Back to atlas

country page

Mongolia

Law on Copyright and Related Rights (as revised); Law on Intellectual Property (2020, as amended 2021).

Copyright exception history

0%20%40%60%80%100%199019952000200520102015202020252006: 20%2007: 20%2008: 20%2009: 20%2010: 20%2011: 20%2012: 20%2013: 20%2014: 20%2015: 20%2016: 20%2017: 20%2018: 20%2019: 20%2020: 20%2021: 20%2022: 20%2023: 20%2024: 20%2025: 20%YearOpenness score (%)

Selected year snapshot

For 2025, the active event in this file is Law on Copyright and Related Rights (as revised); Law on Intellectual Property (2020, as amended 2021).

20%

Current rationale

As of 2025, Mongolia's copyright framework consists of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights (most recently revised in 2019) and the overarching Law on Intellectual Property (2020, amended 2021). The most permissive research-relevant exception permits a natural person to reproduce a single copy of a lawfully published work for research or study purposes. However, this exception explicitly excludes entire books, musical scores, computer programs, and databases. Full-work reproduction is therefore permitted for some categories of works (articles, audiovisual works, photographs, artistic works, etc.) but not for all. The exception does not cover sharing/communication — only reproduction. It is limited to natural persons (not institutions generally, though a separate library exception exists for narrower purposes). USES: reproduction only (no sharing/communication). WORKS: excludes entire books, musical scores, computer programs, databases. USERS: natural persons only. The work-type exclusion is the most restrictive element, mapping to ORANGE. The quotation exception (Art. 20.1.2) is limited to excerpts (RED individually). The library exception (Art. 20.1.4) is limited to replacement copies (PURPLE individually). No TDM-specific exception was found. Classification-neutral factors (single copy limit, non-commercial restriction, three-step test language) were not factored into the color decision.

Exceptions considered

Art. 21.1 (or equivalent in current text)20%Private UseMost permissive

Natural person may reproduce a single copy of a lawfully published work for personal use, research, or study. Excludes entire books, musical scores, computer programs, and whole/substantial part of databases.

Art. 20.1.1 (or equivalent)20%Private Use

Reproduction by a natural person exclusively for personal purposes.

Art. 20.1.2 (or equivalent)0%Quotation

Quotation from a work for scientific, research, critical, polemic, educational and informational purposes to the extent justified by the purpose.

Art. 20.1.3 (or equivalent)0%Educational

Use of a work for illustration for teaching purposes to the extent justified by the purpose.

Art. 20.1.4 (or equivalent)40%Library Institutional

Reproduction by libraries and archives for replacing lost/destroyed copies or providing copies to other libraries/archives.

Law changes

Law of Mongolia on Copyright

Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01

?

Dates: Effective 1990-01-01

Why this score

Mongolia's first copyright law was enacted in 1993. On 1990-01-01, Mongolia had no dedicated copyright statute in force. The 1993 law was subsequently amended in 1996 and 1999. The WIPO Lex record for the 1999 amended version (the earliest full text available) does not provide the actual statutory text in a retrievable form via web search. The GRATA International summary indicates the 1993 law existed and was revised, but the actual verbatim text of the exceptions and limitations provisions could not be retrieved and verified. Without the actual statutory text, no color classification can be reliably assigned for the 1990-01-01 baseline. Since no copyright law existed in Mongolia on 1990-01-01, the baseline reflects the absence of copyright legislation entirely.

Source links

Law of Mongolia on Copyright

Relevant update · Effective 1993-06-18

?

Dates: Effective 1993-06-18 · Enacted 1993-06-18

Why this score

The first copyright law of Mongolia was enacted in 1993 and entered into force that year. It was subsequently amended in 1996 and 1999. The WIPO Lex record confirms the existence of the law but the full statutory text of the exceptions and limitations provisions could not be retrieved via web search. The GRATA International publication references that the law regulated copyright and related rights but does not reproduce the verbatim text of the exceptions. Without the actual text, the scope of any research, private use, or fair dealing exceptions cannot be determined.

Source links

Law on Copyright and Related Rights (Revised Edition 2006)

Relevant update · Effective 2006-01-19

20%

Relevant section: Article 20, Article 21, Article 22

Dates: Effective 2006-01-19 · Enacted 2006-01-19

Why this score

The 2006 revised law contains multiple research-relevant exceptions. Article 21.1 permits a natural person to reproduce a single copy of a lawfully published work for personal use, research, or study. However, Article 21.2 excludes architectural works (as buildings), whole databases, computer programs, and entire books and musical scores from this permission. Article 20.1.1 permits reproduction for personal purposes. Article 20.1.2 permits quotation for scientific/research purposes but is limited to quotation (excerpts). The most permissive exception for research is Article 21.1, which permits full-work reproduction for research by any natural person — but it explicitly excludes entire books, musical scores, computer programs, and databases. This means full-work reproduction is permitted for some categories (e.g., articles, audiovisual works, photographs, artistic works) but not for others. This maps to ORANGE: full-work reproduction is available for at least some types of works but specific categories are excluded. The restriction to natural persons (not institutions) and the exclusion of sharing/communication would otherwise suggest LIGHT BLUE, but the work-type exclusions are more restrictive in the hierarchy, yielding ORANGE. Non-commercial restriction and single-copy limit are classification-neutral.

