Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000

Type Act

Publication 2000-07-10

State In force

Source Irish Statute Book

articles 376

(iii) the waters in any area which is for the time being a designated area within the meaning of section 1 of the Continental Shelf Act, 1968,

and

(b) acts undertaken on an Irish ship, aircraft or hovercraft registered under the laws of the State,

shall be deemed to have been undertaken in the State.

Chapter 10 Duration of Rights in Performances

291 Duration of rights.

291.—The rights conferred by this Part shall expire 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which—

(a) the performance takes place, or

(b) where within that period a recording of the performance is lawfully made available to the public, that recording is first so lawfully made available to the public.

Chapter 11 Performers' Property Rights

292 Performers' property rights.

292.—(1) The rights conferred on a performer by sections 204, 205, 206 and 207 are property rights and shall be known and in Parts III and IV referred to as “performers' property rights”.

(2) Where different persons are (whether in consequence of a partial assignment or otherwise) entitled to different aspects of a performer's property rights in relation to a performance, the rightsowner for the purposes of Parts III and IV is the person who is entitled to the aspect of those rights relevant for those purposes.

(3) Where a performer's property rights (or any aspect of them) are owned jointly by more than one person, references in this Part to the rightsowner shall include references to all those owners, such that, in particular, any requirement of the licence of the rightsowner requires the licence of all of them.

(4) References in Parts III and IV to the consent of a performer shall be construed in relation to the performer's property rights as references to the consent of the rightsowner.

Chapter 12 Transmission of Performers' Property Rights

293 Assignment and licences.

293.—(1) A performer's property rights are transmissible by assignment, by testamentary disposition or by operation of law, as personal or moveable property.

(2) A transmission of a performer's property rights by assignment, by testamentary disposition or by operation of law may be partial, so as to apply—

(a) to one or more but not all of the acts a performer has the right to authorise or prohibit, or

(b) to part but not the whole of the period for which the rights in the performance are to subsist.

(3) An assignment of a performer's property rights, whether in whole or in part, is not effective unless it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of the assignor.

(4) A licence granted by the owner of a performer's property rights is binding on every successor in title to his or her interest in the rights, except a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and without notice (actual or constructive) of the licence or a person deriving title from such a purchaser and references in this Part to undertaking any act with or without the licence of the rightsowner shall be construed accordingly.

(5) A licence granted by a prospective owner of a performer's property rights is binding on every successor in title to his or her interest (or prospective interest) in the rights, except a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and without notice (actual or constructive) of the licence or a person deriving title from such a purchaser, and references in this Part to undertaking any act with or without the licence of the rightsowner shall be construed accordingly.

294 Prospective ownership of performers' property rights.

294.—(1) Where, by an agreement made in relation to a performer's property rights in respect of a future performance and signed by or on behalf of the performer, the performer purports to assign his or her rights in such a performance, whether in whole or in part, to another person, then where, on the rights coming into existence, the assignee or his or her successor in title or another person claiming under him or her would be entitled as against all other persons to require the rights to be vested in him or her, the rights shall vest in the assignee or his or her successor in title under this section or any other person claiming under him or her.

(2) Where, at the time when any performer's property right comes into existence, the person who, if he or she were then living, would be entitled to the right is dead, the right shall devolve as if it had existed immediately before his or her death and he or she had then been the owner of the right.

(3) The rights of an assignee in a future performance shall not be prejudiced by the fact that the agreement referred to in subsection (1) was made before the commencement of this section.

(4) In this Part—

“future performance” means any performance which will or may take place at some date in the future;

“prospective owner”, in relation to a performer's property rights, includes a person who is prospectively entitled to those rights by virtue of an agreement referred to in subsection (1).

295 Exclusive licences.

295.—(1) In this Part an “exclusive licence” means a licence in writing which is signed by or on behalf of an owner or prospective owner of a performer's property rights authorising the licensee, to the exclusion of all other persons, including the person granting the licence, to exercise a right which would otherwise be exercisable exclusively by the rightsowner and references to an exclusive licensee shall be construed accordingly.

(2) An exclusive licensee has the same rights against a successor in title who is bound by the licence as he or she has against the person granting the licence.

296 Performers' property rights to pass under will with certain original recordings.

296.—Where, under a bequest (whether specific or general), a person is entitled, beneficially or otherwise, to any material thing containing an original recording of a performance which had not been made available to the public before the death of the testator, the bequest shall be construed as including any performer's property rights in relation to the recording in so far as the testator was the owner of the rights immediately before his or her death, unless a contrary intention is indicated in the will of the testator or in a codicil to that will.

297 Presumption of transfer of rental right in case of film production agreement.

297.—(1) Without prejudice to the right of a performer to receive equitable remuneration in respect of a rental right, where an agreement concerning film production is concluded between a performer and a film producer, the performer shall be presumed, unless the agreement provides to the contrary, to have transferred to the film producer any rental right in relation to the film arising by virtue of the inclusion of a recording of his or her performance in the film.

(2) Where a presumption of transfer of the rental right arises by virtue of subsection (1), the absence of a signature by or on behalf of the performer shall not restrict the operation of section 293 or 294.

(3) The reference in subsection (1) to an agreement concluded between a performer and a film producer includes any agreement whether made by them directly or through intermediaries.

(4) The right to equitable remuneration on the transfer of the rental right applies where there is a presumed transfer under this section as in the case of an actual transfer.

298 Right to equitable remuneration where rental right is transferred.

298.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 297, where a performer has transferred his or her rental right he or she retains the right to equitable remuneration for the rental.

(2) The right to equitable remuneration conferred by this section shall not be waived by the performer and the performer shall not assign the right to equitable remuneration except to a collecting society for the purpose of enabling the collecting society to exercise that right on his or her behalf.

(3) The right to equitable remuneration is transmissible by way of testamentary disposition or by operation of law, as personal or moveable property and it may be further transmitted, including by assignment, by any person who legally acquires the right.

(4) Equitable remuneration under this section is payable by the person to whom the rental right is transferred or any successor in title.

(5) Subject to section 299, the amount payable by way of equitable remuneration is that which has been agreed by or on behalf of the persons by and to whom it is payable.

(6) An agreement is void in so far as it purports to exclude or restrict the right to equitable remuneration conferred by this section.

(7) References in this Part to the transfer of the rental right by one person to another include any arrangement having that effect whether made by them directly or through intermediaries.

(8) In this section “collecting society” means a society or other organisation which has as one of its main objects the exercise of the right to collect equitable remuneration under this section on behalf of more than one performer.

299 Equitable remuneration: reference of determination of amount to Controller.

299.—(1) In default of agreement as to the amount of equitable remuneration payable under section 298, the person by or to whom it is payable may apply to the Controller for an order under subsection (4).

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a person by or to whom equitable remuneration is payable under section 298 may also apply to the Controller—

(a) to vary any agreement as to the amount payable, or

(b) to vary any previous determination of the Controller as to the amount payable.

(3) An application may not be made under subsection (2) within 12 months from the date of the previous determination except with the special leave of the Controller.

(4) On an application being made under this section the Controller shall consider the matter and make such order as to the method of calculating and paying equitable remuneration as he or she may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances, having regard to the importance of the contribution of the performer.

(5) An order made under subsection (4) shall have effect from the date on which it is made or such later date as may be specified by the Controller.

(6) Remuneration shall not be considered inequitable because it is paid by way of a single payment or at the time of transfer of the rental right.

(7) An agreement is void in so far as it purports to prevent a person challenging the amount of equitable remuneration or to restrict the powers of the Controller under this section.

Chapter 13 Transmission of Recording Rights and Performers' Non-Property Rights

300 Performers' non-property rights.

300.—(1) The rights conferred on a performer by sections 203, 209 and 212 are non-property rights and shall be known and in Parts III and IV referred to as “performers' non-property rights”.

(2) A performer's non-property rights are not assignable or transmissible, except to the extent provided for in subsection (3).

