Selected year snapshot
For 1999, the active event in this file is Copyright Act, Cap 215.
100%
Current rationale
The Copyright Act (Cap 215, Laws of Uganda) was the copyright statute in force on 1990-01-01. It contained a fair use / permitted use provision (Section 15) that allowed use of copyrighted works for purposes including research and private study. The full verbatim text of the 1964 Copyright Act (Cap 215) could not be retrieved via web search to confirm the exact wording. However, secondary sources consistently describe it as containing a fair dealing provision for research and private study modeled on the UK Copyright Act pattern, covering dealings with works for research or private study without restricting the type of exclusive right, the category of works, or the class of users. Under the classification rules, fair dealing for research or private study open to any user, any work, and covering any dealing (not limited to reproduction) maps to GREEN. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial purpose, single-copy limits) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing / permitted use for purposes of research or private study, covering any work, any user, any dealing
Law changes
Copyright Act, Cap 215
Baseline · Effective 1964-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 15
Dates: Effective 1964-01-01 · Enacted 1964-01-01
Why this score
The Copyright Act (Cap 215, Laws of Uganda) was the copyright statute in force on 1990-01-01. It contained a fair use / permitted use provision (Section 15) that allowed use of copyrighted works for purposes including research and private study. The full verbatim text of the 1964 Copyright Act (Cap 215) could not be retrieved via web search to confirm the exact wording. However, secondary sources consistently describe it as containing a fair dealing provision for research and private study modeled on the UK Copyright Act pattern, covering dealings with works for research or private study without restricting the type of exclusive right, the category of works, or the class of users. Under the classification rules, fair dealing for research or private study open to any user, any work, and covering any dealing (not limited to reproduction) maps to GREEN. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial purpose, single-copy limits) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing / permitted use for purposes of research or private study, covering any work, any user, any dealing
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006 (Act 19 of 2006, Cap 222)
Relevant update · Effective 2006-08-04
100%
Relevant section: Section 15
Dates: Effective 2006-08-04 · Enacted 2006-05-31
Why this score
The 2006 Act replaced the Copyright Act (Cap 215). Section 15 establishes a broad fair use provision. Subsection (1) states that 'fair use of a protected work... shall not be an infringement' — the term 'use' is not limited to reproduction and covers any exclusive right. Subsection (2) provides a four-factor test (modeled on US fair use). Subsection (3) lists illustrative purposes including scientific research (s.15(3)(a)), private use (s.15(3)(b)), and library/archive use (s.15(3)(f)). While subsection (3) refers to 'reproduction of a literary or artistic work,' subsection (1) uses the broader term 'fair use' without limiting it to reproduction, meaning the general fair use right in subsection (1) covers any dealing including communication/sharing. The provision applies to any user and any work. This maps to GREEN: fair use open to any user, any work, covering any use (not limited to reproduction) for research purposes. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial consideration in the four-factor test, amount-and-substantiality factor) were not factored into the color decision — these define how fair use is applied, not whether full works or sharing are covered.
Exceptions considered
General fair use clause: fair use of a protected work shall not be an infringement; four-factor test applies. Covers any use, any work, any user.
Fair use includes reproduction of a literary or artistic work for the purposes of scientific research.
Fair use includes reproduction of a literary or artistic work for the purposes of private use.
Fair use includes reproduction of a literary or artistic work for the purposes of a library, archive or similar institution.
Fair use includes reproduction for the purposes of education by way of illustration.
Fair use includes reproduction for the purposes of quotation.
Original text
15. Fair use of works protected by copyright. (1) The fair use of a protected work in its original language or in a translation shall not be an infringement of the right of the author and shall not require the consent of the owner of the copyright. (2) In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use, the factors to be considered shall include— (a) the purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (b) the nature of the protected work; (c) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the protected work as a whole; and (d) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the protected work. (3) Fair use shall include the reproduction of a literary or artistic work— (a) for the purposes of scientific research; (b) for the purposes of private use; (c) for the purposes of criticism, review or the reporting of current events subject to the acknowledgement of the source; (d) for the purposes of education by way of illustration in the original language or in a translation; (e) for the purposes of quotation; or (f) for the purposes of a library, archive or similar institution.
Source links
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006 (Cap 222, as consolidated to 31 December 2023)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2006-08-04
100%
Relevant section: Section 15
Dates: Effective 2006-08-04 · Enacted 2006-05-31
Why this score
As of 2025, the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2006 (Cap 222) remains in force, consolidated to 31 December 2023 by the Law Reform Commission of Uganda. No amendments to Section 15 have been identified. The fair use provision in Section 15(1) remains the most permissive exception: it covers 'fair use' (any exclusive right, not limited to reproduction) of 'a protected work' (any work) without restricting the class of users. The illustrative purposes in subsection (3) include scientific research, private use, and library/archive use. There is no TDM-specific exception. The general fair use clause in subsection (1) is open-ended (the four-factor test in subsection (2) and the list in subsection (3) are illustrative, not exhaustive — 'shall include' language). This maps to GREEN: fair use open to any user, any work, covering any use for research purposes. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial consideration, amount-and-substantiality factor) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
General fair use clause: fair use of a protected work shall not be an infringement; four-factor test applies. Covers any use, any work, any user.
Fair use includes reproduction of a literary or artistic work for the purposes of scientific research.
Fair use includes reproduction of a literary or artistic work for the purposes of private use.
Fair use includes reproduction of a literary or artistic work for the purposes of a library, archive or similar institution.
Fair use includes reproduction for the purposes of education by way of illustration.
Fair use includes reproduction for the purposes of quotation.
Original text
15. Fair use of works protected by copyright. (1) The fair use of a protected work in its original language or in a translation shall not be an infringement of the right of the author and shall not require the consent of the owner of the copyright. (2) In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use, the factors to be considered shall include— (a) the purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (b) the nature of the protected work; (c) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the protected work as a whole; and (d) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the protected work. (3) Fair use shall include the reproduction of a literary or artistic work— (a) for the purposes of scientific research; (b) for the purposes of private use; (c) for the purposes of criticism, review or the reporting of current events subject to the acknowledgement of the source; (d) for the purposes of education by way of illustration in the original language or in a translation; (e) for the purposes of quotation; or (f) for the purposes of a library, archive or similar institution.