Collective Management
COPYRIGHT ACT
Chapter 16
Copyright Licensing |
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Licensing schemes and licensing bodies. |
149.—(1) In this Part— |
“licences” means licences to undertake or authorise the undertaking of any of the acts restricted by copyright; | |
“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 copyright, or as exclusive licensee, or as agent for him or her, of copyright licences, and whose objects include the granting of licences relating to works of more than one copyright 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 copyright 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 works of more than one copyright owner shall not include licences or schemes relating to— | |
(a) a single collective work, or collective works of which the authors are the same, or | |
(b) works 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 | |
General references. |
150.—Sections 151 to 156 apply to licensing schemes which are operated by licensing bodies in relation to the copyright in works of more than one copyright owner, in so far as they relate to licences for any of the acts restricted by copyright under section 37 . |
Reference |
151.—(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 who claim that they require licences in cases of a description to which the scheme would apply. |
proposed | |
licensing | |
scheme to | |
Controller. | |
(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. |
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(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. | |
Reference of | 152.—(1) Where a licensing scheme is in operation and a dispute arises with respect to the scheme between the operator of the scheme and— |
licensing | |
scheme to | |
Controller. | |
(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. | |
(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) 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. |
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(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. | |
Further reference of scheme to Controller. |
153.—(1) Where the Controller has, in respect of a licensing scheme under section 151 or 152 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 | |
(c) an organisation claiming to be representative of the persons referred to in paragraph (b). | |
(3) Where an order under section 151 or 152 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. |
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(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. | |
Application for grant of licence in connection with licensing scheme. |
154.—(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 a 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. | |
Review of orders made by Controller. |
155.—(1) Where the Controller has made an order under section 154 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. | |
Effect of order of Controller as to licensing scheme. |
156.—(1) A licensing scheme which has been confirmed or varied by the Controller under section 151 , 152 or 153 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 151 , 152 or 153 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 copyright as if he or she had at all material times been the holder of a licence granted by the owner of the copyright concerned in accordance with the scheme. | |
(3) Subject to subsection (4), 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) A direction shall not be made under this section where subsection (6)
applies. |
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(6) An order of the Controller made under section 152 or 153 in relation to a scheme which is certified for any purpose under section 173 has effect, in so far as it varies the scheme by reducing the charges payable for licences, from the date on which the reference was made to the Controller. | |
(7) Where the Controller has made an order under section 154 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, | |
is in the same position as regards infringement of copyright as if he or she had at all material times been the holder of a licence granted by the owner of the copyright concerned on the terms specified in the order. | |
References and Applications Relating to Licensing by Licensing Bodies | |
General references by licensing bodies. |
157.— Sections 158 to 161 apply to licences in relation to the copyright in works of more than one copyright owner, granted by a licensing body otherwise than pursuant to a licensing scheme, in so far as the licences relate to any of the acts restricted by copyright under section 37 . |
Reference to Controller of proposed licence. |
158.—(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. |
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(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. | |
Reference to Controller of expiring licence. |
159.—(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. |
Application for review of order made by Controller. |
160.—(1) Where the Controller has made an order under section 158 or 159 , 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. | |
Effect of order of Controller as to licence. |
161.—(1) Where the Controller has made an order under section 158 or 159 , 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 operator to pay the charges when ascertained, and | |
(b) complies with the other terms specified in the order, | |
is in the same position as regards infringement of copyright as if he or she had at all material times been the holder of a licence granted by the owner of the copyright concerned on the terms specified in the order. | |