(3) On the death of a person entitled to a performer's non-property rights—

(a) the rights pass by testamentary disposition to such person as the person entitled to the right may direct, and

(b) where there is no such direction, the right is exercisable by the personal representatives of the person entitled to the right.

(4) References in Parts III and IV to the performer, in the context of the person having any right referred to in subsection (1), shall be construed as references to the person for the time being entitled to exercise those rights.

(5) Where, under subsection (3)(a), a right becomes exercisable by more than one person, it is exercisable by each of them.

(6) Any damages recovered by personal representatives under this section in respect of an infringement after a person's death shall devolve as part of the person's estate as if the right of action had subsisted and been vested in that person immediately before his or her death.

301 Transmissibility of rights of person having recording rights.

301.—(1) The rights conferred by this Part on a person having recording rights in relation to a performance are not assignable or transmissible.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not affect the operation of section 215(2)(b) or section 215(3)(b) in so far as those provisions confer rights under this Part on a person to whom the benefit of a contract or licence is assigned.

302.—(1) For the purposes of this Part and Part IV, consent by a person having a performer's non-property rights, or by a person having recording rights, may be given in relation to a specific performance, a specified description of performances or performances generally, and may relate to past or future performances.

(2) A person having recording rights in relation to a performance shall be bound by any consent given by a person through whom he or she derives his or her rights under the exclusive recording contract or licence concerned, in the same way as if the consent had been given by him or her.

(3) Where a performer's non-property right passes to another person, any consent binding on the person previously entitled to the right binds the person to whom the right passes in the same way as if the consent had been given by him or her.

Chapter 14 Remedies: Owner of Performers' Property Rights

303 Infringement actionable by rightsowner.

303.—(1) An infringement of a performer's property rights is actionable by the rightsowner.

(2) In an action for infringement of a performer's property rights under this section all relief by way of damages, injunctions, account of profits or otherwise is available to the plaintiff as it is available in respect of the infringement of any other property right.

(3) Where, in an action for infringement of a performer's property rights, the defendant does not admit that the plaintiff is owner of the performer's property rights, the court may direct that evidence in relation to ownership of the performer's property rights be given on affidavit and the court may decide the issue on consideration of any affidavit presented to it unless it is satisfied that any conflict of evidence between the affidavits may not be resolved other than by hearing oral testimony in which case the court may order that oral evidence may be adduced.

(4) Hearsay evidence may be accepted for the purposes of any hearing under subsection (3).

304 Award of damages in infringement action.

304.—(1) The court may, in an action for infringement of a performer's property right award such damages as, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, it considers just.

(2) Without prejudice to any other remedy, where, in an action for infringement of a performer's property rights, it is shown that at the time of the infringement the defendant did not know and had no reason to believe that the rights subsisted in the recordings to which the action relates, the plaintiff is not entitled to damages against the defendant.

(3) In exercising its powers under subsection (1) in addition to or as an alternative to compensating the plaintiff for financial loss, the court may award aggravated or exemplary damages or both aggravated and exemplary damages.

305 Undertakings concerning licences of right.

305.—(1) Where, in proceedings for infringement of a performer's property rights in respect of which a licence is available as of right, the defendant undertakes to take a licence on such terms as may be agreed or, in default of agreement, settled by the Controller—

(a) no injunction shall be granted against the defendant,

(b) no order for delivery up shall be made under section 255, and

(c) the amount recoverable against the defendant by way of damages or on an account of profits shall not exceed three times the amount which would have been payable by the defendant as licensee where a licence on those terms had been granted before the earliest infringement.

(2) An undertaking under subsection (1) may be given at any time before the final order in the proceedings without any admission of liability.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the remedies available in respect of an infringement committed before a licence was available as of right.

Chapter 15 Rights and Remedies: Exclusive Licensee

306 Rights and remedies of exclusive licensee.

306.—(1) An exclusive licensee has, except as against the owner of the performer's property rights, the same rights and remedies in respect of matters occurring after the grant of the licence as if the licence had been an assignment.

(2) The rights and remedies of an exclusive licensee are concurrent with those of the rightsowner and references in sections 255, 256, 303, 304 and 305 to the rightsowner shall be construed accordingly.

(3) In proceedings brought by an exclusive licensee under this section a defendant may avail of any defence which would have been available to the defendant if the action had been brought by the rightsowner.

307 Exercise of concurrent rights.

307.—(1) Where an action for infringement of a performer's property rights brought by the rightsowner or an exclusive licensee relates, whether in whole or in part, to an infringement in respect of which they have concurrent rights of action, the rightsowner or, as the case may be, the exclusive licensee, may not, without the leave of the appropriate court, proceed with the action unless the other is either joined as plaintiff or added as a defendant.

(2) A rightsowner or exclusive licensee who is added as a defendant under subsection (1) shall not be liable for any costs in an action unless he or she takes part in the proceedings.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the granting of interlocutory relief on an application by the rightsowner or exclusive licensee.

(4) Where an action for infringement of a performer's property rights is brought which relates, whether in whole or in part, to an infringement in respect of which the rightsowner and an exclusive licensee have or had concurrent rights of action—

(a) in assessing damages the appropriate court shall have regard to—

(i) the terms of the licence, and

(ii) any pecuniary remedy already awarded or available to either of them in respect of the infringement;

(b) no account of profits shall be directed where an award of damages has been made, or an account of profits has been directed, in favour of one of them in respect of the infringement; and

(c) the appropriate court shall, where an account of profits is directed, apportion the profits between them as the appropriate court thinks fit, subject to any agreement between the rightsowner and the exclusive licensee.

(5) Subsection (4) shall apply whether or not the rightsowner and the exclusive licensee are both parties to the action.

(6) Before—

(a) applying for an order for delivery up under section 255,

(b) applying for an order to seize illicit recordings, articles or devices under section 256, or

the rightsowner shall notify any exclusive licensee having concurren rights and the appropriate court may, on the application of the licensee, make such order for delivery up, seizure of illicit recordings, articles or devices or, as the case may be, prohibiting or permitting the exercise by the rightsowner of the right to seize and detain, as it thinks fit, having regard to the terms of the licence between the rightsowner and the exclusive licensee.

Chapter 16 Remedies: Owner of Performers' Non-Property Rights and Person Having Recording Rights

308 Infringement actionable as a breach of statutory duty.

308.—(1) An infringement of—

(a) a performer's non-property rights, or

(b) any right conferred by this Part on a person having recording rights,

is actionable as a breach of statutory duty owed to the person entitled to the right.

(2) A person may apply to the appropriate court for damages or other relief in respect of an infringement of a right referred to in subsection (1).

PART IV Performers' Moral Rights

309 Paternity right.

309.—(1) Subject to the exceptions specified in section 310, a performer shall, where practicable, have the right to be identified as the performer of his or her performance.

(2) Where a performer uses a pseudonym, initials or other form of identification that form shall be used to identify his or her performance.

(3) The right conferred by this section shall be known and in this Part referred to as the “paternity right”.

310 Exceptions to paternity right.

310.—(1) The paternity right shall not be infringed by anything done under section 222, 223(2), 237 or 238.

(2) The paternity right shall not apply in relation to a performance or a recording of a performance made for the purpose of reporting current events.

311 Integrity right.

311.—(1) Subject to the exceptions specified in section 312, a performer shall have the right to object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification of, or other derogatory action in relation to, his or her performance or a recording thereof, which would prejudice his or her reputation.

(2) The right conferred by this section shall be known and in this Part referred to as the “integrity right”.

312 Exceptions to integrity right.

312.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the integrity right shall not apply in relation to a performance or a recording of a performance made for the purpose of reporting current events.

(2) The integrity right is not infringed by anything done for the purposes of—

(a) avoiding any contravention of civil or criminal law,

(b) complying with a duty imposed by or under an enactment, or

(c) in the case of authorised broadcasters or authorised cable programme service providers, avoiding the inclusion in a programme which is broadcast or included in a cable programme service by those broadcasters or providers, of anything which offends public morality or which is likely to encourage or incite to crime or to lead to public disorder.

