Royalty Payments to Authors of Books Lent by Public Libraries

Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern, TD, today announced (Monday 16^th April, 2007) the publication of the Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007, which will regularise the position in Ireland on lending through the public library system in line with an EU directive on Rental and Lending (92/100/EEC). Minister Ahern said he would introduce the Bill in the Oireachtas as soon as possible.

Minister Ahern said: “Under the proposed Bill, authors will be conferred with an exclusive right to allow the lending of their works in public libraries. Equally, the legislation foresees the establishment, under Regulations to be brought forward by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, of a Public Lending Remuneration scheme under which authors would receive a royalty payment for the lending of their works. The scheme will be publicly funded and will not involve direct cost to borrowers at the point of lending.”

ENDS/TC278