(2) The benefit of an order made under section 158 or 159 may be assigned— | |
(a) in the case of an order made under section 158 , 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 159 , where assignment was not prohibited under the terms of the original licence. | |
(3) The Controller may direct that an order made under section 158 or 159 or an order made under section 160 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 | |
General | 162.—(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— |
Generalconsiderations: |
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unreasonable | |
discrimination. | |
(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. | |
Licences for reprographic copying. |
163.— Where a reference or application is made to the Controller under this Chapter relating to the licensing of reprographic copying of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, original databases, or of the typographical arrangement of published editions, which have been lawfully made available to the public, the Controller shall have regard to— |
(a) the extent to which copies of the works concerned are otherwise available, | |
(b) the proportion of the work to be copied, and | |
(c) the nature of the use to which the copies are likely to be put. | |
Licences payments |
164.—Where a reference or an application is made under this Chapter in relation to licensing of the copyright in a work, the Controller shall take into account, in considering what charges are to be paid for a licence, any payments which the owner of the copyright is liable to make pursuant to the granting of the licence, or pursuant to the acts authorised by the licence— |
reflect payments | |
in respect of | |
underlying | |
rights. | |
(a) to owners of the copyright in works included in the work, or | |
(b) in respect of any performance, included in the work. | |
Licences to reflect | 165.—(1) Where a reference or an application is made under this Chapter relating to licensing in respect of the copyright in sound recordings, films, |
conditions imposed by promoters of events. | broadcasts or cable programmes which include, or are to include, any entertainment or other event, the Controller shall have regard to any conditions imposed by the promoters of the entertainment or other event, and in particular the Controller shall not consider a refusal or failure to grant a licence to be unreasonable where it could not have been granted in a manner which is consistent with those conditions. |
(2) Nothing in this section shall require the Controller to have regard to any conditions where those conditions— | |
(a) purport to regulate the charges to be imposed in respect of the grant of licences, or | |
(b) relate to payments to be made to the promoters of any event in consideration of the grant of facilities for making the sound recording, film, broadcast or cable programme. | |
Licences in respect of works included in retransmissions. |
166.—(1) This section applies to references or applications under this Chapter relating to licences to include a work in a broadcast or cable programme service, where one broadcast or cable programme (in this section referred to as the “first transmission”) is, by reception and immediate retransmission without alteration, to be further broadcast or included in a cable programme service (in this section referred to as the “further
transmission”). |
(2) In so far as the further transmission is to the same area as the first transmission, the Controller shall, in considering what charges, if any, are to be paid for licences for either transmission, have regard to the extent to which the copyright owner has already received, or is entitled to receive, payment for the other transmission which adequately remunerates that owner in respect of transmissions to that area. | |
(3) In so far as the further transmission is to an area outside that to which the first transmission was made, the Controller shall disregard all further transmission in considering what charges, if any, are to be paid for licences for the first transmission. | |
Implied indemnity in certain schemes and licences for reprographic copying. |
167.—(1) This section applies to— |
(a) schemes for licensing reprographic copying of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, original databases, or of the typographical arrangement of published editions, lawfully made available to the public, and | |
(b) licences granted by licensing bodies for such copying, | |
where the scheme or licence concerned does not specify the works to which it applies with sufficient particularity so as to enable licensees to determine |
whether a work is within the scheme or licence by inspection of the scheme or licence and the work. | |
(2) There is implied in every scheme or licence to which this section applies— | |
(a) an undertaking by the operator of the scheme to indemnify a person granted a licence under the scheme, and | |
(b) an undertaking by the licensing body to indemnify a licensee, | |
against any liability incurred by a person or licensee by reason of his or her having infringed copyright by making or authorising the making of reprographic copies of a work in circumstances within the apparent scope of the licence. | |
Power to extend application of scheme or licence. |
168.—(1) This section applies to— |
(a) a licensing scheme to which sections 151 to 156 apply, in so far as they provide for the grant of licences, or | |
(b) a licence to which sections 158 to 161 apply, | |
