Argentina

Legal background

Scope and duration of copyright

Does copyright end immediately after the minimum period mandated by the Berne Convention? No
Literary, artistic scientific and educational works are protected for 70 years from the author’s death, or in the case of corporations or societies 50 years from first publication. Law 26.570 modified IPL adding 70 years protection to artists and interpreters of phonograms.
IPL and MIPL
Has a court or tribunal ever limited the exercise of IP rights under competition law, for example by imposing compulsory licensing or regulating royalties charged by dominant rights holders? In part
These safeguards do not exist in the copyright law, and Argentina's 1999 competition law has not been used against IP holders. Its patent law does include provision for compulsory licensing in cases of non-exploitation and anti-competitive practices.
LP
Has a court or tribunal ever limited the exercise of IP rights pursuant to a bill of rights or similar human rights instrument, for example by preventing copyright from being used to stifle protected speech? Yes
The Constitution literally guarantees freedom of political speech, which could in appropriate cases prevail over copyright law.
NC
Can databases of non-original material be reproduced without infringing a copyright or sui generis database right? No
PDPL
Are rights holders prohibited from excluding user rights under copyright law? No
Is computer software excluded from the scope of patentable subject matter? Yes
LP

Freedoms to access and use

By Home UsersIs there any general user right that is based on a set of balancing criteria, such as a "fair use" right? No
IPL
Is time, space and format shifting allowed (such as ripping music from CD to an MP3 player)? No
IPL
Can consumers reproduce copyright material for their own use in the original format, for example for backup purposes? In part
Only one copy from the original software as a backup in case of damage, where the user has paid for the licence.
IPL
Can works be communicated to a limited public (for example, family and friends) without infringing copyright? No
IPL
For EducationMay students copy works for private research or study? In part
Reproduction is limited to a number of 1000 words in scientific and literary material, or 8 measures in music, and only the required essential parts.
IPL
Does any such research and study provision cover distance and online education? No
IPL
May translations of works be made for educational purposes? No
IPL
May educators copy works for use in the classroom? In part
Reproduction is limited to a number of 1000 words in scientific and literary material, or 8 measures in music, and only the required essential parts.
IPL
OnlineAre temporary or transient copies, incidental to a lawful use, excepted from copyright? No
IPL
Does the law exclude or limit the liability of intermediaries such as ISPs for copyright infringements carried out on their network? No
There is no specific provision on ISP liability.
Is Internet access free of ISP filtering or monitoring for potential copyright-infringements? Yes
By content creatorsIs there any protection for consumers who non-commercially remix or mash up copyright works? No
IPL
May computer software be reproduced or transformed for the purpose of reverse-engineering interoperable software? Yes
You can make only one copy for backup purpose, and reverse-engineering is not prohibited specifically.
IPL
Is the incidental inclusion of a work in other material permitted? In part
As a quotation and indicating the author and the original source.
IPL
Is there are copyright exception for parody or satire? No
IPL
By the pressIs there a copyright exception for the news of the day? Yes
IPL
May copyright material be reproduced for the purposes of review and criticism? In part
Only 1000 words and 8 measures where indispensable and not constituting the substantial part of the work.
IPL
May quotations be used for any purpose? In part
Only for educational or scientific purposes.
IPL
By LibrariesMay libraries copy works if they cannot reasonably be obtained commercially? No
IPL
May librarians copy works for users for the purpose of research or study? No
IPL
Are libraries allowed to make preservation or archive copies of materials in their collections? No
IPL
Can lending libraries operate without incurring public lending rights fees to copyright owners?
By disabled usersIs it permissible to copy or adapt work for the use of those with disabilities? In part
Only by authorized institutions.
FLBD
In public affairsAre laws excluded from copyright? Yes
Are other governmental works either excluded from copyright, or routinely shared under permissive licences? Yes
Judicial Acts, for example.
Are the results of publicly funded research required to be published under an open access licence? No

Freedoms to share and transfer

Do copyright owners have the right to release their works to the public domain, without any limitation on how those works may be used? Yes
IPL
Can public domain works be used without the need for any payment or registration of the use? No
In Argentina exists a "public paying domain"
DLA
Does the law make special provision for the legal use of orphaned works? Yes
Orphaned works are considered released into the public domain.
IPL
Is parallel importation of copyright works permitted? Yes
TRIPS
Are there national programmes or policies to promote the use, production or dissemination of openly-licensed material such as free and open source software or open educational resources? Yes
In National Policy, but weak
Are there national programmes or policies that specify or promote the use of open document formats? No

Administration and enforcement

What is the maximum penalty for copyright infringement for an individual? $30.000 (Argentine money), or imprisonment for up to 6 years or both IPL
What is the maximum penalty for copyright infringement for a corporation? Not limited IPL
Is innocent infringement of IP treated differently by the law? No
Only the Courts made the distinction
IPL
Is the creation or distribution of devices that can circumvent technological protection measures (TPM) permitted, where such devices can be used for legal purposes? No
Is the use of such devices by consumers or intermediaries permitted in the legal exercise of user rights? No
IPL and PC
Does national copyright or consumer protection law require that the effect of TPMs distributed with copyright works be disclosed to consumers? Yes
Consumer’s Law protects the right of information.
CPL
Are there cases in which the availability of injunctive relief for IP infringement is limited by the law on public policy grounds? No
Does the law protect a user's Internet access from being suspended for alleged copyright infringement, except after a hearing in court? Yes
ISPs can not inform about infringement without a judicial order
Are criminal sanctions limited to cases of large-scale commercial counterfeiting? No
IPL and JA
Are damages for copyright infringement limited to the loss sustained, rather than a pre-established or statutory damages award? Yes
IPL
Is there provision to penalise the wrongful allegation of copyright infringement? Yes
PC
Is there provision to penalise the obstruction of consumers' exercise of user rights? No
Does the patent system allow for pre-grant opposition?

Recent or upcoming changes

Summary of position

The Argentinean copyright system is very restrictive, not including exceptions for personal or familiar reproduction of music, movies and backups, or for educational purposes. Only the Courts make a distinction between personal use and profit purposes in penalising infringement.

The cost of original software makes it inaccessible for consumers and the only option they have is to buy it in black markets. The prevalence of such markets has made Argentina vulnerable to criticism from developed country rights holders. On the positive side, the Argentinean legislature has resisted the introduction of new legislation that would have strengthened criminal enforcement of intellectual property rights.

There is not much awareness within Argentina about IP alternatives such as open source and open access licensing.

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