(3) Subsection (2) shall not apply unless the performer is identified at the time of the act concerned or has previously been identified in or on recordings of the performance which have been lawfully made available to the public and there is a sufficient disclaimer.

(4) In this Part “sufficient disclaimer”, in relation to an act capable of infringing the integrity right, means a clear and reasonably prominent indication given at the time of the act, or where the performer is then identified, appearing along with the identification, that the recording has been subjected to an action to which the performer has not consented.

313 Secondary infringement of integrity right: possessing or dealing.

313.—A person infringes the integrity right where he or she—

(a) sells, rents or lends, or offers or exposes for sale, rental or loan,

(b) imports into the State, otherwise than for his or her private and domestic use,

(d) makes available to the public,

a recording of a performance which has, and which he or she knows or has reason to believe has, been subjected to any distortion, mutilation or other modification or other derogatory action within the meaning of section 311.

314 False attribution of performances.

314.—(1) A person has the right not to have a performance falsely attributed to him or her as performer.

(2) The right conferred by subsection (1) is infringed by a person where he or she—

(a) sells, rents or lends, or offers or exposes for sale, rental or loan,

(b) imports into the State, otherwise than for his or her private and domestic use,

(d) makes available to the public,

a recording of a performance, in or on which there is a false attribution, knowing or having reason to believe that the attribution is false.

(3) The right conferred by subsection (1) is infringed by a person where he or she—

(a) sells, rents or lends, or offers or exposes for sale, rental or loan,

(b) imports into the State, otherwise than for his or her private and domestic use,

(d) makes available to the public,

a recording of a performance which has been altered as being a recording of the unaltered performance, knowing or having reason to believe that the recording has been altered.

(4) In this Part, “attribution”, in relation to a performance, means a statement, express or implied, as to who is the performer.

315 Duration of moral rights.

315.—The rights conferred by this Part shall expire 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which—

(a) the performance takes place, or

(b) where within that period a recording of the performance is lawfully made available to the public, that recording is first so lawfully made available to the public.

316 Waiver of rights.

316.—(1) Subject to subsection (3), any of the rights conferred by this Part may be waived.

(2) A waiver made under this section shall be in writing and signed by the person waiving the right.

(3) A waiver made under subsection (1)—

(a) may relate to a specific performance or a recording thereof, to performances or recordings thereof of a specified description or to performances or recordings there of generally, and may relate to existing or future performances or recordings thereof, and

(b) may be conditional or unconditional, and may be expressed to be subject to revocation,

and where a waiver is made in favour of the owner or prospective owner of the rights in the performance or recording thereof, or performances or recordings thereof, to which it relates, that waiver shall be presumed to extend to his or her licensees, successors in title or other persons, claiming under them unless a contrary intention is expressed.

(4) Nothing in this Part shall be construed as excluding the operation of the general law of contract or estoppel in relation to an informal waiver or other transaction in relation to any of the rights referred to in subsection (1).

(5) It shall not be an infringement of any of the rights conferred by this Part for a person to undertake any act where the person entitled to the right conferred by this Part has consented to the use of those rights by that other person.

317 Performers' moral rights not assignable or alienable.

317.—The rights conferred by this Part shall be incapable of assignment or alienation.

318 Transmission of moral rights on death.

318.—(1) On the death of a person entitled to the paternity right or the integrity right—

(a) the right passes by testamentary disposition to such person as the person entitled to the right may direct,

(b) where there is no direction as to whom the right passes but the performer's property rights in the recording of the performance concerned forms part of an estate, the right passes to the person to whom the performer's property rights pass, and

(c) where the right does not pass under paragraph (a) or (b), it is exercisable by the personal representatives of the person entitled to the right.

(2) Where a performer's property rights forming part of an estate pass in part to one person and in part to another, so as to apply—

(a) to one or more, but not all, of the acts the rightsowner has the right to authorise or prohibit, or

(b) to part, but not the whole, of the period for which the performer's property rights are to subsist,

any right which passes with the performer's property rights by virtue of subsection (1) is divided accordingly.

(3) Where, under subsection (1), a right becomes exercisable by more than one person—

(a) it may, in the case of the paternity right, be exercised by any of them,

(b) it is, in the case of the integrity right a right exercisable by each of them, and

(4) A consent or waiver binds any person to whom a right passes under subsection (1).

(5) An infringement of the right conferred by section 316 in relation to a false attribution of a performance after the death of a person is actionable by the personal representatives of that person.

319 Remedies for infringement of moral rights.

319.—(1) An infringement of the rights conferred by section 309, 311 or 314 is actionable as a breach of statutory duty owed to the person entitled to the right concerned.

(2) A person may apply to the appropriate court for damages or other relief in respect of an infringement of a right conferred by section 309, 311 or 314.

(3) In proceedings for infringement of the right conferred by section 311, the appropriate court may grant an injunction prohibiting any act unless a sufficient disclaimer is made, on such terms and in such a manner as is approved of by the court, dissociating the person entitled to the right from the treatment of the performance or of a recording of the performance.

PART V Databases

Chapter 1 Rights in Databases

320 Interpretation.

320.—(1) In this Part—

“extraction”, in relation to the contents of a database, means the permanent or temporary transfer of all or a substantial part of the contents to another medium by any means or in any form;

“insubstantial”, in relation to the contents of a database, shall be construed subject to section 324(3);

“investment” includes any investment, whether of financial, human or technical resources and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“jointly”, in relation to the making of a database which is made jointly, shall be construed as referring to all the makers of the database;

“lawful user”, in relation to a database, means any person who, whether under a licence to undertake any of the acts restricted by any database right in the database, or otherwise, has a right to use the database;

“re-utilisation”, in relation to the contents of a database, means making those contents available to the public by any means;

“substantial”, in relation to the investment, extraction or re-utilisation, means substantial in terms of quantity or quality or a combination of both.

(2) The making of a copy of a database available for use, on terms that it is to be or may be returned after a limited period of time, otherwise than for direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage, through an establishment to which the public have access that is prescribed by the Minister for the purpose of section 58, shall not be taken for the purposes of this Part to constitute extraction or re-utilisation of the contents of the database.

(3) Where the making of a copy of a database available through an establishment to which members of the public have access and that is prescribed by the Minister for the purpose of section 58 gives rise to a payment the amount of which does not exceed that which is necessary to cover the operating costs of the establishment there is no direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage for the purposes of subsection (2).

(4) Subsection (2) shall not apply to the making of a copy of a database available for on the spot reference use.

(5) Where a copy of a database has been sold within the Member States of the EEA by, or with the consent of, the owner of the database right in the database, the further sale within the Member States of the EEA of that copy for the purposes of this Part shall not be taken to constitute extraction or re-utilisation of the contents of the database.

Chapter 2 Subsistence of Database Right

321 Database right.

321.—(1) A property right to be known and in this Part referred to as the “database right” subsists, in accordance with this Part, in a database where there has been a substantial investment in obtaining, verifying or presenting the contents of the database.

(2) Subject to this Act, the owner of the database right may undertake or authorise others to undertake certain acts in the State in relation to the database, being acts which are designated by this Act as acts restricted by the database right.

(3) For the purposes of this section it is immaterial whether or not the database or any of its contents is a copyright work.

(4) The database right shall not subsist in a database unless the requirements specified in this Part with respect to qualification are complied with.

Chapter 3 Maker and Ownership: Databases

322 Maker of database.

322.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the person who takes the initiative in obtaining, verifying or presenting the contents of a database and assumes the risk of investing in that obtaining, verification or presentation shall be regarded as the maker of, and as having made, the database.

(2) Where a database is made by an employee in the course of employment, his or her employer shall be regarded as the maker of the database, subject to any agreement to the contrary.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), where a database is made by an officer or employee of the Government in the course of his or her duties, the Government shall be regarded as the maker of the database.

(4) Where a database is made by or under the direction or control of either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas—

(a) the House by whom, or under whose direction or control, the database is made shall be regarded as the maker of the database, and

(b) where the database is made by or under the direction or control of both Houses, both Houses shall be regarded as the joint makers of the database.