Exceptions considered

Art. 21.120%Private UseMost permissive

Natural person may reproduce a single copy of a lawfully published work for personal use, research, or study, subject to three-step test. Excludes architectural works as buildings, whole databases, computer programs, entire books, and musical scores.

Art. 20.1.120%Private Use

Reproduction of a work by a natural person exclusively for personal purposes.

Art. 20.1.20%Quotation

Quotation from a work for scientific, research, critical, polemic, educational and informational purposes to the extent justified by the purpose.

Art. 20.1.30%Educational

Use of a work for illustration for teaching purposes to the extent justified by the purpose.

Art. 20.1.440%Library Institutional

Reproduction by libraries and archives for replacing lost/destroyed copies or providing copies to other libraries/archives.

English rendering

Source links

Law on Copyright and Related Rights (Revised Edition 2019)

Relevant update · Effective 2019

20%

Relevant section: Articles 20-22

Dates: Effective 2019 · Enacted 2019

Why this score

The 2019 revised edition of the Copyright and Related Rights law was referenced in the IP Office country report as a revision of the 2006 law. The country report indicates the law expanded from 32 to 62 articles in the new draft. However, the full statutory text of the 2019 revision could not be retrieved. Based on available information, the core exceptions structure (personal use/research reproduction with exclusions for books, musical scores, databases, and computer programs) appears to have been maintained. No evidence was found of a new TDM exception or broadening of the research exception to cover sharing/communication. The classification remains ORANGE based on the continuation of the personal use/research exception with work-type exclusions.

Exceptions considered

Art. 21 (or equivalent in revised numbering)20%Private UseMost permissive

Personal use/research reproduction exception with exclusions for entire books, musical scores, databases, and computer programs - carried forward from 2006 law.

Art. 20 (or equivalent in revised numbering)0%Quotation

Quotation for scientific/research purposes; library reproduction exception - carried forward from 2006 law.

Source links

Law on Intellectual Property (Оюуны өмчийн тухай хууль)

Relevant update · Effective 2020-12-01

20%

Dates: Effective 2020-12-01 · Enacted 2020-01-23

Why this score

The Law on Intellectual Property adopted on 23 January 2020 and effective from 1 December 2020 is a framework law governing the IP system, institutions, and economic circulation of IP. According to the GRATA/Mondaq source, it does not replace the substantive copyright exceptions in the Law on Copyright and Related Rights but rather provides an overarching framework. The Law on Copyright and Related Rights continues to govern the specific exceptions and limitations. The WIPO Lex record confirms amendments to this law in 2021 (Law on Amendments to the Law on Intellectual Property, May 6, 2021). The substantive research/private use exceptions from the Copyright and Related Rights law remain in force. No evidence was found that the IP law introduced new research or TDM exceptions. Classification remains ORANGE based on the continued application of the personal use/research reproduction exception with work-type exclusions from the Copyright and Related Rights law.

Exceptions considered

Copyright and Related Rights law Art. 21 (or equivalent)20%Private UseMost permissive

Personal use/research reproduction exception with exclusions for entire books, musical scores, databases, and computer programs - remains in force.

Copyright and Related Rights law Art. 20 (or equivalent)0%Quotation

Quotation for scientific/research purposes; library reproduction - remains in force.

English rendering

Source links

Law on Copyright and Related Rights (as revised); Law on Intellectual Property (2020, as amended 2021)

Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01

20%

Relevant section: Articles 20-22 of the Copyright and Related Rights law (or equivalent provisions in current consolidated text)

Dates: Effective 2025-01-01

Why this score

As of 2025, Mongolia's copyright framework consists of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights (most recently revised in 2019) and the overarching Law on Intellectual Property (2020, amended 2021). The most permissive research-relevant exception permits a natural person to reproduce a single copy of a lawfully published work for research or study purposes. However, this exception explicitly excludes entire books, musical scores, computer programs, and databases. Full-work reproduction is therefore permitted for some categories of works (articles, audiovisual works, photographs, artistic works, etc.) but not for all. The exception does not cover sharing/communication — only reproduction. It is limited to natural persons (not institutions generally, though a separate library exception exists for narrower purposes). USES: reproduction only (no sharing/communication). WORKS: excludes entire books, musical scores, computer programs, databases. USERS: natural persons only. The work-type exclusion is the most restrictive element, mapping to ORANGE. The quotation exception (Art. 20.1.2) is limited to excerpts (RED individually). The library exception (Art. 20.1.4) is limited to replacement copies (PURPLE individually). No TDM-specific exception was found. Classification-neutral factors (single copy limit, non-commercial restriction, three-step test language) were not factored into the color decision.

Exceptions considered

Art. 21.1 (or equivalent in current text)20%Private UseMost permissive

Natural person may reproduce a single copy of a lawfully published work for personal use, research, or study. Excludes entire books, musical scores, computer programs, and whole/substantial part of databases.

Art. 20.1.1 (or equivalent)20%Private Use

Reproduction by a natural person exclusively for personal purposes.

Art. 20.1.2 (or equivalent)0%Quotation

Quotation from a work for scientific, research, critical, polemic, educational and informational purposes to the extent justified by the purpose.

Art. 20.1.3 (or equivalent)0%Educational

Use of a work for illustration for teaching purposes to the extent justified by the purpose.

Art. 20.1.4 (or equivalent)40%Library Institutional

Reproduction by libraries and archives for replacing lost/destroyed copies or providing copies to other libraries/archives.

English rendering

Source links