# South and Southeast Asia and Oceania

This page is not legal advice. The law of the country where you live applies to you.

Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and India have software exceptions for study and for
decompiling. Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand and Vietnam have back-up and research rules with no decompilation clause.

## India

- **Studying a program.** Section 52(1) of the Copyright Act 1957 has four software clauses,
  added in 2000. Clause (ab) allows acts needed to make an independently created program
  interoperable. Clause (ac) allows "observation, study or test of functioning". Clause (ad)
  allows copies or adaptations "from a personally legally obtained copy for non-commercial
  personal use" ([s.52](https://lawgist.in/copyright-act/52)).
- **Locks.** Section 65A punishes circumvention only "with the intention of infringing". It
  excuses circumvention for any purpose the Act does not forbid
  ([s.65A](https://lawgist.in/copyright-act/65A)). India is one of the most permissive countries
  covered for studying a game you own.
- **Libraries and archives.** Section 52(1)(n) lets a library store a work electronically for
  preservation, if it holds a non-digital copy.
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 60 years for programs.
- **Owners who cannot be found.** Section 31A allows a licence
  ([s.31A](https://lawgist.in/copyright-act/31A)).

## Singapore

- **Studying a program.** The Copyright Act 2021 follows the EU model. Section 239 allows
  decompiling under nine conditions, one of which forbids making a substantially similar program
  ([s.239](https://lawplayer.com/sg/act/CA2021/239)). Section 240 allows observing, studying and
  testing.
- **Locks.** Section 430 excuses circumvention to make an independently created program work
  with another ([s.430](https://lawplayer.com/sg/act/CA2021/430)).
- **Libraries and archives.** An old lock exception for obsolete games in library collections
  lapsed on 31 December 2024. Regulations in force until the end of 2028 let public collections
  break locks to make preservation copies under s.232
  ([Rajah & Tann](https://sg.rajahtannasia.com/?p=87460)).
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 70 years.

## Malaysia

- **Studying a program.** Section 40 of the Copyright Act 1987 allows a back-up copy, whatever a
  contract says. There is no decompilation exception
  ([WIPO Lex](https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text/597931)).
- **Locks.** Section 36A excuses circumvention for interoperability, security testing, encryption
  research and privacy. A consultation in July 2026 proposes stronger lock rules
  ([Baker McKenzie](https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/2026/07/malaysia-public-consultation-on-proposed-copyright-act-1987-reforms)).
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 50 years.

## Indonesia

- **Studying a program.** Indonesia's 2014 law names video games ("permainan video") as a
  protected kind of work. Pasal 45 lets a lawful user make one copy for research and development
  or as a back-up. The copy must be destroyed after use
  ([Pasal 45](https://pasal.id/peraturan/uu/uu-no-28-tahun-2014/pasal-45)).
- **Locks.** Pasal 52 bans disabling technical controls, with no interoperability exception
  ([Pasal 52](https://pasal.id/peraturan/uu/uu-no-28-tahun-2014/pasal-52)).
- **How long copyright lasts.** 50 years from publication for games and programs
  ([Pasal 59](https://pasal.id/peraturan/uu/uu-no-28-tahun-2014/pasal-59)).

## The Philippines

- **Studying a program.** Since 2013, decompiling for interoperability counts as a form of fair
  use under s.185.1 of the Intellectual Property Code. Section 189.1 allows one back-up or
  adaptation ([RA 10372](https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2013/ra_10372_2013.html)).
- **Locks.** Circumvention doubles damages under s.216.1(b). The section has no exceptions.
- **Libraries and archives.** Non-profit libraries may make limited copies under s.188.1.
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 50 years.

