across three dimensions: (1) Uses — the provision covers any 'act against a copyright work' (การกระทำต่องานอันมีลิขสิทธิ์), which encompasses all exclusive rights including reproduction, adaptation, communication to the public, and making available, not just reproduction; (2) Works — no restriction on type of work; applies to all copyright works; (3) Users — no restriction on user class; any person may invoke this exception. The non-profit restriction is a classification-neutral factor per the rules. Additionally, Section 32 paragraph 1 functions as a general three-step test enabling clause that independently permits any act satisfying the Berne proportionality criteria. No TDM-specific exception exists. There is no provision that would restrict this to excerpts only — the three-step test and the specific research exception together permit full-work use where proportionate. Classification: GREEN.
Exceptions considered
General three-step test: any act against a copyright work that does not conflict with normal exploitation and does not unreasonably prejudice the owner's legitimate rights is not infringement.
Research or study of the work which is not for profit — any act, all works, all users.
Use for personal benefit or for family members or close relatives.
Comment, criticism or introduction of the work with acknowledgement.
Reproduction, adaptation, exhibition or display by a teacher for instruction, not for profit.
Reproduction, adaptation in part of a work or abridgement by instructor or educational institution for distribution to students, not for profit.
Study or research of a computer program copy, not for profit.
Temporary reproduction as integral part of technological process for lawful use or network transmission.
Reproduction, adaptation, and communication to the public by authorized entities for disabled persons, not for profit.
Reproduction by a librarian for use in a library or for another library, subject to conditions.
Original text
Section 32. An act against a copyright work by virtue of this Act of another person which does not conflict with a normal exploitation of the copyright work by the owner of copyright and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate right of the owner of copyright shall not be deemed an infringement of copyright. Subject to paragraph one, any act against the copyright work in paragraph one is not deemed an infringement of copyright; provided that the act is each of the followings: (1) research or study of the work which is not for profit; (2) use for personal benefit or for self benefit together or the benefit of other family members or close relatives;