in li e c th la | so far as the scheme provides for the grant of licences, or the licence is a cence which authorises the making by or on behalf of educational stablishments for the purposes of instruction education110 of reprographic opies of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, original databases or of e typographical arrangement of published editions; which have been
wfully made available to the public. |
(2) Where it appears to the Minister with respect to a scheme or licence to which this section applies that— | |
(a) works of a description similar to those covered by the scheme or licence are unreasonably excluded from it, and | |
(b) making those works subject to a licensing scheme or general licence would not conflict with the normal exploitation of the works or prejudice the interests of the owner of the copyright, | |
the Minister may by order provide that the scheme or licence shall extend to those works. | |
(3) Where the Minister proposes to make an order under subsection (2), he or she shall give notice of the proposal to— | |
(a) the owner of the copyright, | |
(b) the licensing body concerned, and |
110 Amended by the Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Provisions Act 2019
(c) such persons or organisations representative of educational establishments, and such other persons or organisations, as the Minister thinks fit. | |
(4) Where the identity of a person, body or organisation required to be given notice under subsection (3) cannot be ascertained by reasonable enquiry, an advertisement published by the Minister in Iris Oifigiúil and at least two newspapers circulating in the State specifying details of the proposal to extend the scheme or licence shall be deemed to be notice for the purposes of that subsection. | |
(5) A notice given under subsection (3) shall inform the persons referred to in that subsection of their right to make oral or written representations to the Minister concerning the proposal within 6 months from the date of the notice, and where any of those persons wishes to make oral representations, the Minister shall appoint a person to hear the representations and to report to the Minister. | |
(6) In considering whether to make an order under subsection (2), the Minister shall take into account any representations made to him or her under subsection (5) and such other matters as appear to the Minister to be relevant. | |
Variation or discharge of order extending scheme or licence. |
169.—(1) The owner of the copyright in a work in respect of which an order is in force under section 168 may apply to the Minister for the variation or discharge of the order, stating his or her reasons for making the application. |
(2) The Minister shall not consider an application made within 2 years of the making of the original order, or of the making of an order on a previous application under this section, unless it appears to the Minister that the circumstances are exceptional. | |
(3) The Minister may confirm the order concerned and where the Minister refuses to confirm the order, he or she shall give notice of the application to— | |
(a) the licensing body concerned, and | |
(b) such persons or organisations representative of educational establishments, and such other persons or organisations, as the Minister thinks fit. | |
(4) A notice given under subsection (3) shall inform the persons referred to in that subsection of their right to make written or oral representations to the Minister concerning the application under subsection (1) within 2 months from the date of the notice, and where any of those persons wishes to make oral representations, the Minister shall appoint a person to hear the representations and to report to the Minister. | |
(5) In considering an application under subsection (1), the Minister shall take into account the reasons for the application, any representations made to him or her under subsection (4) and such other matters as appear to the Minister to be relevant. |
(6) The Minister may make such order as he or she thinks fit confirming or discharging the order or, as the case may be, the order as previously varied, or varying or further varying the order so as to exclude works from it. | |
Appeals against orders. |
170.—(1) The owner of the copyright in a work which is the subject of an order made under section 168 may appeal to the High Court which may confirm or discharge the order, or vary it so as to exclude works from it, as it thinks fit, having regard to the matters referred to in section 168 (2). |
(2) Where the Minister has made an order under section 169 — | |
(a) the person who applied for the order, or | |
(b) any person or organisation representative of educational establishments, or any other persons or organisations as the Minister thinks fit, who were given notice of the application for the order and who made representations under subsection (4) of that section, | |
may appeal to the High Court, which may confirm, vary or discharge the order. | |
(3) An appeal under this section shall be brought within 6 weeks of the making of the order, or such further period as the High Court may allow. | |
(4) An order made under section 168 or 169 shall not come into force until the expiration of 6 weeks from the making of the order or, where an appeal is brought before the expiration of that period, until the appeal proceedings are disposed of or withdrawn. | |
(5) Where an appeal is brought on or before the expiration of the period specified in subsection (4), any decision of the High Court on the appeal shall not affect the validity of anything done in reliance on the order before that decision takes effect. | |
Inquiry whether other provisions required. |
