Selected year snapshot
For 2025, the active event in this file is Copyright Act, 1956 (as extended to British Guiana by The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966).
100%
Current rationale
As of 2025, Guyana has not enacted a new comprehensive copyright act to replace the UK Copyright Act 1956 as extended by The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966. WIPO Lex lists only two copyright-related instruments for Guyana: the Copyright Act, 1956 and The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966. No subsequent copyright amendment acts or new copyright statutes were found in searches of the Parliament of Guyana website, WIPO Lex, or other official sources. The fair dealing provisions of the 1956 Act (sections 6 and 9) therefore remain in force. Section 6(1) permits fair dealing with literary, dramatic, or musical works for purposes of research or private study, open to any user and covering any type of dealing (not limited to reproduction). Section 9(1) provides the same for artistic works. Section 41 provides library copying privileges. The classification remains GREEN: fair dealing for research or private study covers any dealing with full works by any user. No TDM-specific exception exists, but the general fair dealing exception is the most permissive provision and determines the color.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic or musical work for purposes of research or private study — covers any dealing by any user
Fair dealing with an artistic work for purposes of research or private study
Fair dealing for criticism, review, or reporting current events
Library and archive copying privileges for research and private study
Law changes
Copyright Act, 1956 (as extended to British Guiana by The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966)
Baseline · Effective 1966-02-05
100%
Relevant section: Sections 6, 9, 41
Dates: Effective 1966-02-05 · Enacted 1966-01-31
Why this score
Guyana's copyright law as of 1990-01-01 was the UK Copyright Act 1956, extended to British Guiana by The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966 (S.I. 1966 No. 79), which came into operation on 5 February 1966. The Order extended all provisions of the Copyright Act 1956 except sections 23–30, 32, 34, 35, 42, 44, and Schedules 4, 5, and 9. This means the fair dealing provisions of the 1956 Act were extended. Section 6(1) of the Copyright Act 1956 provides: 'No fair dealing with a literary, dramatic or musical work shall constitute an infringement of the copyright in the work if it is for purposes of research or private study.' Section 6(2) similarly covers fair dealing for criticism or review, and Section 6(3) for reporting current events. Section 9(1) provides a parallel fair dealing exception for artistic works for research or private study. Section 41 provides library copying privileges. The term 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and the exception is open to any user for research or private study purposes, covering all literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. This maps to GREEN: reproduction and other dealings with full works are permitted for research by any user. The non-commercial nature of 'research or private study' is a classification-neutral factor. Guyana did not enact its own replacement copyright act during this period; the 1956 Act as extended remained in force. I was unable to retrieve the full verbatim text of the 1956 Act sections as applied in Guyana from the search results, but the Order extending the Act is verified from the Parliament of Guyana website and WIPO Lex. The structure and content of the UK Copyright Act 1956 fair dealing provisions are well-established.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic or musical work for purposes of research or private study — covers any dealing (not limited to reproduction) by any user
Fair dealing with an artistic work for purposes of research or private study
Fair dealing for criticism, review, or reporting current events
Library and archive copying privileges for research and private study
Source links
Copyright Act, 1956 (as extended to British Guiana by The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Sections 6, 9, 41
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, Guyana has not enacted a new comprehensive copyright act to replace the UK Copyright Act 1956 as extended by The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966. WIPO Lex lists only two copyright-related instruments for Guyana: the Copyright Act, 1956 and The Copyright (British Guiana) Order 1966. No subsequent copyright amendment acts or new copyright statutes were found in searches of the Parliament of Guyana website, WIPO Lex, or other official sources. The fair dealing provisions of the 1956 Act (sections 6 and 9) therefore remain in force. Section 6(1) permits fair dealing with literary, dramatic, or musical works for purposes of research or private study, open to any user and covering any type of dealing (not limited to reproduction). Section 9(1) provides the same for artistic works. Section 41 provides library copying privileges. The classification remains GREEN: fair dealing for research or private study covers any dealing with full works by any user. No TDM-specific exception exists, but the general fair dealing exception is the most permissive provision and determines the color.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic or musical work for purposes of research or private study — covers any dealing by any user
Fair dealing with an artistic work for purposes of research or private study
Fair dealing for criticism, review, or reporting current events
Library and archive copying privileges for research and private study