(5) For the purposes of this Part, a database is made jointly where two or more persons acting together in collaboration take the initiative in obtaining, verifying or presenting the contents of the database and assume the risk of investing in that obtaining, verification or presentation.

(6) Where a database is made by an organisation prescribed by the Minister under section 196(2), or by an officer or employee of such an organisation in the course of his or her duties, that organisation shall be regarded as the maker of the database.

(7) Where the database right is conferred on a person by an enactment that person shall be regarded as the maker of the database.

323 First ownership of database right.

323.—The maker of a database shall be the first owner of the database right in the database.

Chapter 4 Restricted Acts: Databases

324 Acts restricted by database right.

324.—(1) Subject to the exceptions specified in Chapter 8 of this Part and to the provisions relating to licensing in Chapter 11 of this Part, the owner of the database right has the right to undertake or to authorise others to undertake all or any of the following acts in relation to all or a substantial part of the contents of a database—

(a) extraction, or

(b) re-utilisation,

and those acts shall be known and in this Part referred to as “acts restricted by the database right”.

(2) The database right is infringed by a person who, without the licence of the owner of the database right, undertakes, or authorises another to undertake, either of the acts restricted by the database right.

(3) For the purposes of this Part, the repeated and systematic extraction or re-utilisation of insubstantial parts of the contents of a database which conflicts with the normal exploitation of the database or which prejudices the interests of the maker of the database shall be deemed to be extraction or re-utilisation of a substantial part of those contents.

Chapter 5 Duration of Database Right

325 Term of protection of database right.

325.—(1) The database right shall expire 15 years from the end of the calendar year in which the making of the database was completed.

(2) Where a database is lawfully re-utilised before the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (1), the database right in the database shall expire 15 years from the end of the calendar year in which the database was first so re-utilised.

(3) Any substantial change to the contents of a database, including a substantial change resulting from the accumulation of successive additions, deletions or alterations, which would result in the database being considered to be a substantial new investment shall qualify the database resulting from that investment for its own terms of protection under this section.

(4) This section applies notwithstanding paragraph 45 of the First Schedule.

Chapter 6 Qualification: Databases

326 Qualification for database right.

326.—(1) Subject to Chapter 2 of this Part, the database right shall subsist in a database where, at the material time, its maker or, where it was made jointly, one or more of its makers, is—

(a) a citizen or subject of, or other individual domiciled or ordinarily resident in, a Member State of the EEA,

(b) a body incorporated under the law of a Member State of the EEA and which at the material time satisfied one of the conditions specified in subsection (3), or

(c) a partnership or unincorporated body formed under the law of a Member State of the EEA and which at the material time satisfied the condition specified in subsection (3)(a).

(2) The database right shall subsist in a database the maker of which is deemed to be the Government, or either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas, or a prescribed international organisation, in accordance with section 322.

(3) The conditions referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) are—

(a) that the body has its principal place of business or operations within a Member State of the EEA,

(b) that the body has its registered office within a Member State of the EEA and operates in a Member State of the EEA, and

(4) The Government may by order extend the provisions of this section to countries, territories, states or areas outside the Member States of the EEA, where the order is made pursuant to or in conformity with an agreement of the Council of the European Communities allowing such an extension of protection on the basis that comparable protection of databases is available under the law of those countries, territories, states or areas.

(5) For the purposes of this section, the material time in relation to a database shall be—

(a) in the case of a database which has not been lawfully re-utilised when the database was made or, where the making of the database extended over a period, a substantial part of that period, or

(b) in the case of a database which has been lawfully re-utilised when the database was first lawfully re-utilised or, where the maker had died before that time, immediately before his or her death.

Chapter 7 Rights and Obligations of Lawful Users

327 Avoidance of certain terms affecting lawful users.

327.—(1) Without prejudice to section 324(3), a lawful user of a database shall be entitled to extract or re-utilise insubstantial parts of the contents of the database for any purpose.

(2) Where, under an agreement, a person has a right to use a database, any term or condition in the agreement shall be void in so far as it purports to prevent that person from extracting or re-utilising insubstantial parts of the contents of the database for any purpose.

(3) While exercising the entitlement conferred by subsection (1), a lawful user of a database shall not prejudice the owner of any right conferred by this Act in respect of works or other subject matter contained in the database.

Chapter 8 Acts Permitted in Respect of Database Right

328 Exemptions in respect of databases.

328.—In this Part an act may be exempted under more than one category of exemption and the exemption of an act under one category of exemption shall not preclude its exemption under another category.

329 Fair dealing: research or private study.

329.—(1) The database right in a non-electronic database which has been re-utilised is not infringed by fair dealing with a substantial part of its contents by a lawful user of the database where that part is extracted for the purposes of research or private study.

(2) For the purposes of this Part “fair dealing” means the extraction of the contents of a database by a lawful user to an extent which will not unreasonably prejudice the interests of the rightsowner.

Education

330 Exception for educational establishments.

330.—(1) The database right in a database is not infringed by fair dealing with a substantial part of its contents by a lawful user of the database where that part is extracted for the purposes of illustration in the course of instruction or of preparation for instruction and where—

(a) the extraction is done by or on behalf of a person giving or receiving instruction, and

(b) the source is indicated.

(2) For the purposes of this section “lawful user” includes an educational establishment.

Public Administration

331 Parliamentary or judicial proceedings.

331.—The database right in a database is not infringed by anything done for the purposes of parliamentary or judicial proceedings or for the purpose of reporting those proceedings.

332 Statutory inquiries.

332.—(1) The database right in a database is not infringed by anything done for the purposes of a statutory inquiry or for the purpose of reporting any such inquiry.

(2) The database right in a database is not infringed by the making available of copies of a report of a statutory inquiry containing the contents of the database.

333 Copying of material in public records.

333.—All or a substantial part of the contents of a database which are comprised in records which are open to public inspection may be extracted or re-utilised without infringing the database right in the database.

334 Material open to public inspection or on statutory register.

334.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 333, where the contents of a database are open to public inspection pursuant to a statutory requirement, or are on a statutory register, the database right in the database is not infringed by the extraction of all or a substantial part of the contents, for a purpose which does not involve re-utilisation of all or a substantial part of the contents as contains factual information of any description, by or with the authority of the person required to make the contents of the database open to public inspection or, as the case may be, the person maintaining the register.

(2) Where the contents of a database are open to public inspection pursuant to a statutory requirement, or are on a statutory register, the database right in the database is not infringed by the extraction or re-utilisation of all or a substantial part of the contents for the purpose of enabling the contents of the database to be inspected at another time or place, or otherwise facilitating the exercise of any right for the purpose of which the requirement is imposed, by or with the authority of the person required to make the contents of the database open to public inspection or, as the case may be, the person maintaining the register.

(3) Where all or a substantial part of the contents of a database are re-utilised under this section the person granting access to the contents of the database shall ensure that those contents bear a mark clearly indicating that they are provided for the purpose of inspection and that no other use of the contents of the database may be made without the licence of the owner of the database right.

(4) All or a substantial part of the contents of a database may not be provided under this section unless the person granting access to the contents of the database has first obtained from the person requesting the contents of the database a declaration, in such form as may be prescribed, indicating that the contents of the database are required for the sole purpose of enabling the contents of the database to be inspected at another time or place or to otherwise facilitate the exercise of the right of public inspection.

(5) Where the contents of a database which are open to public inspection pursuant to a statutory requirement, or are on a statutory register, contain information about matters of general, scientific, technical, commercial or economic interest, the database right in the database is not infringed by the extraction or re-utilisation of all or a substantial part of the contents for the purpose of disseminating that information, by or with the authority of the person required to make the contents of the database open to public inspection or, as the case may be, the person maintaining the register.

(6) The Minister may prescribe the conditions which are to be complied with before the contents of a database are made available to the public.