171.—(1) The Minister may appoint a person to inquire whether other provisions are required (whether by way of a licensing scheme or general licence) to authorise the making by or on behalf of educational establishments for the purposes of instruction education111 of reprographic copies of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, original databases, or of the typographical arrangement of published editions, which— |
(a) have been lawfully made available to the public, and | |
(b) are of a description which appears to the Minister— | |
(i) not to be regulated by an existing licensing scheme or general licence, and | |
(ii) not to be within the power conferred by section 168 . |
(2) The Minister may prescribe procedures for the establishment and conduct of an inquiry under this section and without prejudice to the generality of the aforesaid may prescribe that— | |
(a) notice be given to persons or organisations appearing to the Minister to represent the owners of the copyright in works of that description, | |
(b) notice be given to persons or organisations appearing to the Minister to represent educational establishments, or | |
(c) written or oral representations may be made by those persons. | |
(3) Where procedures are prescribed under subsection (2), they shall not affect the rights of any other person to be given notice of such inquiries or the making of representations by other persons or organisations. | |
(4) The person appointed to hold an inquiry under this section shall not recommend the making of other provisions unless he or she is satisfied that— | |
(a) it would be of advantage to educational establishments to be authorised to make reprographic copies of the works concerned, and | |
(b) making those works subject to a licensing scheme or general licence would not conflict with the normal exploitation of the works or prejudice the interests of the owner of the copyright. | |
(5) Where a person appointed to hold an inquiry under this section recommends the making of other provisions, he or she shall specify any terms, other than terms as to the charges payable, on which licences under those provisions shall be available. | |
Statutory licence where recommendation not implemented. |
172.—(1) The Minister may, within one year of the making of a recommendation under section 171 , by order provide, that where the provision to which subsection (2) applies has not been made pursuant to the recommendation, the making by or on behalf of an educational establishment, for the purposes of instruction education112, of reprographic copies of the works to which the recommendation relates, shall be deemed to be licensed by the owners of the copyright in the works. |
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), provision shall be regarded as having been made pursuant to the recommendation where— | |
(a) a certified licensing scheme has been established under which a licence is available to the establishment concerned, or | |
(b) a general licence has been— | |
(i) granted to or for the benefit of that establishment, |
(ii) referred by or on behalf of that establishment to the Controller under section 158 , or | |
(iii) offered to or for the benefit of that establishment and refused without such a reference, | |
and the terms of the scheme or licence accord with the recommendation. | |
(3) An existing licence authorising the making of the copies referred to in subsection (1) (not being a licence granted under a certified licensing scheme or a general licence) shall cease to have effect to the extent that it is more restrictive or more onerous than the licence provided for by an order made under subsection (1). | |
(4) An order made under subsection (1) shall provide that the licence be free of any charge and, in relation to other matters, shall be subject to any terms specified in the recommendation and to such other terms as the Minister may think fit. | |
(5) Where a copy which would otherwise be an infringing copy is made pursuant to a licence provided for by an order made under subsection (1) and is subsequently sold, rented or lent, or offered or exposed for sale, rental or loan, or otherwise made available to the public, it shall be treated as an infringing copy for those purposes and for all subsequent purposes. | |
(6) An order made under subsection (1) shall come into operation not less than 6 months after it is made and, subject to subsection (7), the order may be varied from time to time. | |
(7) An order made under subsection (1) shall not be varied so as to include works other than those to which the recommendation relates or to remove any terms specified in the recommendation. | |
(8) In this section, “certified licensing scheme” means a licensing scheme certified under section 173 for the purposes of this section. | |
Certification of licensing schemes. |
173.—(1) A person operating or proposing to operate a licensing scheme may apply to the Minister to certify the scheme for the purposes of section 56
, 57 57C113 or 172 . |
(2) The Minister may by order certify a licensing scheme where he or she is satisfied that— | |
(a) the licensing body in charge of the scheme is representative of a substantial number of rightsholders in the category of works to which the scheme is designed to apply, and | |
(b) the scheme sets out clearly the charges payable and the other terms and conditions on which licences are to be granted. |
113 Amended by the Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Provisions Act 2019
(3) The scheme shall be set out in an order made under subsection (2) and the certification shall come into operation for the purposes of section 56 , 57 57C114 or 172 as the case may be— | |
