Selected year snapshot
For 2025, the active event in this file is Copyright Ordinance, 1962 (as amended).
100%
Current rationale
As of 2025, the Copyright Ordinance, 1962 (as amended) remains the principal copyright statute in Pakistan. Section 57(1)(a) continues to provide a fair dealing exception for research or private study. Analysis of the three dimensions: (1) Uses — 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right, including reproduction, communication, and distribution, not limited to reproduction alone; (2) Works — applies to literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, covering the main categories of copyrightable works; (3) Users — no restriction on user class; any person may invoke fair dealing for research. The acknowledgement requirement is a procedural condition, not a restriction on the scope of the exception. There is no TDM-specific exception in Pakistani copyright law as of 2025. The fair dealing exception for research is the most permissive research-relevant exception and maps to GREEN. Classification-neutral factors noted: the non-commercial nature of typical research use and the acknowledgement requirement were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of research or private study
Fair dealing for criticism or review with acknowledgement
Single copy by teacher or pupil in course of instruction
Reproduction by libraries under prescribed conditions
Law changes
Copyright Ordinance, 1962
Baseline · Effective 1962-06-02
100%
Relevant section: Section 57
Dates: Effective 1962-06-02 · Enacted 1962-06-02
Why this score
Section 57(1)(a) of the Copyright Ordinance, 1962 provides a fair dealing exception for 'research or private study' applicable to literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works. The term 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right (not only reproduction), and the provision is not restricted to private or personal use — 'research' stands as an independent purpose alongside 'private study'. There is no restriction on the class of user (any person may invoke fair dealing for research). The exception applies to literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, which covers the main categories of copyrightable works. Additionally, Section 57 contains further provisions: subsection (2) permits a single copy by a teacher or pupil in the course of instruction; subsection (3) permits reproduction by libraries under prescribed conditions. The most permissive exception is Section 57(1)(a) — fair dealing for research — which covers any dealing (including reproduction and communication) with works for research purposes by any user. This maps to GREEN. The acknowledgement requirement and the non-commercial nature of research are classification-neutral factors.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of research or private study
Fair dealing for criticism or review with acknowledgement
Single copy by teacher or pupil in course of instruction
Reproduction by libraries under prescribed conditions
Original text
57. Certain acts not to be infringement of copyright.—(1) Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of—(a) research or private study;(b) criticism or review, whether of that work or of any other work;shall not constitute an infringement of the copyright in the work, if it is accompanied by an acknowledgement.
Source links
Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1992
Relevant update · Effective 1992-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 57
Dates: Effective 1992-01-01 · Enacted 1992-01-01
Why this score
The Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1992 (Act No. XVI of 1992) amended various provisions of the Copyright Ordinance, 1962, including strengthening enforcement provisions and expanding the scope of certain definitions. However, the core fair dealing exception in Section 57(1)(a) for research or private study was not materially altered. The fair dealing provision for research remains in force in the same terms. The classification remains GREEN because the fair dealing exception for research or private study continues to apply to any user, covers any dealing (not limited to reproduction), and applies to literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works. No new research-relevant exception was added or removed by this amendment that would change the classification.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of research or private study — unchanged by 1992 amendment
Fair dealing for criticism or review with acknowledgement
Single copy by teacher or pupil in course of instruction
Reproduction by libraries under prescribed conditions
Source links
Copyright Ordinance, 1962 (as amended)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Section 57
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, the Copyright Ordinance, 1962 (as amended) remains the principal copyright statute in Pakistan. Section 57(1)(a) continues to provide a fair dealing exception for research or private study. Analysis of the three dimensions: (1) Uses — 'fair dealing' covers any exclusive right, including reproduction, communication, and distribution, not limited to reproduction alone; (2) Works — applies to literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, covering the main categories of copyrightable works; (3) Users — no restriction on user class; any person may invoke fair dealing for research. The acknowledgement requirement is a procedural condition, not a restriction on the scope of the exception. There is no TDM-specific exception in Pakistani copyright law as of 2025. The fair dealing exception for research is the most permissive research-relevant exception and maps to GREEN. Classification-neutral factors noted: the non-commercial nature of typical research use and the acknowledgement requirement were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of research or private study
Fair dealing for criticism or review with acknowledgement
Single copy by teacher or pupil in course of instruction
Reproduction by libraries under prescribed conditions
Original text
57. Certain acts not to be infringement of copyright.—(1) Fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purposes of—(a) research or private study;(b) criticism or review, whether of that work or of any other work;shall not constitute an infringement of the copyright in the work, if it is accompanied by an acknowledgement.