Selected year snapshot
For 2025, the active event in this file is Copyright & Related Rights Act (Law No. 23/2010), as amended in 2024.
40%
Current rationale
As of 2025, the Copyright & Related Rights Act (Law No. 23/2010) as amended in 2024 is in force. Based on the verified statutory text of the original law (the only text available), the most permissive research-relevant exception is Section 10(a)(4), which permits reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, or educational establishments for institutional activities, covering all types of works, but limited to institutional users and to reproduction only (not sharing/communication). This maps to PURPLE. Section 10(a)(1) permits private/personal use reproduction but excludes whole books, databases, computer programs, architecture, and musical notation — this is ORANGE individually. Section 12 permits library single-copy reproduction of articles/short works/short extracts for study/scholarship/private research — this is RED individually (limited to short works/extracts). The 2024 amendment reportedly added 'additional circumstances for permissible use' for research and educational purposes, but the statutory text could not be verified. If the 2024 amendment introduced a general fair use or fair dealing clause for research open to all users and all works, the classification could be GREEN or BLUE. Without the text, the classification remains PURPLE based on verified provisions. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, copy limits, three-step test qualifiers) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction of a published work solely for user's own personal and private use, excluding architecture, databases, computer programs, whole books, and musical notation. Subject to three-step test.
Quotations from a published work compatible with fair practice and justified by purpose.
Use by way of illustration for teaching in publications, broadcasts, recordings.
Reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, or educational establishments for institutional activities. All work types. Subject to three-step test.
Making work available on dedicated terminals on premises of libraries/scientific institutions for research or private study.
Library/institutional single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract for study, scholarship, or private research of a natural person.
Additional permissible use circumstances for educational, research, or other purposes — statutory text not available.
Law changes
Baseline
Baseline · Effective 1990-01-01
?
Dates: Effective 1990-01-01
Why this score
No copyright statute has been verified as being in force in the Maldives on 1990-01-01. The first comprehensive copyright law in the Maldives is the Copyright & Related Rights Act (Law No. 23/2010), which came into force in 2010. Prior to that, no dedicated copyright statute has been located or verified through web search. The Maldives Attorney General's Office list of laws does not show a copyright act predating 2010. Therefore, the baseline as of 1990-01-01 is that no copyright exceptions or limitations statute existed, making the legal position ambiguous — there was no statutory copyright regime and hence no statutory exceptions framework.
Copyright & Related Rights Act (Law No. 23/2010)
Relevant update · Effective 2010-04-07
40%
Relevant section: Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Dates: Effective 2010-04-07 · Enacted 2010-04-07
Why this score
Exception Inventory assessment: (1) Section 10(a)(1) — private/personal use reproduction, but excludes whole books, computer programs, databases, architectural works, and musical notation. Because it excludes whole books, this does not permit full-work reproduction for most literary works. This would be ORANGE at best (permits full reproduction of some works like photographs, articles, but not whole books). However, the exclusion of whole books and several other categories is significant. (2) Section 10(a)(2) — quotation only, RED individually. (3) Section 10(a)(3) — illustration for teaching, not directly research. (4) Section 10(a)(4) — institutional reprographic reproduction by libraries, documentation centres, scientific institutions, educational establishments for their activities, subject to three-step test. This covers reproduction (not sharing/communication) of works generally, by institutions, for institutional purposes. No explicit exclusion of work types. This is PURPLE (institutional only, reproduction only, all works). (5) Section 10(a)(7) — dedicated terminal access in institutions for research or private study — this is very narrow (on-premises only, dedicated terminals), insufficient for general research use. (6) Section 12 — library/institutional single-copy reprographic reproduction of articles, short works, or short extracts for study/scholarship/private research of a natural person. This is limited to short works/extracts, so RED individually for full-work reproduction of books. The most permissive exception for research use involving full works is Section 10(a)(4): institutional reprographic reproduction for institutional activities, covering all work types, but limited to institutions (libraries, scientific institutions, etc.) and to reproduction only (not sharing/communication). This maps to PURPLE. Section 10(a)(1) private use excludes whole books, so it cannot reach LIGHT BLUE for literary works generally. The non-commercial restriction and copy-number limits are classification-neutral. The three-step test qualifier is classification-neutral.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction of a published work solely for user's own personal and private use, excluding architecture, databases, computer programs, whole books, and musical notation. Subject to three-step test.
Quotations from a published work compatible with fair practice and justified by purpose.
Use by way of illustration for teaching in publications, broadcasts, recordings, compatible with fair practice.
Reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, or educational establishments for institutional activities. Number of copies limited to needs. Subject to three-step test.
Making work available on dedicated terminals on premises of libraries/scientific institutions for research or private study.
Library/institutional single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract for study, scholarship, or private research of a natural person.
Original text
10. (a) The following acts shall not constitute infringement of copyright: (1) Reproducing a published work solely for the user's own personal and private use, except: (i) Reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (ii) Reproduction of the whole or a substantial part of a database; (iii) Reproduction of a computer program, except as provided in Section 8 of this Act; (iv) Reproduction of a whole book, or of a substantial part thereof; (v) Reproduction of a musical work in the form of notation; Provided that such reproduction does not conflict with a normal exploitation of the work and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author. (2) Making quotations from a published work, provided that the quotation is compatible with fair practice and does not exceed the extent justified by the purpose, including quotations from newspaper articles and periodicals in the form of press summaries. (3) Using a work by way of illustration for teaching purposes in publications, broadcasts, sound or visual recordings, provided that such use is compatible with fair practice and the source and the name of the author are mentioned in the work. (4) Reproducing a work by reprographic means by a public library, a non-commercial documentation centre, a scientific institution or an educational establishment, for the purpose of the activities of such institution, provided that the number of copies made is limited to the needs of such activities and that such reproduction does not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author. (5) Reproducing a work for the purpose of a judicial or administrative proceeding to the extent justified by the purpose. (6) Storing a work in electronic form in a computer, except where the work is a computer program or a database. (7) Making a work available to the public, by dedicated terminals on the premises of a public library, a non-commercial documentation centre, a scientific institution or an educational establishment, for the purpose of research or private study, of a work contained in the collection of such institution and not subject to purchase or licensing terms. 11. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10 of this Act, the following acts shall not constitute infringement of copyright: (1) Reproducing a short part of a published work for teaching purposes, by reprographic means, by a public or non-commercial educational institution, provided that: (i) The reproduction is an isolated act occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; (ii) There is no collective license available. (2) Reproducing an article published in a newspaper or periodical, a short extract of a published work, or a short published work, for teaching purposes by reprographic means, by a public or non-commercial educational institution, where such reproduction is made in accordance with the practice of the institution and there is no collective license available. 12. (a) A public library, a non-commercial documentation centre, a scientific institution or an educational establishment may, without the authorization of the author or other owner of copyright, make a single copy of the work by reprographic reproduction: (1) Where the work reproduced is a published article, other short work or short extract of a work, and where the purpose of the reproduction is to satisfy the request of a natural person, provided that: (i) The library, documentation centre, scientific institution or educational establishment is satisfied that the copy will be used solely for the purposes of study, scholarship or private research; (ii) The act of reproduction is an isolated case occurring, if repeated, on separate and unrelated occasions; (2) Where the copy is made in order to preserve and, if necessary, replace a copy, or to replace a copy which has been lost, destroyed or rendered unusable in the permanent collection of another similar library or archive, provided that it is impossible to obtain such a copy under reasonable conditions. 13. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10 of this Act, the following acts shall not constitute infringement of copyright: (1) Reproducing a work of art displayed in a place open to the public, or reproducing a work of architecture, by means of photography, film, television broadcasting or cable transmission. (2) Reproducing and distributing copies of a work of art included incidentally in a film, broadcast or cable transmission. 14. (a) The following acts shall not constitute infringement of copyright: (1) Reproducing a work for the purpose of a judicial or administrative proceeding. (2) Reproducing a work for the purpose of reporting current events by means of photography, film, broadcasting or cable transmission, to the extent justified by the informatory purpose.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: See excerpt_original_verbatim above — the text is from the WIPO courtesy English translation of the Dhivehi original. Key provisions: Section 10(a)(1) permits reproduction of a published work solely for the user's own personal and private use, with exceptions for architecture, databases, computer programs, whole books, and musical notation. Section 10(a)(4) permits reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, or educational establishments for the purpose of their activities. Section 10(a)(7) permits making works available on dedicated terminals in libraries/scientific institutions for research or private study. Section 12 permits libraries and similar institutions to make a single reprographic copy of a published article, short work, or short extract to satisfy a request of a natural person for study, scholarship, or private research.