(a) on a date, specified in the order, not less than 8 weeks after the order is made, or | |
(b) where the scheme is the subject of a reference under section 151 , on any later date on which the order of the Controller under that section comes into force, or the reference is withdrawn. | |
(4) A variation of the scheme to which this section applies is not effective unless a corresponding amendment of the order is made and the Minister shall make such an amendment in the case of a variation ordered by the Controller on a reference under section 151 , 152 or 153 and may do so in any other case where the Minister thinks fit. | |
(5) An order made under subsection (2) shall be revoked where the scheme ceases to operate and may be revoked where it appears to the Minister that the scheme is no longer being operated in accordance with the terms of the order. |
Collective exercise of certain rights in relation to cable retransmissions. |
174.—(1) The owner of the copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, an original database, a sound recording or a film shall have the right to grant or refuse authorisation for cable retransmission of a broadcast or cable programme from another Member State of the EEA in which the work is included.115
174.—(1) The owner of the copyright or the owner of a related right in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, an original database, a sound recording or a film contained in a television or radio programme shall have the right to grant or refuse authorisation for cable retransmission (in this section referred to as the ‘cable retransmission right’). |
(1A) The owner of the copyright or the owner of a related right in a work contained in a television or radio programme shall have the right to grant or refuse the authorisation for non-cable retransmission (in this section referred to as the ‘non-cable retransmission right’).116 | |
(2) The right conferred by this section shall be known and in this section referred to as the “cable retransmission right”. |
114 Amended by the Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Provisions Act 2019
115 Deleted by European Union (Copyright and Related Rights Applicable to Certain Online Transmissions and Retransmissions) Regulations 2022
116 Inserted by European Union (Copyright and Related Rights Applicable to Certain Online Transmissions and Retransmissions) Regulations 2022
(3) The cable retransmission right may be exercised against a cable programme service provider only through a licensing body. |
(3A) The non-cable retransmission right may be exercised against the operator of the retransmission service only through a licensing body. |
(4) Where the owner of the copyright in a work has not transferred his or her cable retransmission right to a licensing body, the licensing body which manages rights of the same category shall be deemed to be permitted to manage his or her right.
(4) Where the owner of the copyright or the owner of a related right in a work has not transferred his or her cable retransmission right or non-cable retransmission right to a licensing body, the licensing body which manages rights of the same category shall be deemed to be permitted to manage his or her right.117 |
(5) Where more than one licensing body manages cable retransmission rights, the owner of the copyright or the owner of a related right117 in a work may choose which of them is deemed to be permitted to manage his or her right. |
(5A) Where the owner of the copyright or the owner of a related right in a work has not transferred his or her non-cable retransmission right to a licensing body and more than one licensing body manages non-cable retransmission rights of that category, the operator of a retransmission service shall make an application to the Controller and the Controller shall determine which licensing body shall have the right to grant or refuse the non-cable retransmission right. |
(5B) An application under subsection (5A) shall be in writing and in such form as may be determined by the Controller from time to time. |
(5C) Where the identity of the owner of the non-cable retransmission right is known, the Controller shall, at least 28 days prior to making a determination under subsection (5E), give notice in writing to him or her of an application under subsection (5A) and the Controller shall invite him or her to make observations in writing, in relation to that application, not later than 14 days after the date of the notice. |
(5D) For the purposes of making a determination under subsection (5E), the Controller may by notice in writing to the applicant or to the owner of the non-cable retransmission right, require him or her to provide to the Controller, not later than 28 days after the date of the notice, such information relating to the proposed non-cable retransmission or to the non-
cable retransmission right as the Controller may reasonably require. |
117 Amended by European Union (Copyright and Related Rights Applicable to Certain Online Transmissions and Retransmissions) Regulations 2022
(5E) The Controller shall, having considered any observations received under subsection (5C) and any information provided under subsection (5D), determine which licensing body has the right to grant or refuse the non-cable retransmission right in the State.118 |
(6) The owner of the copyright in a work to whom subsection (4) or (5) applies has the same rights and obligations resulting from any relevant agreement between the cable programme service provider and the licensing body as copyright owners who have transferred their cable retransmission right to that licensing body.
