Copyright: Happy New Year for Artists

Today is the day that the Resale Rights Directive (Directive 2001/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the resale right for the benefit of the author of an original work of art OJ L 272, 13.10.2001 P. 32 - 36) is supposed to be implemented (see art 12 (1)). Implementing legislation for the UK together with an explanatory memorandum is on the Legislation website. As it is sometimes instructive to compare UK legislation with that of other English speaking member states I checked the Irish government website. All I could find was an announcement by Michael Ahern, Minister for Trade and Commerce, dated 1 Aug 2005 announcing an intention to bring forward plans for new implementing legislation. Those plans seem to be well hidden. Other posts on this subject are "Copyright: Resale Rights Directive Implementation" of 21 Dec and Copyright: Resale Right Directive to be implemented in New Year of 17 Dec 2005.

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