Press Release: Copyright: infringement proceedings against France, Finland, Spain and the Czech Republic for non-implementation of 2001 Copyright Directive

The European Commission on 13 July took legal action against three Member States and initiated informal contact with another to ensure that they implement the 2001 Copyright Directive, which all Member States had agreed to do before 22 December 2002. The Commission has decided, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, to send France and Finland further “reasoned opinions” requesting them to comply immediately with the previous judgments of the European Court of Justice on their non-implementation of the 2001 Copyright Directive. If the Member States concerned do not comply, the Commission can ultimately ask the Court to impose fines. In addition, the Commission has sent the Czech Republic a letter of formal notice - the first stage of infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty - asking it to provide full information on its implementation of the 2001 Copyright Directive. Finally, the Commission has also sent an informal letter to Spain asking it about how it intends to comply with a previous judgment of the European Court on its non-implementation of the 2001 Copyright Directive.