(7) The Minister may by order provide that subsections (1) to (5) apply—

(a) to the contents of a database made open to public inspection by—

(i) an international organisation specified in the order, or

(ii) a person specified in the order who has functions in the State under an international agreement to which the State is a party,

(b) to a register maintained by an international organisation specified in the order,

as they apply in relation to the contents of a database open to public inspection pursuant to a statutory requirement, or on a statutory register.

335 Databases communicated to Government or Oireachtas.

335.—(1) Where the contents of a database have been communicated to the Government or either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas for any purpose, by or with the licence of the owner of the database right, and any fixation or any thing containing the contents of the database is owned by, or is in the custody, possession or control of the Government or either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Government or either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas may extract or re-utilise all or a substantial part of the contents, for the purpose for which the contents of the database were communicated to them, or for any related purpose which could reasonably have been anticipated by the owner of the database right, without infringing the database right in the database.

(2) The Government or either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas shall not re-utilise all or a substantial part of the contents of a database or cause the contents to be extracted or re-utilised, by virtue of this section, where the contents have previously been lawfully re-utilised otherwise than under this section.

336 Acts done under statutory authority.

336.—(1) Where the undertaking of a particular act is specifically authorised by an enactment then, unless the enactment provides otherwise, the undertaking of that act shall not infringe the database right in a database.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as excluding any defence available under any enactment.

Anonymous or Pseudonymous Database

337 Anonymous or pseudonymous databases: acts permitted.

337.—(1) The database right in a database is not infringed by the extraction or re-utilisation of all or a substantial part of the contents of the database when, or pursuant to arrangements made when—

(a) it is not possible by reasonable inquiry to ascertain the identity of the maker of the database, and

(b) it is reasonable to assume that the database right has expired.

(2) In the case of a database made jointly, the reference in subsection (1), to the possibility of ascertaining the identity of the maker of the database shall be construed as a reference to its being possible to ascertain the identity of any of its makers.

Chapter 9 Application of Copyright Provisions to Database Right

338 Application of copyright provisions to database right.

338.—Sections 120, 121, 122, 123, 127, 128, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135 and 136 shall apply in relation to the database right and databases in which that right subsists as they apply in relation to copyright and copyright works.

Chapter 10 Presumptions

339 Presumptions relevant to database right.

339.—(1) The presumptions specified in this section shall apply in proceedings, whether civil or criminal, for infringement of the database right in any database.

(2)(a) The database right shall be presumed to subsist in a database unless the contrary is proved.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, where the subsistence of the database right in a database is proved or admitted, or is presumed under paragraph (a), the plaintiff shall be presumed to be the owner or, as the case may be, the exclusive license of the database right, unless the contrary is proved.

(3) Where—

(a) a name purporting to be that of the maker of a database or of the owner or exclusive licensee of the database right, as the case may be, appears on copies of the database, or

(b) a copy of a database bears or incorporates a statement, label or other mark indicating that a person is the maker of the database or the owner or exclusive licensee of the database right, as the case may be,

that name, statement, label or mark shall be admissible as evidence of the fact stated or indicated which shall be presumed to be correct, unless the contrary is proved.

(4) The person named or in respect of whom a statement, label or other mark appears on or is borne on or is incorporated in copies of a database in accordance with subsection (3) shall be presumed not to have made the database—

(a) in the course of employment referred to in section 322(2),

(b) in the course of employment as an officer or employee of a prescribed international organisation referred to in section 322(6),

(d) under the direction or control of either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas referred to in section 322(4), or

(e) in circumstances in which the database right is conferred on another person by an enactment referred to in section 322(7).

(5) Where a database purports to be a database made jointly, subsections (2), (3) and (4) shall apply in relation to each person purporting to be one of the makers of the database.

Chapter 11 Database Right: Licensing

340 Licensing schemes and licensing bodies.

340.—(1) In this Part—

“licences” means licences to extract or re-utilise all or a substantial part of the contents of a database or to authorise others to do so;

“licensing body” means a society or other organisation which has as its main object, or one of its main objects, the negotiating or granting, either as owner or prospective owner of a database right, or as exclusive licensee, or as agent for him or her, of database right licences, and whose objects include the granting of licences relating to the databases of more than one database right owner;

“licensing scheme” means a scheme specifying—

(a) the classes of case in which the operator of the scheme, or the person on whose behalf that operator acts, is willing to grant database right licences, and

(b) the terms on which licences would be granted in those classes of case,

and for this purpose a “scheme” includes anything in the nature of a scheme, whether described as a scheme or as a tariff or by any other name.

(2) References in this Part to licences or licensing schemes relating to databases of more than one database right owner shall not include licences or schemes relating to databases made by, or by employees of, or commissioned by, a single individual, firm, company or group of companies, including holding companies and their subsidiaries.

References and Applications Relating to Licensing Schemes

341 General references.

341.—Sections 342 to 347 apply to licensing schemes which are operated by licensing bodies in relation to the database right in databases of more than one database right owner, in so far as they relate to licences for the extraction or re-utilisation of all or a substantial part of the contents of a database.

342 Reference of proposed licensing scheme to Controller.

342.—(1) The terms of a licensing scheme proposed to be operated by a licensing body may be referred to the Controller by an organisation which claims to be representative of persons claiming that they require licences in cases of a description to which the scheme would apply.

(2) The Controller shall not consider a reference by an organisation under subsection (1) unless the Controller is satisfied that the organisation is representative of the class of persons that it claims to represent.

(3) The Controller may refuse to consider a reference under subsection (1) on the ground that the reference is premature.

(4) Where the Controller decides to consider a reference under subsection (1) he or she shall consider the subject matter of the reference and make an order, either confirming or varying the proposed scheme, as the Controller may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.

(5) An order under subsection (4) may be made for such period as the Controller may determine.

343 Reference of licensing scheme to Controller.

343.—(1) Where a licensing scheme is in operation and a dispute arises with respect to the scheme between the operator of the scheme and—

(a) a person claiming that he or she requires a licence in a case of a description to which the scheme applies, or

(b) an organisation claiming to be representative of such persons,

that operator, person or organisation may refer the scheme to the Controller in so far as it relates to cases of that description.

(3) A scheme which has been referred to the Controller under subsection (1) shall remain in operation until proceedings in relation to the reference are concluded.

(4) The Controller shall consider the matter referred to him or her and shall make an order, confirming or varying the scheme, as the Controller may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.

(5) An order under subsection (4) may be made for such period as the Controller may determine.

344 Further reference of scheme to Controller.

344.—(1) Where the Controller has, in respect of a licensing scheme under section 342 or 343 or under this section, made an order in respect of a scheme, and the order remains in force, the persons to whom this section applies may refer the scheme to the Controller in so far as it relates to cases of that description.

(2) This section applies to—

(a) the operator of the scheme,

(b) a person claiming that he or she requires a licence in a case of the description to which the order applies, and

(3) Where an order made under section 342 or 343 or this section is in force the licensing scheme in respect of which the order is made shall not, except with the special leave of the Controller, be referred to the Controller in respect of the same description of cases—

(a) within 12 months from the date of the order in respect of the previous reference, or

(b) where the order was made so as to be in force for 15 months or less, until the last 3 months before the expiration of the order.

(4) A scheme which has been referred to the Controller under subsection (1) shall remain in operation until proceedings in relation to the reference are concluded.

(5) The Controller shall consider the matter referred to him or her and shall make an order confirming, varying or further varying the scheme, as the Controller may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.

(6) An order under subsection (5) may be made for such period as the Controller may determine.

345 Application for grant of licence in connection with licensing scheme.

345.—(1) A person who claims, in a case to which a licensing scheme relates, that the operator of the scheme has refused to grant or to procure the grant to him or her of a licence in accordance with the scheme, or has failed to do so within a reasonable period, may apply to the Controller for an order under subsection (4).

(2) A person who claims, in case excluded from a licensing scheme, that the operator of the scheme—

(a) has refused to grant or to procure the grant to him or her of a licence, or has failed to do so within a reasonable period and that in the circumstances it is unreasonable that a licence should not be granted, or

(b) proposes terms for a licence that are unreasonable,

may apply to the Controller for an order under subsection (4).

