Selected year snapshot
For 2024, the active event in this file is Copyright (Amendment) Regulations 2013.
100%
Current rationale
The Copyright (Amendment) Regulations 2013 amended the Copyright Act 1991. According to the Isle of Man Government website, among other changes these extended the duration of copyright in literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works from 50 to 70 years, adjusted duration for sound recordings and films, and extended copyright to cover communication of a work to the public by electronic transmission. The fair dealing exception in Section 29 for research and private study remained in force. The UK CDPA 1988 (on which the IoM Act was based) was amended in 2003 to add a non-commercial restriction to s.29 for research; however, whether the IoM 2013 Regulations introduced a similar restriction could not be verified from the sources retrieved. Even if a non-commercial restriction was added, per the classification rules, non-commercial restrictions are classification-neutral and do not change the color. The exception remains GREEN: fair dealing for research or private study, open to any user, covering any dealing with any work type.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study — does not infringe copyright. Possibly amended to add non-commercial restriction for research (classification-neutral). Open to any user, any work, covers any dealing.
Library and archive copying provisions for research or private study.
Law changes
Copyright Act 1956 (as extended to the Isle of Man by The Copyright (Isle of Man) Order 1970)
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 6 (fair dealing for research or private study)
Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
On 1990-01-01, the copyright law in force in the Isle of Man was the UK Copyright Act 1956, extended to the Isle of Man by The Copyright (Isle of Man) Order 1970 (SI 1970/1437). The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (Isle of Man) Order 1990 (SI 1990/1505) did not come into force until 24 July 1990, and the Isle of Man's own Copyright Act 1991 came later still. The Copyright Act 1956, section 6(1), provided: 'No fair dealing with a literary, dramatic or musical work for purposes of research or private study shall constitute an infringement of the copyright in the work.' Section 6(1) also covered artistic works via section 9(1). 'Fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and the exception was open to any user and any type of work. This maps to GREEN. However, the actual verbatim text of the 1956 Act as extended to the Isle of Man could not be retrieved in full from the PDF-only source on legislation.gov.uk. The classification is based on the well-known text of the Copyright Act 1956 s.6, which was the law extended to the Isle of Man.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic or musical work for purposes of research or private study — no infringement. Extended to artistic works by s.9(1). Open to any user, any work, covers any dealing (not limited to reproduction).
Libraries may supply copies of articles or parts of published works for research or private study purposes.
Source links
Copyright Act 1991 (AT 8 of 1991)
Relevant update · Effective 1991-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 29 (Research and private study)
Dates: Effective 1991-01-01 · Enacted 1991-01-01
Why this score
The Isle of Man Copyright Act 1991 replaced the extended UK Copyright Act 1956. It was based on Part I of the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Section 29 provides for fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of research or private study, which does not infringe copyright. The term 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not limited to reproduction), and the exception is open to any user and covers all types of works. This maps to GREEN. The Act also contains library copying provisions (sections 37-44) and other exceptions. The verbatim text could not be fully extracted from the PDF; the classification is based on the known structure of the Act as described in the Isle of Man Government's own description and the table of contents visible in the PDF.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of research or private study — does not infringe copyright. Open to any user, any work type listed, covers any dealing.
Library and archive copying provisions — permit librarians/archivists to make and supply copies for research or private study purposes.
Fair dealing for the purposes of criticism, review and news reporting.
Things done for purposes of instruction or examination.
Source links
Copyright (Amendment) Regulations 2013
Relevant update · Effective 2013-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Amendments to Section 29 and related provisions
Dates: Effective 2013-01-01 · Enacted 2013-01-01
Why this score
The Copyright (Amendment) Regulations 2013 amended the Copyright Act 1991. According to the Isle of Man Government website, among other changes these extended the duration of copyright in literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works from 50 to 70 years, adjusted duration for sound recordings and films, and extended copyright to cover communication of a work to the public by electronic transmission. The fair dealing exception in Section 29 for research and private study remained in force. The UK CDPA 1988 (on which the IoM Act was based) was amended in 2003 to add a non-commercial restriction to s.29 for research; however, whether the IoM 2013 Regulations introduced a similar restriction could not be verified from the sources retrieved. Even if a non-commercial restriction was added, per the classification rules, non-commercial restrictions are classification-neutral and do not change the color. The exception remains GREEN: fair dealing for research or private study, open to any user, covering any dealing with any work type.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study — does not infringe copyright. Possibly amended to add non-commercial restriction for research (classification-neutral). Open to any user, any work, covers any dealing.
Library and archive copying provisions for research or private study.
Source links
Copyright Act 1991 (AT 8 of 1991) (as amended through 2013)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 29 (Research and private study)
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the Isle of Man Copyright Act 1991 (as amended, most recently by the Copyright (Amendment) Regulations 2013) remains in force. Section 29 provides for fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study. This exception covers any type of dealing (not limited to reproduction — it encompasses reproduction, communication, and other exclusive rights), applies to all types of works (literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, and by extension other categories), and is open to any user. This maps to GREEN. The library/archive provisions (ss.37-44) also remain in force but are less permissive (PURPLE). No TDM-specific exception has been identified in the Isle of Man copyright law. The non-commercial restriction (if present) is classification-neutral per the rules.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of research or private study does not infringe copyright. Open to any user, any work, covers any dealing (reproduction, communication, etc.).
Library and archive copying provisions — permit librarians/archivists to make and supply copies for research or private study purposes.
Fair dealing for the purposes of criticism, review and news reporting.
Things done for purposes of instruction or examination.