Selected year snapshot
For 1999, the active event in this file is Copyright Act [Chapter 26:01].
100%
Current rationale
The Copyright Act [Chapter 26:01] (Act 7 of 1967, as amended) was the copyright statute in force in Zimbabwe on 1990-01-01. Section 19 provided a fair dealing exception for the purposes of research or private study, criticism or review, and reporting current events. Under the fair dealing framework, 'dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and the exception was open to any user and any type of work. Section 20 provided for reproduction for private and domestic use. The most permissive exception is the fair dealing clause in Section 19, which covers any dealing with a work for research or private study — this encompasses reproduction and sharing/communication, is open to all users, and applies to all works. This maps to GREEN. However, I was unable to retrieve the full verbatim text of the 1967 Copyright Act as in force on 1990-01-01 via web search; the classification is based on secondary references to the structure of the old Act and the known legislative history of Zimbabwe's copyright law prior to the 2000 replacement.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, criticism or review, and reporting current events
Reproduction for private and domestic use
Law changes
Copyright Act [Chapter 26:01]
Baseline · Effective 1967-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 19 (Fair dealing), Section 20 (Private and domestic use)
Dates: Effective 1967-01-01 · Enacted 1967-01-01
Why this score
The Copyright Act [Chapter 26:01] (Act 7 of 1967, as amended) was the copyright statute in force in Zimbabwe on 1990-01-01. Section 19 provided a fair dealing exception for the purposes of research or private study, criticism or review, and reporting current events. Under the fair dealing framework, 'dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and the exception was open to any user and any type of work. Section 20 provided for reproduction for private and domestic use. The most permissive exception is the fair dealing clause in Section 19, which covers any dealing with a work for research or private study — this encompasses reproduction and sharing/communication, is open to all users, and applies to all works. This maps to GREEN. However, I was unable to retrieve the full verbatim text of the 1967 Copyright Act as in force on 1990-01-01 via web search; the classification is based on secondary references to the structure of the old Act and the known legislative history of Zimbabwe's copyright law prior to the 2000 replacement.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, criticism or review, and reporting current events
Reproduction for private and domestic use
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05]
Relevant update · Effective 2004-09-10
60%
Relevant section: Section 25 (Fair dealing), Section 26 (Private and domestic use), Section 27 (Reprographic reproduction by libraries and archives)
Dates: Effective 2004-09-10 · Enacted 2000-01-01
Why this score
The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05] replaced the old Copyright Act. Section 25(1)(a) provides fair dealing for 'research or private study by, or the personal use of, the person using the work.' The critical qualifier here is 'by ... the person using the work' — this restricts the beneficiary to the individual person, making it a personal/private use exception. The phrase 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), but the user restriction to 'the person using the work' limits this to individual private use. This is not an open fair dealing clause available to any user for research; it is qualified by the personal use restriction. Section 26 provides for reproduction for private and domestic use (also individual/private). Section 27 provides reprographic reproduction by libraries and archives, but this is limited to institutional users and to specific conditions. The most permissive exception for research is Section 25(1)(a), which covers fair dealing (any exclusive right) with any listed work type for research/private study, but restricted to 'the person using the work.' This personal qualifier makes it LIGHT BLUE rather than GREEN. The non-commercial restriction and copy-limit factors are classification-neutral. Sound recordings are not explicitly listed in Section 25(1) (which covers literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works and audio-visual works), but this does not change the classification since the primary restriction is the user limitation.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or audio-visual work, for research or private study by, or personal use of, the person using the work
Reproduction for private and domestic use — permits single copy of published work for private or domestic use by the person making the copy
Reprographic reproduction by libraries and archives — permits libraries/archives to make copies under prescribed conditions
Quotation — permits quotation from a published work compatible with fair practice and justified by the purpose
Reproduction for teaching — permits use for illustration for teaching, compatible with fair practice
Original text
25. Fair dealing (1) Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or with an audio-visual work, for the purposes of— (a) research or private study by, or the personal use of, the person using the work; (b) criticism or review of the work or of another work; (c) the reporting of current events— (i) in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical; or (ii) by means of a cinematograph film or by means of broadcasting; shall not constitute an infringement of copyright in the work. (2) In the case of a use referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1), no acknowledgement of the work shall be required. (3) In the case of a use referred to in paragraph (b) or subparagraph (i) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1), a sufficient acknowledgement of the work shall be required. (4) In the case of a use referred to in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1), no acknowledgement of the work shall be required if this would be impractical for reasons inherent in the nature of the use.
Source links
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05]
Current law confirmation · Effective 2004-09-10
60%
Relevant section: Section 25 (Fair dealing), Section 26 (Private and domestic use), Section 27 (Reprographic reproduction by libraries and archives)
Dates: Effective 2004-09-10 · Enacted 2000-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05] remains in force without any amendments to the exceptions and limitations provisions relevant to research. No TDM-specific exception has been enacted. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains Section 25(1)(a), which provides fair dealing for research or private study 'by, or the personal use of, the person using the work.' The qualifier 'by ... the person using the work' restricts the beneficiary to individuals acting privately. 'Fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and the exception applies to literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and audio-visual works. However, the personal/individual user restriction prevents classification as GREEN. Section 26 (private/domestic reproduction) and Section 27 (library/archive reproduction) remain in force but are less permissive. No amendments to these sections have been identified between 2004 and 2025. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial purpose, copy limits, acknowledgement requirements) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or audio-visual work, for research or private study by, or personal use of, the person using the work
Reproduction for private and domestic use — single copy of published work for private or domestic use
Reprographic reproduction by libraries and archives under prescribed conditions
Quotation from a published work compatible with fair practice and justified by the purpose
Reproduction for illustration for teaching, compatible with fair practice
Original text
25. Fair dealing (1) Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, or with an audio-visual work, for the purposes of— (a) research or private study by, or the personal use of, the person using the work; (b) criticism or review of the work or of another work; (c) the reporting of current events— (i) in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical; or (ii) by means of a cinematograph film or by means of broadcasting; shall not constitute an infringement of copyright in the work.