Source links
Amendment to the Copyright and Other Related Rights Act (23/2010)
Relevant update · Effective 2024-12-03
40%
Dates: Effective 2024-12-03 · Enacted 2024-12-02
Why this score
The 2024 amendment to the Copyright & Related Rights Act was passed by Parliament on 2 December 2024. According to the news report from nasheeds.co, the amendment: (1) extended copyright term from 50 to 70 years; (2) expanded scope of protection to explicitly cover literary/artistic works, performances, sound recordings, broadcasts; (3) simplified copyright acquisition (no registration required); (4) enhanced legal recourse and penalties for infringement; (5) defined additional circumstances for permissible use (fair use for educational, research, or other purposes). The amendment appears to define 'additional circumstances under which copyrighted works can be copied or used, striking a balance between protecting rights and enabling limited fair use for educational, research, or other purposes permitted by law.' However, the actual statutory text of the amendment could not be retrieved or verified. Without the verbatim text, it is not possible to determine whether the new 'permissible use' provisions are broader than the pre-existing exceptions. The description suggests they may add fair-use-like provisions for research, but the exact scope (users, works, uses covered) cannot be confirmed. The pre-existing exceptions from Law 23/2010 remain in force. The most permissive verified exception remains Section 10(a)(4) (institutional reprographic reproduction), yielding PURPLE. If the amendment introduced a general fair use clause for research open to all users, the classification could be GREEN, but this cannot be confirmed without the statutory text.
Exceptions considered
Private/personal use reproduction (excluding whole books, databases, computer programs, architecture, musical notation).
Institutional reprographic reproduction by libraries, scientific institutions, educational establishments for institutional activities.
Library single-copy reprographic reproduction of articles/short works for study/scholarship/private research.
Additional circumstances for permissible copying/use for educational, research, or other purposes — exact text unverified.
Source links
Copyright & Related Rights Act (Law No. 23/2010), as amended in 2024
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
40%
Relevant section: Sections 10, 11, 12 (original); plus 2024 amendment provisions (unverified text)
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01 · Enacted 2024-12-02
Why this score
As of 2025, the Copyright & Related Rights Act (Law No. 23/2010) as amended in 2024 is in force. Based on the verified statutory text of the original law (the only text available), the most permissive research-relevant exception is Section 10(a)(4), which permits reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, or educational establishments for institutional activities, covering all types of works, but limited to institutional users and to reproduction only (not sharing/communication). This maps to PURPLE. Section 10(a)(1) permits private/personal use reproduction but excludes whole books, databases, computer programs, architecture, and musical notation — this is ORANGE individually. Section 12 permits library single-copy reproduction of articles/short works/short extracts for study/scholarship/private research — this is RED individually (limited to short works/extracts). The 2024 amendment reportedly added 'additional circumstances for permissible use' for research and educational purposes, but the statutory text could not be verified. If the 2024 amendment introduced a general fair use or fair dealing clause for research open to all users and all works, the classification could be GREEN or BLUE. Without the text, the classification remains PURPLE based on verified provisions. Classification-neutral factors (non-commercial restriction, copy limits, three-step test qualifiers) were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Reproduction of a published work solely for user's own personal and private use, excluding architecture, databases, computer programs, whole books, and musical notation. Subject to three-step test.
Quotations from a published work compatible with fair practice and justified by purpose.
Use by way of illustration for teaching in publications, broadcasts, recordings.
Reprographic reproduction by public libraries, non-commercial documentation centres, scientific institutions, or educational establishments for institutional activities. All work types. Subject to three-step test.
Making work available on dedicated terminals on premises of libraries/scientific institutions for research or private study.
Library/institutional single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract for study, scholarship, or private research of a natural person.
Additional permissible use circumstances for educational, research, or other purposes — statutory text not available.
Original text
10. (a) The following acts shall not constitute infringement of copyright: (1) Reproducing a published work solely for the user's own personal and private use, except: (i) Reproduction of a work of architecture in the form of a building or other construction; (ii) Reproduction of the whole or a substantial part of a database; (iii) Reproduction of a computer program, except as provided in Section 8 of this Act; (iv) Reproduction of a whole book, or of a substantial part thereof; (v) Reproduction of a musical work in the form of notation; Provided that such reproduction does not conflict with a normal exploitation of the work and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author. ... (4) Reproducing a work by reprographic means by a public library, a non-commercial documentation centre, a scientific institution or an educational establishment, for the purpose of the activities of such institution, provided that the number of copies made is limited to the needs of such activities and that such reproduction does not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author.
English rendering
[Unofficial translation]: The text above is from the WIPO courtesy English translation of the Dhivehi original of Law 23/2010. The 2024 amendment text has not been obtained in any language.