Press Release: Copyright in libraries: Commission acts to ensure that authors are remunerated

The European Commission on 21 March 2005 decided to refer Italy and Luxembourg to the European Court of Justice for failure to implement fully into national legislation the 'public lending right' provided for by a 1992 Directive. By introducing a public lending right the EU was aiming to ensure that creative effort be protected and encouraged throughout the European Union. In a related development, the Commission also launched infringement proceedings against Belgium, Finland and Sweden because these Member States had not complied with the 2004 rulings of the Court requiring them to implement the 2001 Copyright Directive (see IP/01/528).