(6) The owner of the copyright or the owner of a related right in a work to whom subsection (4), (5) or (5A) applies has the same rights and obligations resulting from any relevant agreement between the cable programme service provider or the operator of a retransmission service, as the case may be, and the licensing body, as an owner who has transferred their cable retransmission right or their non-cable retransmission right, as the case may be, to that licensing body. |
(7) Any rights to which the owner of the copyright in a work may be entitled under subsection (6) shall be exercised within the period of 3 years commencing on the date of the cable retransmission concerned.
(7) Any rights to which the owner of the copyright or the owner of a related right in a work may be entitled under subsection (6) shall be exercised within the period of 3 years commencing on the date of the cable retransmission or the non-cable retransmission concerned. |
(8) This section shall not affect any rights exercisable by the maker of a broadcast, whether in relation to the broadcast or a work included therein.
(8) This section shall not apply to any cable retransmission right or non- cable retransmission right exercisable by a broadcasting organisation in respect of its own transmission, including where the rights concerned are owned by the broadcasting organisation or have otherwise been transferred to it by other rightholders. |
(8A) A broadcasting organisation and an operator of a retransmission service shall conduct negotiations for the authorisation of a non-cable retransmission in good faith. |
(8B) Where no agreement is concluded between a broadcasting organisation and an operator of a retransmission service or between a licensing body and an operator of a retransmission service regarding the cable retransmission right or the non-cable retransmission right, as the case may be, the parties may engage in mediation within the meaning of the Mediation Act 2017 and that Act shall apply to any such mediation subject to |
118 Inserted by European Union (Copyright and Related Rights Applicable to Certain Online Transmissions and Retransmissions) Regulations 2022
the modification referred to in subsection (8C) and any other necessary modifications. |
(8C) The modification mentioned in subsection (8B) is the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (4) of section 8 of the Mediation Act 2017: |
‘(4) The mediator may make proposals to the parties to resolve the dispute and any such proposals shall be deemed to have been accepted if the parties do not object to the proposals within 3 months after the date of the proposals.’ |
(9) In this section, “cable retransmission” means the reception and immediate retransmission without alteration by way of a cable programme service of a broadcast or of a cable programme initially transmitted from another Member State of the EEA.
(9) (a) In this section – |
‘cable retransmission’ means the simultaneous, unaltered and unabridged retransmission by way of a cable programme service of an initial transmission from another Member State, by wire or over the air, including that by satellite, of television or radio programmes intended for reception by the public, regardless of how the operator of a cable retransmission service obtains the programme-carrying signals from the broadcasting organisation for the purpose of retransmission; |
‘non-cable retransmission’ means any simultaneous, unaltered and unabridged retransmission, other than cable retransmission, intended for reception by the public, of an initial transmission from another Member State, by wire or over the air, including that by satellite, but not by online transmission, of television or radio programmes intended for reception by the public provided – |
(i) the retransmission is carried out by a party other than the broadcasting organisation which made the initial transmission or under whose control and responsibility that initial transmission was made, regardless of how the party carrying out the retransmission obtains the programme-carrying signals from the broadcasting organisation for the purpose of retransmission, and |
(ii) where the retransmission is over an internet access service (within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2015/2120 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015), it is carried out in an environment in which the operator of the retransmission service provides a secure retransmission to authorised users. |
(b) In this section, a reference to a licensing body shall be construed as including a reference to a collective management organisation.119 |
119 Amended by European Union (Copyright and Related Rights Applicable to Certain Online Transmissions and Retransmissions) Regulations 2022
Chapter 17
Registration of Copyright Licensing Bodies |
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175.—(1) The Controller shall establish and maintain a register of copyright licensing bodies in such form and manner and containing such particulars as the Minister may prescribe to be known as the “Register of Copyright Licensing Bodies” and referred to in this Part as the “Register”. | |
(2) The Controller shall keep the Register in such form so 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— |
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Register of copyright licensing bodies. |
(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 38 or 149, 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 prescribed under paragraph (b) of subsection (5) and supplied by the applicant for registration shall be placed on the Register, and applicants may apply to the Controller to have such information revised from time to time as circumstances may require. | |
