France

Loi n° 57-298 du 11 mars 1957 sur la propriété littéraire et artistique (as amended by Loi n° 85-660 du 3 juillet 1985)

Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01

20%

Relevant section: Art. 41(2) (Loi de 1957) / Art. L122-5(2°) (CPI 1992)

Dates: Effective 1990-01-01 · Enacted 1985-07-03

Why this score

As of 1990-01-01, French copyright law was governed by the Loi du 11 mars 1957 as amended by the Loi du 3 juillet 1985 (which added neighboring rights but preserved the core exceptions). The key research-relevant exceptions were: (1) Art. 41(2) — private copy exception: copies strictly reserved for the private use of the copier, not for collective use. This permits reproduction of full works but only for private/personal use (LIGHT BLUE). (2) Art. 41(3) — short quotation exception: analyses and short quotations justified by the critical, polemic, educational, scientific, or informational character of the work in which they are incorporated. This is limited to short quotations/excerpts (RED). (3) Art. 41(4) — press reviews. Not research-relevant. The private copy exception (Art. 41(2)) is the most permissive for research. It permits reproduction of full works by any individual for private use. However, it explicitly excludes computer programs (software) from the private copy exception per Art. 47 of the Loi de 1985 (later Art. L122-6-1 CPI), which carved out software from the general exceptions regime. Databases were later also excluded. Because the private copy exception excludes at least one significant category of works (computer programs/software), the classification is ORANGE rather than LIGHT BLUE. The exception does not cover sharing/communication. Non-commercial restriction and copy-limit factors are classification-neutral.

Exceptions considered

Original text

Lorsque l'oeuvre a été divulguée, l'auteur ne peut interdire : [...] 2° Les copies ou reproductions strictement réservées à l'usage privé du copiste et non destinées à une utilisation collective ;

English rendering

[Unofficial translation]: When the work has been disclosed, the author may not prohibit: [...] 2° Copies or reproductions strictly reserved for the private use of the copier and not intended for collective use;

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Loi n° 92-597 du 1er juillet 1992 relative au code de la propriété intellectuelle (partie législative)

Relevant update · Effective 1992-07-01

20%

Relevant section: Art. L122-5(2°), L122-5(3°)(a), L122-6-1

Dates: Effective 1992-07-01 · Enacted 1992-07-01

Why this score

The CPI codified the pre-existing exceptions without substantive change to the research-relevant provisions. Art. L122-5(2°) maintained the private copy exception. Art. L122-5(3°)(a) maintained the short quotation exception. Art. L122-6-1 maintained the exclusion of software from the private copy regime (software has its own limited backup-copy exception). The classification remains ORANGE: private copy permits full-work reproduction for private use but excludes software (and later databases). No sharing is permitted. The quotation exception remains limited to short excerpts (RED individually).

Exceptions considered

Original text

Lorsque l'oeuvre a été divulguée, l'auteur ne peut interdire : [...] 2° Les copies ou reproductions strictement réservées à l'usage privé du copiste et non destinées à une utilisation collective, à l'exception des copies des oeuvres d'art destinées à être utilisées pour des fins identiques à celles pour lesquelles l'oeuvre originale a été créée [...]

English rendering

[Unofficial translation]: When the work has been disclosed, the author may not prohibit: [...] 2° Copies or reproductions strictly reserved for the private use of the copier and not intended for collective use, with the exception of copies of works of art intended to be used for purposes identical to those for which the original work was created [...]

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Loi n° 98-536 du 1er juillet 1998 portant transposition dans le code de la propriété intellectuelle de la directive 96/9/CE du Parlement européen et du Conseil, du 11 mars 1996, concernant la protection juridique des bases de données

Relevant update · Effective 1998-07-01

20%

Relevant section: Art. L122-5(2°), L342-3

Dates: Effective 1998-07-01 · Enacted 1998-07-01

Why this score

The 1998 law transposed the EU Database Directive (96/9/EC) into French law. It explicitly excluded databases from the private copy exception at Art. L122-5(2°) and created a sui generis database right with its own limited exceptions at Art. L342-3. Art. L342-3(1°) permitted extraction for private purposes of a qualitatively or quantitatively non-substantial part of a database. This reinforced the ORANGE classification: the private copy exception now excluded both software and databases. The most permissive exception for research remained the private copy exception for other types of works (full-work reproduction for private use), but with two significant categories of works excluded.

