Selected year snapshot
For 2025, the active event in this file is Accord de Bangui révisé (2015) – Annexe VII relative à la propriété littéraire et artistique.
60%
Current rationale
As of 2025, the Central African Republic's copyright law is governed by the Bangui Agreement as revised, through its membership in OAPI. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains the private and personal use exception in Annex VII, Article 12(1), which permits reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation of a work exclusively for private and personal use. This covers full works (with the noted exclusions for architectural works and reprographic reproduction of entire works without collective license). The exception is restricted to private and personal use, limiting the user class to individuals acting privately. No fair dealing, fair use, general research, TDM, or institutional research exception exists. The quotation exception is limited to short extracts (RED). The educational exception covers teaching illustration only. The three-step test operates as a limiting condition, not an enabling clause. Uses: covers reproduction and other transformations but limited to private context (no sharing). Works: covers all works except architectural works reproduced as buildings. Users: restricted to individuals for private and personal use. Classification: LIGHT BLUE. Non-commercial restriction and lawful access requirements were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation exclusively for private and personal use; excludes architectural works as buildings and reprographic reproduction of entire works without collective license
Quotation of a short extract from a lawfully published work
Use of work as illustration for teaching
Three-step test as limiting condition on exceptions
Law changes
Accord de Bangui du 2 mars 1977 instituant une Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) – Annexe VII relative à la propriété littéraire et artistique
Baseline · Effective 1982-02-08
60%
Relevant section: Annexe VII, Articles 9–11
Dates: Effective 1982-02-08 · Enacted 1977-03-02
Why this score
The Central African Republic's copyright law is governed by the Bangui Agreement through OAPI membership. The 1977 Bangui Agreement Annex VII contained exceptions for private use (reproduction for personal and private use) and quotation. The private use exception permitted reproduction of a published work exclusively for the private use of the user, which covers full works but is restricted to private/personal use only. Quotation was limited to short passages. No broader fair dealing, fair use, or general research exception existed. The private use exception is the most permissive for research purposes, but it is limited to individuals acting privately. Non-commercial restriction is classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction of a published work exclusively for the private and personal use of the user
Short quotations from a published work for criticism, polemic, teaching, or scientific purposes
Source links
Accord de Bangui révisé du 24 février 1999 – Annexe VII relative à la propriété littéraire et artistique
Relevant update · Effective 2002-02-28
60%
Relevant section: Annexe VII, Articles 12, 13
Dates: Effective 2002-02-28 · Enacted 1999-02-24
Why this score
The 1999 revised Bangui Agreement Annex VII Article 12(1) permits reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation of a work made exclusively for private and personal use. This covers full works (except architectural works reproduced as buildings, and reprographic reproduction of entire works or substantial parts without a collective license). The exception is restricted to 'private and personal use' — limiting the user class to individuals acting privately. Article 12(2) permits only short quotations (RED). Article 12(3) permits use for teaching illustration (educational, not directly research). Article 13 sets out the three-step test as a limiting condition on exceptions, not as an independent enabling clause. There is no general fair dealing, fair use, or specific research exception. The private use exception in Art. 12(1) is the most permissive for research purposes. It covers uses beyond mere reproduction ('reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation') but is limited to private and personal use. The reprographic reproduction restriction (requiring a collective license for entire works) narrows the scope but does not eliminate the exception for non-reprographic reproduction of full works for private use. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, lawful access) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation exclusively for private and personal use; excludes architectural works as buildings and reprographic reproduction of entire works without collective license
Quotation of a short extract from a lawfully published work, conforming to fair practice and justified by purpose
Use of work as illustration for teaching through publications, broadcasts, or recordings, conforming to fair practice
Three-step test: exceptions must be limited to certain special cases that do not conflict with normal exploitation and do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author
Original text