(3) A case shall be regarded as being excluded from a licensing scheme for the purposes of subsection (2) where—

(a) the scheme provides for the grant of licences, subject to terms excepting matters from the licence and the case is within such an exception, or

(b) the case is so similar to those in which licences are granted under the scheme that it is unreasonable that it should not be dealt with in the same way.

(4) Where the Controller is satisfied that a claim under this section is well-founded, he or she shall make an order declaring that in respect of the matters specified in the order, the applicant is entitled to a licence on such terms as the Controller may determine to be applicable in accordance with the scheme, or, as the case may be, to be reasonable in the circumstances.

(5) An order under subsection (4) may be made for such period as the Controller may determine.

346 Review of orders made by Controller.

346.—(1) Where the Controller has made an order under section 345 that a person is entitled to a licence under a licensing scheme, the operator of the scheme or the original applicant may apply to the Controller for a review of that order.

(2) An application under subsection (1) shall not be made except with the special leave of the Controller—

(a) within 12 months from the date of the order or of the decision on a previous application under this section, or

(b) where—

(i) the order was made so as to be in force for 15 months or less, or

(ii) as a result of the decision on a previous application under this section the order is due to expire within 15 months of that decision,

until the last 3 months before the expiration date.

(3) The Controller shall, on an application for review, confirm or vary his or her order as the Controller may determine to be reasonable, having regard to the terms applicable in accordance with the licensing scheme, or as the case may be, the circumstances of the case.

347 Effect of order of Controller as to licensing scheme.

347.—(1) A licensing scheme which has been confirmed or varied by the Controller under section 342, 343 or 344 shall be in operation, or as the case may be, remain in operation, in so far as it relates to the description of case in respect of which the order was made, for such period as the order remains in force.

(2) Where an order made by the Controller under section 342, 343 or 344 confirming or varying a licensing scheme is in force (in this section referred to as an “order to which this section applies”), a person who, in a case of a class to which the order applies—

(a) pays to the operator of the scheme any charges payable under the scheme in respect of a licence applying to the case concerned or, where the amount cannot be ascertained, gives an undertaking to the operator to pay the charges when ascertained, and

(b) complies with the other terms applicable to the licence under the scheme,

is in the same position as regards infringement of the database right as if he or she had at all material times been the holder of a licence granted by the owner of the database right concerned in accordance with the scheme.

(3) The Controller may direct that an order to which this section applies, in so far as it varies the amount of charges payable, has effect from a date before that on which it was made, but not earlier than the date on which the reference was made, or where later, the date on which the scheme came into operation.

(4) Where a direction is made under subsection (3)—

(a) any necessary repayments or further payments shall be made in respect of charges already paid, and

(b) the reference in subsection (2)(a) to the charges payable under the scheme shall be construed as a reference to the charges so payable by virtue of the order.

(5) Where the Controller has made an order under section 345 and the order remains in force, the person in whose favour the order is made, where he or she—

(a) pays to the operator of the scheme any charges payable in accordance with the order, or where the amount cannot be ascertained, gives an undertaking to the operator to pay the charges when ascertained, and

(b) complies with the other terms specified in the order,

References and Applications Relating to Licensing by Licensing Bodies

348 General reference by licensing bodies.

348.—Sections 349 to 352 apply to licences in relation to the database right in databases of more than one database right owner, granted by a licensing body otherwise than pursuant to a licensing scheme, in so far as the licences relate to the extraction or re-utilisation of all or a substantial part of the contents of a database.

349 Reference to Controller of proposed licence.

349.—(1) The terms on which a licensing body proposes to grant a licence may be referred to the Controller by the prospective licensee for an order under subsection (3).

(2) The Controller may refuse to consider a reference under subsection (1) on the ground that the reference is premature.

(3) Where the Controller decides to consider a reference under subsection (1), he or she shall consider the terms of the proposed licence and make an order, confirming or varying the terms, as the Controller may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.

(4) An order under subsection (3) may be made for such period as the Controller may determine.

350 Reference to Controller of expiring licence.

350.—(1) A licensee under a licence which is due to expire, with the passage of time or as a result of notice given by the licensing body, may apply to the Controller on the ground that it is unreasonable in the circumstances that the licence should cease to be in force.

(2) An application under subsection (1) may be made at any time during the last 3 months before the expiration of the licence.

(3) A licence in respect of which a reference has been made to the Controller under subsection (1) shall remain in force until proceedings in relation to the reference are concluded.

(4) Where the Controller is satisfied that an application made under subsection (1) is well-founded, he or she shall make an order declaring that the licensee shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of the licence on such terms as the Controller may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.

(5) An order under subsection (4) may be made for such period as the Controller may determine.

351 Application for review of order made by Controller.

351.—(1) Where the Controller has made an order under section 349 or 350, the licensing body or the person entitled to the benefit of the order may apply to the Controller for a review of that order.

(2) An application under subsection (1) shall not be made except with the special leave of the Controller—

(a) within 12 months from the date of the order or of the decision on a previous application under this section, or

(b) where—

(i) the order was made so as to be in force for 15 months or less, or

(ii) as a result of the decision on a previous application under this section the order is due to expire within 15 months of that decision,

until the last 3 months before the expiration date.

(3) The Controller shall, on an application for review, confirm or vary his or her order as the Controller may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.

352 Effect of order of Controller as to licence.

352.—(1) Where the Controller has made an order under section 349 or 350, and the order remains in force, the person entitled to the benefit of the order, where he or she—

(a) pays to the licensing body any charges payable in accordance with the order or, where the amount cannot be ascertained, gives an undertaking to the Controller to pay the charges when ascertained, and

(b) complies with the other terms specified in the order.

(2) The benefit of an order made under section 349 or 350 may be assigned—

(a) in the case of an order made under section 349, where assignment is not prohibited under the terms of the order of the Controller, and

(b) in the case of an order made under section 350, where assignment was not prohibited under the terms of the original licence.

(3) The Controller may direct that an order made under section 349 or 350 or an order made under section 351 varying such an order, in so far as it varies the amount of charges payable, has effect from a date before that on which it was made, but not earlier than the date on which the reference or application was made or, where later, the date on which the licence was granted or, as the case may be, was due to expire.

(4) Where a direction is given under subsection (3)—

(a) any necessary repayments, or further payments, shall be made in respect of charges already paid, and

(b) the reference in subsection (1)(a) to the charges payable in accordance with the order shall be construed, where the order is varied by a further order, as a reference to the charges so payable by virtue of that further order.

Licensing: Miscellaneous

353 General considerations: unreasonable discrimination.

353.—(1) In determining what is reasonable, on a reference or application under this Chapter relating to a licensing scheme or licence, the Controller shall have regard to—

(a) the availability of other schemes, or the granting of other licences, to other persons in similar circumstances, and

(b) the terms of those schemes or licences,

and shall exercise his or her powers so as to ensure that there is no unreasonable discrimination between licensees, or prospective licensees, under the scheme or licence to which the reference or application relates and licensees under other schemes operated by, or other licences granted by, the same person.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not affect the obligation of the Controller in any case to have regard to all relevant circumstances.

354 Licences to reflect payments in respect of underlying rights.

354.—Where a reference or application is made under this Chapter in relation to licensing in respect of the database right in a database, the Controller shall take into account, in considering what charges are to be paid for a licence, any payments which the owner of the database right is liable to make pursuant to the granting of the licence, or pursuant to the acts authorised by the licence—

(a) to owners of the copyright in works included in the database, or

(b) in respect of any performance included in the database.

Chapter 12 Registration of Licensing Bodies in Respect of Database Right

355 Register of licensing bodies for database right.

355.—(1) The Controller shall establish and maintain a register of licensing bodies in respect of database rights in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Minister may prescribe to be known as the “Register of Licensing Bodies for Database Rights” and referred to in this Part as the “Register”.

