The main rule is that the author alone may exploit their work in various ways, i.e. the economic rights. This means that anyone who wants to use the work must ask for the author's permission. In view of religious, cultural and other societal needs, certain limitations have been imposed on the author's exclusive rights. The Copyright Act provides for a number of limitations that make it possible for others to use works without authorisation from the author. Examples of such limitations are making limited reproductions for private use and quoting the works of others, depict public art or buildings and playing music in public, if the music itself is not the principal part.

Quotes

It is possible to quote another person's written work in compliance with proper usage if the source is indicated and if it is not prejudicial to the author's moral rights. This means that a quotation may be used for the purposes of criticism or for elucidating one's own or another person's work. However, a quotation may not be any longer than is necessary to achieve its purpose. In practice, this means that quotations cannot simply be used to make a work more readable.

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We have compiled frequently asked questions and answers about copyright on text, images, and music.

Frequently asked questions about copyright