(7) The information to be prescribed by the Minister under subsection (5)(b) shall include, as appropriate, 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, as the case may be, of the applicant; |
(e) details of the scheme; |
(f) details of the scales of charges or proposed charges to be levied by the applicant; |
(g) the class of rightsowners represented or proposed to be represented by the applicant; and120 |
(h) in the case of a licensing body within the meaning specified in section 38 , the names of the rightsholder or rightsholders in respect of whom the body concerned claims entitlement to receive payments under that section;121
(i) in the case of a licensing body in relation to which any provisions of the European Union (Collective Rights Management) (Directive 2014/26/EU) Regulations 2016 (referred to in this section as “Regulations of 2016”) apply, a statement of compliance and appropriate supporting evidence.122 |
(7A) In this section and section 179—
“statement of compliance” means a document, in electronic form and signed by a person authorised by the licensing body, stating that the licensing body has complied, is complying and will comply with the requirements imposed on it by the Regulations of 2016 to the extent specified in the document;
“appropriate supporting evidence” means information supporting the statements made in the statement of compliance.
(7B) The conditions referred to in subsection (5)(b) shall include, in the case of a licensing body in relation to which any provisions of the Regulations of 2016 apply—
(a) that the licensing body has provided such further information as the Controller may require (in addition to that contained in the statement of compliance and provided as part of the appropriate supporting evidence) for ascertaining whether the licensing body has complied, is complying and will comply with requirements imposed on it by the Regulations of 2016, and (b) that the statement of compliance of the licensing body, together with the appropriate supporting evidence and any further information provided by the licensing body, satisfies the Controller that the licensing body has |
120 Deleted by the European Union (Collective Rights Management) Regulations 2016
121 Inserted by the European Union (Collective Rights Management) Regulations 2016
complied, is complying and will comply with requirements imposed on it by the Regulations of 2016.123
(8) 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. |
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176.—A certificate granted under section 175 (8) shall include the particulars specified in subsection (7) 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. | |
177.—(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. | |
Proof that licensing body may act on behalf of specified classes. |
178.—(1) A certificate of registration issued under section 175 (8) shall be valid for 12 months from the date of registration or such lesser period as may be specified by the Controller in the certificate. |
Notification of charges. | (2) Subject to section 175 (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. | |
Validity of certificates of registration. |
(4) A term of renewal of a registration shall take effect from the expiration of the previous registration. |
179.—(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 175 (5).
(1A) The power conferred on the Controller by subsection (1) may not be exercised by reason of a failure by a licensing body to provide a statement of compliance or appropriate supporting evidence— |
(a) if—
(i) the licensing body has, before the expiration of the period of validity of the certificate of registration, submitted to the Controller an application for an extension of the time within which the statement of compliance or appropriate supporting evidence is required to be provided and a satisfactory explanation for the application, (ii) the Controller has granted an extension of 28 days from the expiration of that period, and (iii) the failure does not continue beyond the extension, or (b) unless the Controller has, after the time within which the statement of compliance or appropriate supporting evidence is required to be provided, issued a written notice requiring the person to provide a statement of compliance or appropriate supporting evidence within a specified period and the Controller is satisfied that the notice has not been complied with.124 |
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(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. | |
180.—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. | |
Refusal of application. |
181.—(1) Any body operating as a licensing body within the meaning specified in section 38 or 149 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— | |
Indemnity for Controller. | (a) fails within six months of the commencement of this Chapter to register under the terms of this Chapter, |
Obligation of collecting societies to register (copyright). |
(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 |
(c) continues to operate as such a body having been removed from the Register for any reason. | |
shall be guilty of an offence. |
124 Inserted by European Union (Collective Rights Management) Regulations 2016
(3) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) shall be liable— | |
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,500 class C fine125, 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 €130,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both. |