Latvia has implemented the Photocopying/photo-reproduction (Art. 5.2(a) InfoSoc) exception in Section 33 of the Copyright Act. The national exception is much more restrictive than the EU exception.
Implementation summary:
This exception allows for the reprographic reproduction of published works, except for sheet music, by natural persons for their personal use without direct or indirect commercial purpose. It also allows persons who have in their ownership or possession the equipment intended for reprographic reproduction and who ensure the availability of such reproduction to natural persons for a fee or free of charge, to reprographically reproduce works for the benefit of and for the personal use of a natural person. Authors and publishers are entitled to receive a fair compensation for reprographic reproduction.
Implementation details:
Beneficiaries:
- natural persons
- persons who have in their ownership or possession the equipment intended for reprographic reproduction
Purposes:
- for the benefit of and for the personal use of a natural person
Usage:
- reprographic reproduction
Subject Matter:
- works (other than sheet music)
Compensation:
- fair compensation required
Attribution:
- no attribution required
Other Conditions:
- works used must be published
- sheet music is expressly excluded from the subject matter of the exception
- use by natural persons must be without direct or indirect commercial purpose
- third persons can reproduce works for a fee or free of charge, as long as the use is for the benefit of and for the personal use of a natural person
Introduced/last updated: 06 December 2007
Remarks: Although Latvia has separate reprography and personal use exceptions, the scope of the former exception was substantially restricted with an amendment from 2007 to allowing personal use only.
The exception does not extend to neighbouring rights.
