News & Events

Statement from Minister Sherlock on Copyright Statutory Instrument

17th April 2012

Following uncertainty that has arisen from a recent public debate, The Minister for Research and Innovation, Mr. Sean Sherlock T.D., wishes to make it known that the draft Statutory Instrument (SI) on the European Union (Copyright and Related Rights) Regulations 2012 as proposed by the Technical Group was, in fact, forwarded to the Attorney General's Office on 2nd February, 2012 for consideration.

The Minister wishes to point out that all the provisions in the Technical Group's draft SI (other than the duration clause) are available subject to judicial process under current law, which also encompasses the protections of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The Minister wishes to refer interested parties to the current independent Copyright Review process. Chapter 6 of the Copyright Review Committee’s Consultation Paper, which was published on 29th February, 2012, is concerned with intermediaries and it is stated that “one of the main questions for the present Review is whether the copyright balance between rights-holders and intermediaries now requires further amendment, in particular to incentivise innovation.”

The Minister wishes to encourage all interested parties who may have concerns in this regard to fully engage with this review process.

ENDS