Selected year snapshot
For 2025, the active event in this file is Copyright Ordinance, 1911 (as applied to Palestine) / قانون حقوق الطبع والتأليف رقم (15) لسنة 1924م.
100%
Current rationale
As of 2025, Palestine (State of) has not enacted a new comprehensive copyright law. The draft Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law (مشروع قانون حماية حق المؤلف والحقوق المجاورة) prepared by the Ministry of Culture in 2012-2013 was never enacted into law. The WIPO Lex page for Palestine (listing the Copyright Act, 1911 as applied, and the 1924 Ordinance) confirms these remain the operative statutes. The Maqam database at An-Najah University lists the 1924 Ordinance as 'ساري النفاذ في الضفة الغربية وغزة' (in force in the West Bank and Gaza). Therefore, the fair dealing exception from Section 2(1)(i) of the Copyright Act, 1911 remains the governing provision. Classification remains GREEN for the same reasons as the baseline: fair dealing covers any dealing (any exclusive right) with any work, for research or private study, open to any user. No TDM-specific exception exists, but the general fair dealing clause is the most permissive provision. Non-commercial restrictions, copy limits, and remuneration requirements are classification-neutral and were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with any work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review, or newspaper summary
Law changes
Copyright Ordinance, 1911 (as applied to Palestine) / قانون حقوق الطبع والتأليف رقم (15) لسنة 1924م
Baseline · Effective 1924-03-21
100%
Relevant section: Sections 2(1)(i) and 2(1)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1911 (Imperial)
Dates: Effective 1924-03-21 · Enacted 1924-03-21
Why this score
Palestine's copyright law in force on 1990-01-01 was the British Copyright Act, 1911, extended to Palestine by Order in Council of 21 March 1924, supplemented by the local Copyright Ordinance No. 15 of 1924. The 1924 Ordinance itself deals with importation, offences, and penalties but does not contain its own exceptions; it incorporates the Copyright Act, 1911 by reference (Section 4: 'The Copyright Act, 1911 shall be read with the modifications and additions contained in this Ordinance'). The Copyright Act, 1911, Section 2(1)(i), provides a fair dealing exception for 'private study, research, criticism, review, or newspaper summary.' This is a classic fair dealing clause: (1) Uses: 'fair dealing' covers any act with the work (any exclusive right), not limited to reproduction; (2) Works: applies to 'any work' — no category exclusions; (3) Users: open to any person, not restricted to institutions or individuals acting privately — 'research' and 'private study' are listed as separate purposes. The term 'fair dealing' is not qualified by 'private or personal' as a general modifier; 'private study' is one listed purpose alongside 'research' which stands independently. This maps to GREEN. Non-commercial restrictions are absent. No subsequent Palestinian legislation amended or replaced these exceptions before 1990.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with any work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review, or newspaper summary
English rendering
[Unofficial translation / paraphrase from the Copyright Act, 1911 as extended to Palestine]: Section 2(1)(i): "Copyright in a work shall be deemed to be infringed by any person who, without the consent of the owner of the copyright, does anything the sole right to do which is by this Act conferred on the owner of the copyright: Provided that the following acts shall not constitute an infringement of copyright:— (i) Any fair dealing with any work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review, or newspaper summary..."
Source links
Copyright Ordinance, 1911 (as applied to Palestine) / قانون حقوق الطبع والتأليف رقم (15) لسنة 1924م
Current law confirmation · Effective 2025-01-01
100%
Relevant section: Sections 2(1)(i) of the Copyright Act, 1911 (Imperial, as applied)
Dates: Effective 2025-01-01
Why this score
As of 2025, Palestine (State of) has not enacted a new comprehensive copyright law. The draft Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law (مشروع قانون حماية حق المؤلف والحقوق المجاورة) prepared by the Ministry of Culture in 2012-2013 was never enacted into law. The WIPO Lex page for Palestine (listing the Copyright Act, 1911 as applied, and the 1924 Ordinance) confirms these remain the operative statutes. The Maqam database at An-Najah University lists the 1924 Ordinance as 'ساري النفاذ في الضفة الغربية وغزة' (in force in the West Bank and Gaza). Therefore, the fair dealing exception from Section 2(1)(i) of the Copyright Act, 1911 remains the governing provision. Classification remains GREEN for the same reasons as the baseline: fair dealing covers any dealing (any exclusive right) with any work, for research or private study, open to any user. No TDM-specific exception exists, but the general fair dealing clause is the most permissive provision. Non-commercial restrictions, copy limits, and remuneration requirements are classification-neutral and were not factored into the color decision.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing with any work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review, or newspaper summary
English rendering
[Unofficial translation / paraphrase from the Copyright Act, 1911 as extended to Palestine]: Section 2(1)(i): "Any fair dealing with any work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review, or newspaper summary" shall not constitute an infringement of copyright.