Exceptions considered

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Loi n° 2006-961 du 1er août 2006 relative au droit d'auteur et aux droits voisins dans la société de l'information (DADVSI)

Relevant update · Effective 2006-08-03

20%

Relevant section: Art. L122-5(3°)(e), L122-5(8°)

Dates: Effective 2006-08-03 · Enacted 2006-08-01

Why this score

The DADVSI law of 2006 transposed the EU InfoSoc Directive (2001/29/EC) into French law. It added several new exceptions to Art. L122-5, most notably: (1) Art. L122-5(3°)(e) — the teaching and research exception: permits representation or reproduction of EXTRACTS of works for illustration in teaching and research. This is limited to extracts (not full works) and excludes works designed for educational purposes and musical scores. It also restricts the audience. Individually this would be RED (extracts only). (2) Art. L122-5(8°) — reproduction for consultation on dedicated terminals in libraries/archives: permits reproduction of works in the collections of publicly accessible libraries, museums, or archives for consultation on dedicated terminals on the premises. This is very narrow (on-premises terminal only, no sharing). The private copy exception at Art. L122-5(2°) remained in force, still excluding software and databases. The most permissive exception for research remains the private copy exception (ORANGE: full-work reproduction for private use, but excluding software and databases). The new teaching/research exception is actually more restrictive (extracts only = RED). Classification remains ORANGE.

Exceptions considered

Original text

Lorsque l'oeuvre a été divulguée, l'auteur ne peut interdire : [...] 3° Sous réserve que soient indiqués clairement le nom de l'auteur et la source : [...] e) La représentation ou la reproduction d'extraits d'oeuvres, sous réserve des oeuvres conçues à des fins pédagogiques et des partitions de musique, à des fins exclusives d'illustration dans le cadre de l'enseignement et de la recherche, à l'exclusion de toute activité ludique ou récréative, dès lors que le public auquel cette représentation ou cette reproduction est destinée est composé majoritairement d'élèves, d'étudiants, d'enseignants ou de chercheurs directement concernés, que l'utilisation de cette représentation ou cette reproduction ne donne lieu à aucune exploitation commerciale et qu'elle est compensée par une rémunération négociée sur une base forfaitaire sans préjudice de la cession du droit de reproduction par reprographie mentionnée à l'article L. 122-10 ;

English rendering

[Unofficial translation]: When the work has been disclosed, the author may not prohibit: [...] 3° Provided that the name of the author and the source are clearly indicated: [...] (e) The representation or reproduction of extracts of works, with the exception of works designed for educational purposes and musical scores, for the exclusive purpose of illustration in the context of teaching and research, excluding any recreational activity, provided that the public to whom such representation or reproduction is intended is composed mainly of pupils, students, teachers or researchers directly concerned, that the use of such representation or reproduction does not give rise to any commercial exploitation and that it is compensated by remuneration negotiated on a flat-rate basis, without prejudice to the assignment of the reprographic reproduction right mentioned in Article L. 122-10;

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Loi n° 2016-1321 du 7 octobre 2016 pour une République numérique

Relevant update · Effective 2016-10-09

20%

Relevant section: Art. L122-5(10°), Art. L342-3(5°)

Dates: Effective 2016-10-09 · Enacted 2016-10-07

Why this score

The Loi pour une République numérique introduced France's first TDM exception at Art. L122-5(10°) and a parallel exception for the sui generis database right at Art. L342-3(5°). The TDM exception permits digital copies/reproductions from a lawful source for text and data mining of scientific writings for the needs of public research, excluding commercial purposes. Analysis of the TDM exception: (1) Uses: covers reproduction ('copies ou reproductions numériques') and mentions 'conservation et communication des fichiers produits' — the communication of resulting files is permitted but only at the end of research activities. The exception covers reproduction and limited communication of output files. (2) Works: limited to 'écrits scientifiques' (scientific writings) — this is a significant work-type restriction. (3) Users: limited to 'recherche publique' (public research) — institutional restriction. The TDM exception individually would be PURPLE (institutional restriction to public research) or ORANGE (limited to scientific writings). Since it restricts both users (public research only) and works (scientific writings only), the most restrictive element applies: ORANGE (work restriction is more restrictive in the hierarchy than user restriction). However, the pre-existing private copy exception at Art. L122-5(2°) remains in force and is still the most permissive exception overall (full-work reproduction for private use, excluding software and databases = ORANGE). The overall classification remains ORANGE. The TDM exception does not improve the overall classification because it is narrower than the private copy exception in terms of works covered.

