Selected year snapshot
For 2000, the active event in this file is Lag om ändring av upphovsrättslagen (446/1995).
60%
Current rationale
In 1995, Finland amended the Copyright Act (amendment 446/1995) to implement the EU Database Directive and related changes. The private use exception in §12 was modified to exclude computer programs from private copying and to add certain conditions, but the core private use right for research (reproduction of full works for private/personal use) remained intact for other types of works. The exclusion of computer programs from private copying could theoretically push toward ORANGE, but the exception still permitted full-work reproduction of all other types of works for private use. The most permissive exception remained §12 private use. Classification remains LIGHT BLUE because the exception is still restricted to private/individual use. The computer program exclusion is a work-type restriction but since full works of all other types remain copyable, the primary restriction is still the user dimension (private use only).
Exceptions considered
Private use reproduction — full works permitted for private use, but computer programs now excluded from private copying.
Library and archive copying provisions.
Quotation right.
Law changes
Upphovsrättslag (8.7.1961/404)
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
60%
Relevant section: §11, §12, §14, §22
Dates: Effective 1990-01-01 · Enacted 1961-07-08
Why this score
The Åland Islands are an autonomous region of Finland. Under the Act on the Autonomy of Åland (1991/1144, and its predecessor 1951 Act), copyright law is not among the legislative powers devolved to the Åland Parliament — it falls under the legislative competence of the Finnish state (the Republic of Finland). Therefore, Finnish copyright law (Upphovsrättslag / Tekijänoikeuslaki, Act 404/1961) applies directly in Åland. As of 1990-01-01, the Finnish Copyright Act 404/1961 (as amended through the late 1980s) was in force. The key research-relevant exception was §12 (private use / yksityinen käyttö), which permitted reproduction of a published work for private use ('enskilt bruk' in Swedish / 'yksityiseen käyttöön' in Finnish). This covered reproduction of full works for private purposes including private study and personal research. However, it was limited to private/personal use by individuals and did not authorize sharing, communication, or institutional copying. §14 provided limited library/archive copying rights. §22 permitted quotation in accordance with proper usage. No general fair use, fair dealing, or open research exception existed. The most permissive exception for research was §12 (private use covering full works, any type of work, but restricted to individual private use). This maps to LIGHT BLUE. I was unable to retrieve and verify the exact verbatim text of the 1990 consolidated version of the Finnish Copyright Act via web search, so the excerpt fields are left empty.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction of published works for private use (enskilt bruk). Permits making copies of full works for personal/private purposes including private study.
Library and archive copying — limited reproduction by libraries and archives for preservation and lending purposes.
Quotation right — permits quotation from published works in accordance with proper usage and to the extent warranted by the purpose.
Lag om ändring av upphovsrättslagen (446/1995)
Relevant update · Effective 1995-01-01
60%
Relevant section: §12
Dates: Effective 1995-01-01 · Enacted 1995-03-24
Why this score
In 1995, Finland amended the Copyright Act (amendment 446/1995) to implement the EU Database Directive and related changes. The private use exception in §12 was modified to exclude computer programs from private copying and to add certain conditions, but the core private use right for research (reproduction of full works for private/personal use) remained intact for other types of works. The exclusion of computer programs from private copying could theoretically push toward ORANGE, but the exception still permitted full-work reproduction of all other types of works for private use. The most permissive exception remained §12 private use. Classification remains LIGHT BLUE because the exception is still restricted to private/individual use. The computer program exclusion is a work-type restriction but since full works of all other types remain copyable, the primary restriction is still the user dimension (private use only).
Exceptions considered
Private use reproduction — full works permitted for private use, but computer programs now excluded from private copying.
Library and archive copying provisions.
Quotation right.
Lag om ändring av upphovsrättslagen (821/2005)
Relevant update · Effective 2006-01-01
60%
Relevant section: §12, §16, §16a, §16b
Dates: Effective 2006-01-01 · Enacted 2005-10-14
Why this score
The 2005 amendment (821/2005) transposed the EU InfoSoc Directive (2001/29/EC) into Finnish law. This was a major reform of the exceptions and limitations. §12 (private use) was retained but further refined — private copying remained permitted for full works (excluding computer programs and, with certain restrictions, databases), for private use by natural persons. §16, §16a, and §16b introduced or expanded library/archive/museum exceptions including on-premises terminal access (Art. 5.2(c) InfoSoc transposition) and preservation copying. §22 (quotation) was retained. §14 was amended. New provisions included §11a (transient copies, Art. 5.1 InfoSoc). The most permissive exception for research remained §12 (private use), which permits reproduction of full works for private purposes. No general fair use, fair dealing, or open research exception was introduced. Classification remains LIGHT BLUE. The library exceptions (§16, §16a, §16b) are institutional only (PURPLE individually). The private use exception remains the most permissive for a general researcher.
Exceptions considered
Private use reproduction — permits making copies of published works for private use by natural persons. Computer programs excluded. Databases partially restricted.
Library, archive, and museum exceptions — reproduction for preservation, on-premises terminal access for research/private study.
Transient and incidental copies (Art. 5.1 InfoSoc transposition).