## Thailand

- **Studying a program.** Section 35 of the Copyright Act lets people do several non-profit acts
  on a program, including "research or study"
  ([translation](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:Copyright_Act,_2537_BE)).
- **Locks.** The 2022 amendment banned circumventing access controls and removed the exceptions
  from the Act. It promised ministerial regulations, which are not known to exist
  ([Tilleke & Gibbins](https://www.tilleke.com/insights/the-2022-amendment-of-thailands-copyright-act-the-good-the-bad-and-the-backstory)).
- **Libraries and archives.** Librarians may copy under s.34.
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 50 years, or 50 years for company works.

## Vietnam

- **Studying a program.** The law allows one back-up copy that cannot be passed on
  ([LawNet](https://lawnet.vn/en/laws/vietnam-can-organizations-and-individuals-allowed-to-use-a-copy-of-a-computer-program-make-a-backup-25583.html)).
  Amendments in force from 1 April 2026 added a research exception
  ([Baker McKenzie](https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/insight/publications/alerts/2025/12/vietnam-2025-ip-law-overhaul)).
  No decompilation exception is known.
- **Locks.** Lock rules were added in 2022. Their exceptions are unclear.
- **Libraries and archives.** Libraries may copy for preservation.
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 50 years. Films get 75 years from
  publication.

## Australia

- **Studying a program.** Division 4A of the Copyright Act 1968 has sections for normal use or
  study (s.47B), back-ups (s.47C), making interoperable products (s.47D), correcting errors
  (s.47E) and security testing (s.47F)
  ([Federal Register of Legislation](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C1968A00063/latest/text)).
  How far s.47D reaches is not confirmed.
- **Locks.** Section 116AN gives a civil action against breaking access controls, with an
  interoperability exception (not confirmed). In *Take-Two v Anderson* (2024), the Federal Court
  held that GTA V's online access checks were locks and that a cheat mod was a circumvention
  device ([Piper Alderman](https://piperalderman.com.au/insight/whats-in-a-game-technological-protection-measures-under-the-copyright-act/)).
  **A tool that patches a running game can be a circumvention device even when the user owns the
  game.**
- **Libraries and archives.** Sections 113H to 113M, from 2017, let libraries, archives and key
  cultural institutions preserve any "copyright material". Programs are not excluded. This is the
  broadest preservation rule covered.
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 70 years (not confirmed).
- **Owners who cannot be found.** A scheme started on 1 April 2026
  ([King & Wood Mallesons](https://pulse.mallesons.com/copyright/opening-the-archives-australias-new-orphan-works-scheme/)).
- **Cases.** In *Stevens v Sony* (2005), the High Court held that PlayStation mod chips were not
  unlawful devices under the law as it then stood
  ([judgment](https://www.hcourt.gov.au/sites/default/files/eresources/2005/HCA/58.pdf)). Later
  law changed that result (not confirmed).
- **Games that shut down.** The consumer regulator, the ACCC, won A$3 million from Valve over
  Steam refunds
  ([ACCC](https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/valve-to-pay-3-million-in-penalties-for-misrepresenting-gamers-consumer-guarantee-rights))
  and A$3.5 million from Sony. No court has decided whether shutting down a paid game breaches
  consumer law.

## New Zealand

- **Studying a program.** Section 80A of the Copyright Act 1994 allows decompiling for
  interoperability and forbids a substantially similar program. Section 80C allows observing,
  studying and testing. Section 80D voids contract terms that override these rights
  ([s.80C](https://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/consol_act/ca1994133/s80c.html)).
- **Locks.** Since 2018, access controls are protected, with a general exception for acts that do
  not infringe (s.226E, not confirmed). Section 226F allows getting past region locks.
- **Libraries and archives.** New preservation and orphan-works exceptions are planned, with a
  bill possible in 2027 ([British Copyright Council](https://www.britishcopyright.org/new-zealand-copyright-update/)).
- **How long copyright lasts.** The author's life plus 50 years, rising to 70 under trade
  agreements.

## What this means for a project

India, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand permit study and observation of a program. The
other countries on this page permit them in narrower terms. Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam do
not expressly permit decompiling. In Australia, a tool that patches the running game can be unlawful.