Exceptions considered

Original text

Lorsque l'oeuvre a été divulguée, l'auteur ne peut interdire : [...] 10° Les copies ou reproductions numériques réalisées à partir d'une source licite, en vue de l'exploration de textes et de données incluses ou associées aux écrits scientifiques pour les besoins de la recherche publique, à l'exclusion de toute finalité commerciale. Un décret fixe les conditions dans lesquelles l'exploration des textes et des données est mise en œuvre, ainsi que les modalités de conservation et de communication des fichiers produits au terme des activités de recherche pour lesquelles elles ont été produites ; les fichiers produits dans le cadre de ces activités de recherche sont conservés de manière sécurisée ;

English rendering

[Unofficial translation]: When the work has been disclosed, the author may not prohibit: [...] 10° Digital copies or reproductions made from a lawful source, for the purpose of text and data mining included in or associated with scientific writings, for the needs of public research, excluding any commercial purpose. A decree shall set the conditions under which text and data mining is implemented, as well as the terms for the preservation and communication of files produced at the end of the research activities for which they were produced; files produced in the context of these research activities shall be preserved securely;

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Ordonnance n° 2021-1518 du 24 novembre 2021 portant transposition de la directive (UE) 2019/790 du Parlement européen et du Conseil du 17 avril 2019 sur le droit d'auteur et les droits voisins dans le marché unique numérique

Relevant update · Effective 2021-11-26

20%

Relevant section: Art. L122-5-3, Art. L342-3-1, Art. L342-3-2

Dates: Effective 2021-11-26 · Enacted 2021-11-24

Why this score

The Ordonnance of 24 November 2021 transposed the EU DSM Directive (2019/790) into French law, creating two new TDM exceptions at Art. L122-5-3 (replacing the former Art. L122-5(10°)): (I) A general TDM exception open to any person for any purpose, subject to an opt-out by rights holders. This covers reproduction (digital copies) of all types of works, by any user, for any purpose. However, it covers only reproduction — the text says 'copies ou reproductions numériques' and does not mention communication, sharing, or making available. This would be BLUE (reproduction of full works, all users, all works, but no sharing). (II) A research-specific TDM exception for research organizations and cultural heritage institutions, for scientific research purposes, with no opt-out possible. This covers reproduction only, restricted to institutions. This would be PURPLE individually. The pre-existing private copy exception at Art. L122-5(2°) remains in force (ORANGE: full-work reproduction for private use, excluding software and databases). Comparing the most permissive exceptions: Art. L122-5-3(I) general TDM = BLUE (all works, all users, reproduction only, no sharing, subject to opt-out). Art. L122-5(2°) private copy = ORANGE (full-work reproduction, private use only, but excludes software and databases). The general TDM exception (Art. L122-5-3(I)) is more permissive than the private copy exception because it covers ALL works (including software and databases) and ALL users, though limited to reproduction. However, the opt-out mechanism means rights holders can exclude their works. The opt-out is a condition of the exception, not a work-type exclusion — it is more analogous to a proportionality qualifier. Under the classification rules, the opt-out does not change the color because it functions as a condition on exercise rather than a categorical exclusion of work types. Nevertheless, on a conservative reading, the opt-out means the exception does not reliably cover all works — rights holders of any category can opt out. This creates genuine ambiguity about whether to classify as BLUE (all works covered in principle) or ORANGE (effective coverage depends on opt-out status). On balance, I classify as ORANGE because: (1) the opt-out mechanism means the general TDM exception does not guarantee coverage of all works, and (2) the private copy exception (which does guarantee coverage but excludes software/databases) remains the most reliably permissive exception. The overall classification remains ORANGE.

Exceptions considered

Original text

Art. L122-5-3. – I. – Les copies ou reproductions numériques réalisées à partir d'une source licite en vue de fouilles de textes et de données menées par toute personne, quelle que soit la finalité de la fouille, à l'exception des copies ou reproductions d'œuvres ou d'autres objets protégés auxquels les titulaires de droits se sont opposés de manière appropriée, notamment par des procédés lisibles par machine pour les contenus mis à la disposition du public en ligne, ne portent pas atteinte au droit d'auteur. II. – Les copies ou reproductions numériques réalisées à partir d'une source licite en vue de fouilles de textes et de données menées à des fins de recherche scientifique par les organismes de recherche et par les institutions du patrimoine culturel ne portent pas atteinte au droit d'auteur. Les copies ou reproductions numériques réalisées en application du premier alinéa du présent II sont stockées avec un niveau de sécurité approprié. Elles peuvent être conservées à des fins de recherche scientifique, y compris pour la vérification des résultats de la recherche.