Quotation right — quotation from published works in accordance with proper usage.
Reproduction by educational institutions and for scientific research — limited scope.
Source links
Lag om ändring av upphovsrättslagen (607/2015)
Relevant update · Effective 2015-06-01
60%
Relevant section: §12
Dates: Effective 2015-06-01 · Enacted 2015-05-22
Why this score
The 2015 amendment further refined the private copying provisions in §12, particularly regarding digital copying and the private copying levy system. The core structure of the private use exception remained: natural persons may reproduce published works for private use. Computer programs remain excluded. The classification remains LIGHT BLUE as the most permissive research-relevant exception is still the private use provision restricted to individuals.
Exceptions considered
Private use reproduction — permits making copies of published works for private use by natural persons.
Library, archive, and museum exceptions.
Quotation right.
Educational and scientific research reproduction provisions.
Lag om ändring av upphovsrättslagen (306/2023)
Relevant update · Effective 2023-04-03
60%
Relevant section: §13b, §14a, §16h
Dates: Effective 2023-04-03 · Enacted 2023-03-03
Why this score
The 2023 amendment (306/2023) transposed the EU DSM Directive (2019/790) into Finnish law. Key new provisions: §13b(2) implements Art. 3 DSM — a TDM exception for research organizations and cultural heritage institutions, permitting reproduction and extraction of lawfully accessed works for text and data mining for scientific research purposes. §14a implements Art. 5 DSM — a broader provision on use of works in digital and cross-border teaching. §16h implements Art. 8 DSM — use of out-of-commerce works by cultural heritage institutions. The TDM exception in §13b(2) is restricted to research organizations and cultural heritage institutions (not open to all users), making it PURPLE individually. There is also Art. 4 DSM (general TDM exception) which Finland transposed — this permits TDM by any person who has lawful access, covering reproduction and extraction, but the Finnish implementation requires that the rightsholder has not expressly reserved the right (opt-out). The general TDM exception (Art. 4 DSM transposition) covers reproduction for TDM by any user but is limited to reproduction/extraction only (not communication/sharing of results beyond what is necessary). However, the most permissive exception overall for general research remains §12 (private use — full work reproduction for private purposes by individuals, LIGHT BLUE). The TDM exceptions add new capabilities but do not change the overall classification because: the Art. 3 TDM exception is institutional-only (PURPLE), and the Art. 4 general TDM exception covers reproduction only (BLUE for TDM specifically, but limited to TDM purposes). The private use exception §12 remains the broadest for general research reproduction. Classification remains LIGHT BLUE.
Exceptions considered
Private use reproduction — permits making copies of published works for private use by natural persons.
TDM for scientific research — reproduction and extraction by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions for scientific research from lawfully accessed works (Art. 3 DSM transposition).
General TDM exception — reproduction and extraction for TDM by any person with lawful access, subject to rightsholder opt-out (Art. 4 DSM transposition).
Digital and cross-border teaching use (Art. 5 DSM transposition).
Library, archive, and museum exceptions.
Quotation right.
Source links
Upphovsrättslag (8.7.1961/404, as amended through 306/2023)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
60%
Relevant section: §12, §13b, §14, §14a, §16, §16a, §16b, §16h, §22
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the Finnish Copyright Act (which applies in the Åland Islands) contains the following research-relevant exceptions: (1) §12 — private use reproduction of full works by natural persons for private purposes (LIGHT BLUE); (2) §13b(2) — TDM for scientific research by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions (PURPLE); (3) §13b(1) — general TDM by any user with lawful access, subject to opt-out, covering reproduction and extraction only (BLUE); (4) §16/§16a/§16b — library/archive/museum exceptions (PURPLE); (5) §14/§14a — educational and scientific use provisions (PURPLE); (6) §22 — quotation (RED). The most permissive exception for general research reproduction of full works remains §12 (private use), which permits any natural person to reproduce full published works for private purposes including private study and personal research, but does not authorize sharing or institutional use. This is LIGHT BLUE. The general TDM exception §13b(1) is BLUE individually (open to all users, covers reproduction/extraction, but not sharing), but it is limited to TDM purposes and does not cover general research reproduction. For a researcher doing TDM specifically, BLUE would apply; for general research copying, LIGHT BLUE applies. Since the question is about the most permissive exception for research use broadly, and §12 covers the broadest range of research activities (any reproduction for private use), LIGHT BLUE is the overall classification. Non-commercial restrictions, copy limits, and remuneration/levy requirements were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Private use reproduction — permits making copies of published works for private use by natural persons. Computer programs excluded.
TDM for scientific research — reproduction and extraction by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions (Art. 3 DSM).
General TDM exception — reproduction and extraction for TDM by any person with lawful access, subject to rightsholder opt-out (Art. 4 DSM).
Digital and cross-border teaching use, including scientific research illustration (Art. 5 DSM).
Library, archive, and museum exceptions — preservation copying, on-premises terminal access.
Out-of-commerce works use by cultural heritage institutions (Art. 8 DSM).
Quotation right — quotation from published works in accordance with proper usage.