Article 12 : Sous réserve des dispositions de l'article 13 ci-dessous, l'auteur ne peut interdire : 1) la reproduction, la traduction, l'adaptation, l'arrangement ou autre transformation d'une telle œuvre, faits exclusivement pour un usage privé et personnel, à l'exception de la reproduction d'une œuvre d'architecture sous forme d'un bâtiment ou d'une autre construction, et de la reproduction reprographique d'un ouvrage entier ou d'une partie substantielle d'un tel ouvrage ; à condition que, dans le cas d'une reproduction reprographique, une licence ait été préalablement obtenue auprès de l'organisme national de gestion collective du droit d'auteur ; 2) la reproduction sous forme de citation d'un court extrait d'une œuvre licitement publiée dans une autre œuvre, à condition que cette reproduction soit conforme aux bons usages et que son étendue ne dépasse pas celle justifiée par le but à atteindre, y compris les citations d'articles de journaux et de recueils périodiques sous forme de revues de presse ; 3) l'utilisation de l'œuvre à titre d'illustration de l'enseignement par le moyen de publications, d'émissions de radiodiffusion ou d'enregistrements sonores ou visuels, sous réserve que cette utilisation soit conforme aux bons usages et dans la mesure justifiée par le but à atteindre ; 4) la reproduction, par la presse ou la radiodiffusion ou la transmission par fil au public, d'articles d'actualité de discussion économique, politique ou religieuse publiés dans des journaux ou recueils périodiques, ou d'œuvres radiodiffusées ayant le même caractère, dans les cas où la reproduction, la radiodiffusion ou ladite transmission n'en est pas expressément réservée.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: Article 12: Subject to the provisions of Article 13 below, the author may not prohibit: 1) the reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation of such a work, made exclusively for private and personal use, with the exception of the reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction, and the reprographic reproduction of an entire work or a substantial part of such a work; provided that, in the case of reprographic reproduction, a license has been previously obtained from the national collective management body for copyright; 2) the reproduction in the form of a quotation of a short extract from a lawfully published work in another work, provided that such reproduction conforms to fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose to be achieved, including quotations from newspaper articles and periodicals in the form of press reviews; 3) the use of the work by way of illustration for teaching through publications, broadcasts or sound or visual recordings, provided that such use conforms to fair practice and to the extent justified by the purpose to be achieved; 4) the reproduction, by the press or broadcasting or wire transmission to the public, of articles on current economic, political or religious topics published in newspapers or periodicals, or of broadcast works of the same character, in cases where the reproduction, broadcasting or said transmission is not expressly reserved.
Source links
Acte additionnel portant révision de l'Accord de Bangui du 2 mars 1977 instituant une Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI), adopté à Bamako le 14 décembre 2015 – Annexe VII
Relevant update · Effective 2022-01-01
60%
Relevant section: Annexe VII, Articles 12, 13
Dates: Effective 2022-01-01 · Enacted 2015-12-14
Why this score
The 2015 revision of the Bangui Agreement maintained the structure of exceptions in Annex VII. The private and personal use exception remains the most permissive research-relevant exception. No TDM-specific exception was introduced. The quotation exception remains limited to short extracts. The educational exception remains limited to teaching illustration. The three-step test remains a limiting condition. The overall classification remains LIGHT BLUE based on the private use exception covering full works for private and personal use only.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation exclusively for private and personal use; excludes architectural works as buildings and reprographic reproduction of entire works without collective license
Quotation of a short extract from a lawfully published work
Use of work as illustration for teaching
Three-step test as limiting condition on exceptions
Source links
Accord de Bangui révisé (2015) – Annexe VII relative à la propriété littéraire et artistique
Current law confirmation · Effective 2022-01-01
60%
Relevant section: Annexe VII, Articles 12, 13
Dates: Effective 2022-01-01 · Enacted 2015-12-14
Why this score
As of 2025, the Central African Republic's copyright law is governed by the Bangui Agreement as revised, through its membership in OAPI. The most permissive research-relevant exception remains the private and personal use exception in Annex VII, Article 12(1), which permits reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation of a work exclusively for private and personal use. This covers full works (with the noted exclusions for architectural works and reprographic reproduction of entire works without collective license). The exception is restricted to private and personal use, limiting the user class to individuals acting privately. No fair dealing, fair use, general research, TDM, or institutional research exception exists. The quotation exception is limited to short extracts (RED). The educational exception covers teaching illustration only. The three-step test operates as a limiting condition, not an enabling clause. Uses: covers reproduction and other transformations but limited to private context (no sharing). Works: covers all works except architectural works reproduced as buildings. Users: restricted to individuals for private and personal use. Classification: LIGHT BLUE. Non-commercial restriction and lawful access requirements were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement or other transformation exclusively for private and personal use; excludes architectural works as buildings and reprographic reproduction of entire works without collective license
Quotation of a short extract from a lawfully published work
Use of work as illustration for teaching
Three-step test as limiting condition on exceptions