English rendering

[Unofficial translation]: Art. L122-5-3. – I. – Digital copies or reproductions made from a lawful source for the purpose of text and data mining carried out by any person, regardless of the purpose of the mining, except for copies or reproductions of works or other protected subject matter to which rights holders have appropriately objected, in particular by machine-readable means for content made available to the public online, do not infringe copyright. II. – Digital copies or reproductions made from a lawful source for the purpose of text and data mining carried out for the purposes of scientific research by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions do not infringe copyright. Digital copies or reproductions made pursuant to the first paragraph of this II shall be stored with an appropriate level of security. They may be preserved for the purposes of scientific research, including for the verification of research results.

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Code de la propriété intellectuelle (version consolidée en vigueur en 2025)

Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01

20%

Relevant section: Art. L122-5(2°), L122-5(3°)(a), L122-5(3°)(e), L122-5-3(I), L122-5-3(II), L122-5(8°), L342-3-1, L342-3-2

Dates: Effective 2025-01-01

Why this score

As of 2025, the French Code de la propriété intellectuelle contains the following research-relevant exceptions: (1) Art. L122-5(2°) — private copy exception: full-work reproduction for private use of the copier, excluding software (Art. L122-6-1) and databases (Art. L342-3). This is the most reliably permissive exception for full-work reproduction (ORANGE individually due to software/database exclusions). (2) Art. L122-5-3(I) — general TDM exception: reproduction for TDM by any person for any purpose, subject to rights holder opt-out. Covers all works in principle but opt-out creates uncertainty. Reproduction only, no sharing (BLUE individually). (3) Art. L122-5-3(II) — research TDM exception: reproduction for TDM for scientific research by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions, no opt-out, with storage/preservation rights (PURPLE individually). (4) Art. L122-5(3°)(a) — short quotation exception (RED). (5) Art. L122-5(3°)(e) — teaching/research illustration exception, extracts only (RED). (6) Art. L122-5(8°) — library terminal consultation (PURPLE). The overall classification is ORANGE. The most permissive exception for guaranteed full-work reproduction remains the private copy exception, which excludes software and databases (ORANGE). The general TDM exception (Art. L122-5-3(I)) could be considered BLUE (all works, all users, reproduction only) but the opt-out mechanism means coverage is not guaranteed for all works. Even if classified as BLUE, it would not reach GREEN because it covers only reproduction, not communication/sharing. No exception in French law provides a general fair use or fair dealing right for research that would cover both reproduction and sharing of full works. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restrictions, remuneration, lawful-access requirements) were not factored into the color decision.

Exceptions considered

Original text

Art. L122-5-3. – I. – Les copies ou reproductions numériques réalisées à partir d'une source licite en vue de fouilles de textes et de données menées par toute personne, quelle que soit la finalité de la fouille, à l'exception des copies ou reproductions d'œuvres ou d'autres objets protégés auxquels les titulaires de droits se sont opposés de manière appropriée, notamment par des procédés lisibles par machine pour les contenus mis à la disposition du public en ligne, ne portent pas atteinte au droit d'auteur. II. – Les copies ou reproductions numériques réalisées à partir d'une source licite en vue de fouilles de textes et de données menées à des fins de recherche scientifique par les organismes de recherche et par les institutions du patrimoine culturel ne portent pas atteinte au droit d'auteur. Les copies ou reproductions numériques réalisées en application du premier alinéa du présent II sont stockées avec un niveau de sécurité approprié. Elles peuvent être conservées à des fins de recherche scientifique, y compris pour la vérification des résultats de la recherche.

English rendering

[Unofficial translation]: Art. L122-5-3. – I. – Digital copies or reproductions made from a lawful source for the purpose of text and data mining carried out by any person, regardless of the purpose of the mining, except for copies or reproductions of works or other protected subject matter to which rights holders have appropriately objected, in particular by machine-readable means for content made available to the public online, do not infringe copyright. II. – Digital copies or reproductions made from a lawful source for the purpose of text and data mining carried out for the purposes of scientific research by research organizations and cultural heritage institutions do not infringe copyright. Digital copies or reproductions made pursuant to the first paragraph of this II shall be stored with an appropriate level of security. They may be preserved for the purposes of scientific research, including for the verification of research results.

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