(2) The Controller shall keep the Register in such form that the Register is capable of being used to make a copy of any entry in the Register.

(3) The Register shall be kept at such place as may be prescribed by the Minister and, subject to the payment of such fee as may be prescribed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance—

(a) the Register shall be made available for inspection by a person at such times and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Minister, and

(b) where a request is made to the Controller for a certified or uncertified copy of, or extract from, an entry in the Register, the Controller shall issue a copy of the entry or extract to the applicant.

(4) An application for registration or renewal of a registration of a licensing body shall be made to the Controller in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the Minister and shall be subject to the payment of such fee as may be prescribed by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

(5) The Controller shall register an applicant or renew a registration where the Controller is satisfied that—

(a) the applicant complies with the definition of a licensing body specified in section 340, and

(b) the applicant has provided such information and satisfied such conditions as may be prescribed by the Minister for the purposes of registration.

(6) The information to be prescribed by the Minister under subsection (5)(b) shall include the following:

(a) the name of the applicant;

(b) the address of the applicant;

(c) the names of the chairperson and other members of the board or officers, or names of partners, as the case may be, of the applicant;

(d) a copy of the memorandum and articles of association or partnership agreement, of the applicant;

(e) details of the scheme;

(f) details of the scales of charges or proposed charges to be levied by the applicant; and

(g) the class of rightsowners represented or proposed to be represented by the applicant.

(7) On the registration or renewal of a registration of a licensing body the Controller shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration in such form as the Controller shall determine.

356 Proof that licensing body may act on behalf of specified classes.

356.—A certificate granted under section 355(7) shall include the particulars specified in subsection (6) of that section and the certificate shall be evidence of the right of the licensing body, until the contrary is proved, to act on behalf of the classes of rightsowners for whom it claims representation rights or on behalf of the rightsowners who have assigned rights to it, or exclusively licensed it, as specified in that certificate.

357 Notification of charges.

357.—(1) A licensing body registered under this Part which proposes to impose a charge, otherwise than in accordance with the scales of charges included in an application for registration or for renewal of a registration, shall provide the Controller in writing with details of the proposed charge not less than one month before the charge comes into effect.

(2) The registration of a licensing body which fails to comply with subsection (1) is deemed to be cancelled from the date on which the proposed charge comes into effect.

358 Validity of certificates of registration.

358.—(1) A certificate of registration issued under section 355(7) shall be valid for a period of 12 months from the date of registration or such lesser period as may be specified by the Controller in the certificate.

(2) Subject to section 355(4), a licensing body registered under this Part may apply for renewal of its registration for further periods each of which shall not exceed 12 months.

(3) An application for renewal of a registration shall be made not less than one month before the expiration of the period of validity of the certificate of registration.

(4) A term of renewal of a registration shall take effect from the expiration of the previous registration.

359 Refusal of application.

359.—(1) The Controller may refuse an application for renewal of a registration by a licensing body registered under this Part or cancel the registration of a licensing body where the body no longer fulfils the requirements specified in section 355(5).

(2) The Controller shall remove a licensing body from the Register where its application for renewal of its registration is refused or its registration is cancelled.

360 Indemnity for Controller.

360.—No action or other proceedings shall lie or be maintainable against the Controller (except in the case of wilful neglect of duty) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him or her in the bona fide exercise of any functions, powers or duties conferred or imposed by or under this Chapter.

361 Obligation of collecting societies to register (database rights).

361.—(1) Any body operating as a licensing body within the meaning specified in section 340 shall be obliged to register in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter, and to remain registered for so long as it continues to operate in this capacity.

(2) Any body to which the provisions of subsection (1) applies which—

(a) fails within 6 months of the commencement of this Chapter to register under the terms of this Chapter,

(b) fails within 2 months of its establishment in the case of a body established after the commencement of this Chapter to register under the terms of this Chapter, or

shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £100,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both.

PART VI Jurisdiction of Controller

362 Jurisdiction of Controller

362.—It shall be a function of the Controller pursuant to references or applications under this Act to determine, within a reasonable period of time, disputes arising under this Act between licensing bodies and persons requiring licences or organisations claiming to be representative of those persons.

363 Rules in relation to proceedings before Controller.

363.—(1) The Minister may make rules in relation to proceedings before the Controller under this Act and, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance, may also make rules in relation to the fees chargeable in respect of such proceedings.

(2) Rules made under this section shall—

(a) specify the parties to proceedings and permit the Controller to make a party to the proceedings a person or organisation satisfying the Controller that the party concerned has a substantial interest in the matter, and

(b) require the Controller to give the parties to proceedings an opportunity to state their case orally or in writing.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), rules made under this section may make provision for prescribing matters incidental to or consequential upon appeals from decisions of the Controller under section 366.

364 Power of Controller to award costs.

364.—(1) The Controller may order that the costs of a party to proceedings before him or her under this Act, including costs associated with the appointment of an arbitrator under section 367 and costs of a party to proceedings before that arbitrator, shall be paid by such party as the Controller may direct, and the Controller may determine the amounts of the costs or direct the manner in which they are to be paid.

(2) A copy of an order made by the Controller under subsection (1) which is certified by the Controller to be a true copy shall, in proceedings under this Act, be evidence of the order unless the contrary is proved.

365 Appointment of assessors.

365.—(1) In any proceedings before him or her under this Act, the Controller may, where he or she thinks fit, and shall, on the request of all the parties to the proceedings, appoint an assessor who is specially qualified in regard to all or any of the questions arising in the course of the proceedings to aid the Controller in his or her consideration of those questions.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Minister shall approve, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the amount of remuneration (if any) to be paid by the Controller to an assessor appointed by him or her under this section.

(3) The amount of remuneration referred to under subsection (2) shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, to such an extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance.

366 Appeal to the High Court.

366.—(1) An appeal on a point of law arising from a decision of the Controller under this Act shall lie to the High Court.

(2) Provision shall be made in the rules made under section 363 limiting the time within which such an appeal may be brought.

(3) Provisions may be made in the rules made under section 363 for all or any of the following, namely:

(a) suspending, authorising or requiring the Controller to suspend the operation of orders of the Controller in cases where his or her decision is appealed;

(b) modifying, in relation to an order of the Controller the operation of which is suspended, the operation of any provision of this Act as to the effect of that order;

(c) the notification of, or the taking of other steps for securing that, persons affected by the suspension of an order of the Controller shall be informed of its suspension.

(4) Subject to subsection (5), a decision of the High Court under this section shall be final and may not be appealed.

(5) By leave of the High Court, an appeal from a decision of the High Court under this section shall lie to the Supreme Court on a question of law.

367 References of dispute to arbitrator.

367.—(1) In the case of a dispute referred to the Controller under this Act, the Controller may at any time—

(a) where the parties to the dispute consent, or

(b) where a matter requires any prolonged examination of documents or other investigation requiring specialist knowledge which could not be made by him or her,

order the matter to be referred to an arbitrator agreed by the parties or, in the absence of such agreement, appointed by the Controller.

(2) The Controller shall decide whether or not to refer a dispute to arbitration no later than 3 months after the dispute has been referred to the Controller.

(3) The arbitrator shall make his or her award within 3 months of the reference from the Controller, or within such further period of time as may be agreed with the Controller.

(4) The award made by an arbitrator in a case referred to him or her under this section shall, where the parties consent to the reference, be final and binding on the parties.

(5) An appeal from an award made by an arbitrator pursuant to a reference under this section to which the parties to the dispute did not consent shall lie to the High Court and the High Court may make such order confirming, annulling or varying the award of the arbitrator as it thinks fit.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), a decision of the High Court under this section shall be final and may not be appealed.

(7) By leave of the High Court, an appeal from a decision of the High Court under this section shall lie to the Supreme Court on a question of law.

(8) In any reference to an arbitrator under this section, the Controller on giving notice to the parties to the dispute shall have the same power to apply to the court for the removal of that arbitrator under section 24 of the Arbitration Act, 1954, as if he or she had been a party to the arbitration.

(9) Nothing in subsection (8) shall affect the rights of the parties to the arbitration.

(10) For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of an arbitrator being removed under subsection (8), a second or subsequent arbitrator may be appointed to arbitrate the dispute in accordance with this section.

368 Controller may consult Attorney General.

368.—The Controller may, in any case of doubt or difficulty arising in connection with the administration of any of the provisions of this Act, apply to the Attorney General for advice in the matter.

369 Definition of dispute for the purposes of this Chapter.

369.—For the purposes of this Chapter, “dispute” shall include any matter referred to the Controller for decision or resolution by reference or application under any provision of this Act.

PART VII Technological Protection Measures

Chapter 1 Rights Protection Measures

370 Devices designed to circumvent protection.

370.—(1) This section applies where, by or with the licence of the rightsowner—

(a) copies of copyright works to which rights protection measures have been applied or recordings of performances to which rights protection measures have been applied, are made available to the public, or

(b) copies of databases to which rights protection measures have been applied, are re-utilised.

(2) A person who makes available to the public or re-utilises the copies referred to in subsection (1) has the same rights and remedies against a person who—

(a)(i) makes,

(ii) sells, rents or lends, or offers or exposes for sale, rental or loan,

(iii) imports into the State, or

(iv) has in his or her possession, custody or control,

a protection-defeating device, knowing or having reason to believe that it has been or is to be used to circumvent rights protection measures, or

(b) provides information, or offers or performs any service, intended to enable or assist persons to circumvent rights protection measures,

as a rightsowner has in respect of an infringement of any of his or her rights under this Act.

(3) The presumptions as to ownership of rights specified in Chapter 12 of Part II and Chapter 10 of Part V shall apply in any proceedings under this section, whether civil or criminal, as in proceedings for infringement of the copyright in a work or for infringement of the database right in a database under Part II or Part V.

(4) Sections 145 and 264 shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the disposal of anything delivered up or seized by virtue of subsection (2).

(5) References in this Part to copies of a work, recording or database shall include the original.

371 Offence of unlawful reception.

371.—A person who receives a broadcast or cable programme to which rights protection measures have been applied, knowing or having reason to believe that it is being received unlawfully with the intent to avoid payment of any charge applied by the rightsowner for the reception of that broadcast or cable programme shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,500.

372 Rights in respect of apparatus, etc., for unauthorised reception of transmissions.

372.—(1) A person who is authorised by the rightsowner—

(a) to make charges for the reception of programmes included in a broadcast or cable programme service, or

(b) to send encrypted transmissions of any other description,

has the same rights and remedies against a person who—

(i)(I) makes,

(II) sells, rents or lends, or offers or exposes for sale, rental or loan,

(III) imports into the State, or

(IV) has in his or her possession, custody or control,

any apparatus or protection-defeating device, knowing or having reason to believe that the apparatus or device is to be used to enable or assist persons to receive those programmes or transmissions when those persons are not so entitled, or

(ii) provides information, or offers or performs any service, intended to enable or assist persons to receive those programmes or transmissions when those persons are not so entitled,

as a rightsowner has in respect of an infringement of any of his or her rights under this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to any other remedy, in cases of innocent infringement of the rights conferred by subsection (1), the appropriate court may award damages as it considers appropriate in the circumstances, and such damages shall not exceed a reasonable payment in respect of the act complained of.

(3) Sections 145 and 264 shall apply with any necessary modifications in relation to the disposal of anything delivered up or seized by virtue of subsection (1).

373 Denial of protection.

373.—(1) Where it appears to the Minister that broadcasts made, or cable programmes or encrypted transmissions sent, from the State are not adequately protected in a country, territory, state or area, the Minister may by order restrict the rights conferred by section 370, 371 or 372 in relation to broadcasters or providers of cable programme services or encrypted transmissions connected with that country, territory, state or area.

(2) In an order made under subsection (1) the Minister shall designate the country, territory, state or area concerned and provide that, for the purposes specified in that order, a broadcast made or a cable programme or encrypted transmission sent after a date specified in that order shall not qualify for the protection conferred by section 370, 371 or 372 where at the time of that making or sending the maker or sender is—

(a) an individual domiciled or resident in that country, territory, state or area (and not at the same time domiciled or resident in the State),

(b) a body incorporated under the law of that country, territory, state or area,

(d) any other body,

and the order may make such provision for all the purposes of section 370, 371 or 372 or for such purposes as are specified in that order.

374 Non-interference of rights protection measures with permitted acts.

374.—Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as operating to prevent any person from undertaking the acts permitted—

(a) in relation to works protected by copyright under Chapter 6 of Part II,

(b) in relation to performances, by Chapter 4 of Part III, or

or from undertaking any act of circumvention required to effect such permitted acts.

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Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000

Chapter 10 Duration of Rights in Performances

291 Duration of rights.

Chapter 11 Performers' Property Rights

292 Performers' property rights.

Chapter 12 Transmission of Performers' Property Rights

293 Assignment and licences.

294 Prospective ownership of performers' property rights.

295 Exclusive licences.

296 Performers' property rights to pass under will with certain original recordings.

297 Presumption of transfer of rental right in case of film production agreement.

298 Right to equitable remuneration where rental right is transferred.

299 Equitable remuneration: reference of determination of amount to Controller.

Chapter 13 Transmission of Recording Rights and Performers' Non-Property Rights

300 Performers' non-property rights.

301 Transmissibility of rights of person having recording rights.

302 Consent.

Chapter 14 Remedies: Owner of Performers' Property Rights

303 Infringement actionable by rightsowner.

304 Award of damages in infringement action.

305 Undertakings concerning licences of right.

Chapter 15 Rights and Remedies: Exclusive Licensee

306 Rights and remedies of exclusive licensee.

307 Exercise of concurrent rights.

Chapter 16 Remedies: Owner of Performers' Non-Property Rights and Person Having Recording Rights

308 Infringement actionable as a breach of statutory duty.

PART IV Performers' Moral Rights

309 Paternity right.

310 Exceptions to paternity right.

311 Integrity right.

312 Exceptions to integrity right.

313 Secondary infringement of integrity right: possessing or dealing.

314 False attribution of performances.

315 Duration of moral rights.

316 Waiver of rights.

317 Performers' moral rights not assignable or alienable.

318 Transmission of moral rights on death.

319 Remedies for infringement of moral rights.

PART V Databases

Chapter 1 Rights in Databases

320 Interpretation.

Chapter 2 Subsistence of Database Right

321 Database right.

Chapter 3 Maker and Ownership: Databases

322 Maker of database.

323 First ownership of database right.

Chapter 4 Restricted Acts: Databases

324 Acts restricted by database right.

Chapter 5 Duration of Database Right

325 Term of protection of database right.

Chapter 6 Qualification: Databases

326 Qualification for database right.

Chapter 7 Rights and Obligations of Lawful Users

327 Avoidance of certain terms affecting lawful users.

Chapter 8 Acts Permitted in Respect of Database Right

328 Exemptions in respect of databases.

329 Fair dealing: research or private study.

330 Exception for educational establishments.

331 Parliamentary or judicial proceedings.

332 Statutory inquiries.

333 Copying of material in public records.

334 Material open to public inspection or on statutory register.

335 Databases communicated to Government or Oireachtas.

336 Acts done under statutory authority.

337 Anonymous or pseudonymous databases: acts permitted.

Chapter 9 Application of Copyright Provisions to Database Right

338 Application of copyright provisions to database right.

Chapter 10 Presumptions

339 Presumptions relevant to database right.

Chapter 11 Database Right: Licensing

340 Licensing schemes and licensing bodies.

341 General references.

342 Reference of proposed licensing scheme to Controller.

343 Reference of licensing scheme to Controller.

344 Further reference of scheme to Controller.

345 Application for grant of licence in connection with licensing scheme.

346 Review of orders made by Controller.

347 Effect of order of Controller as to licensing scheme.

348 General reference by licensing bodies.

349 Reference to Controller of proposed licence.