RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/Q/ISL/1
21November 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4939)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFLEGISLATION ONCOPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS
Iceland1
Thepresent document reproduces theintroductory statement made bythedelegation ofIceland
inthereview oflegislation oncopyright andrelated rights attheCouncil 'smeeting of
22to25July19962,thequestions puttoitandtheresponses given.
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I. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
TheIcelandic Copyright Actwaspassed in1972, taking intoaccount theprevailing copyright
legislation ofourEuropean neighbours, notably theNordic countries. TheCommittee entrusted with
drafting theActalsotookasitspoint ofdeparture theprovisions oftheBerne Convention of1971,
theUniversal Copyright Convention of1952 andtheRome Convention of1961, towhich Iceland is
party. Asregards theBerne Convention, Ishould inform thatIceland hasofyetnotratified Articles 1-21
oftheParis textof1971.
TheCopyright Acthasbeenamended fourtimes, mainly in1984when alevywasintroduced
onblankaudioandvideotapesandmeasuresregardingcopyrightinfringements,sanctionsandprocedures
wereimproved. Thelatest relevant amendment dates backto1992, introducing improved protection
forvisual artists, rightholders ofcomputer programmes andperformers.
Onthestructure oftheAct,Members willseethatitisdivided intoeightsections. Section I
relates toauthor 'srights, Section IIlimitations ofcopyright, Section IIIthetransfer ofcopyright,
Section IVtheduration ofcopyright, Section Vvarious rights related tocopyright, Section VI
miscellaneousprovisions,SectionVIIpenalties,damages,claimproceduresandsoforth,andSectionVIII
defines thescope oftheAct.
Wehavereviewed theCopyright Actasamended carefully inlightofourWTO obligations
andareoftheviewthatitcomplies insubstance withthetextoftheTRIPS Agreement.
1Iceland 'snotification oflawsandregulations intheareaofcopyright andrelated rights under Article 63.2
oftheAgreement hasbeen circulated indocuments IP/N/1/ISL/1 andIP/N/1/ISL/C/1.
2Theminutes ofthemeeting have been circulated indocument IP/C/M/8.IP/Q/ISL/1
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II. REPLIES TOQUESTIONS POSED BYTHE UNITED STATES
1. Please explain whether andhowIceland 'slawprovides protection forworks, phonograms and
performances fromother WTO Members, andwhether andhowitdoessoonthebasis ofnational
treatment, asrequired byTRIPS Article 3(generally, withrespect toallcopyrights andneighbouring
rights) andArticle 9.1(incorporating Berne Article 5(1)). Inparticular please indicate hownational
treatment isafforded withrespect tothedistribution oflevies forprivate copying under Article 11of
theCopyright Act.
Asregards theprotection ofworks theprinciple ofnational treatment applies. Asregards the
protection afforded bytheTRIPS Agreement toperforming artists andproducers ofphonograms the
principle ofnational treatment isapplied.
Unequivocal national treatment isaccorded toallWTO Members asfarascopyright and
neighbouring rights provided forinTRIPS Agreement areconcerned.
There isnocompensation forprivate copying according toArticle 11,paragraphs 1and2of
theIcelandic Copyright Act. Noonecanmake aclaim toreceive remuneration, asnorights are
involved.
Article 11,paragraphs 3and4oftheCopyright Actprovides forasuigeneris obligation for
themanufacturers andimporters ofblank recording material topayalevy, theamount ofwhich is
fixed intheCopyright Act. Thelevyiscollected byajointcollection centre andisdistributed to
member societies which areresponsible tothebeneficiaries.
Thecompensationisnotaffordedonthebasisofnationaltreatment.Article61.BoftheIcelandic
Copyright Actstipulates thatcompensation isafforded tobeneficiaries inother countries, provided
thatinthecountry inquestion aremuneration scheme hasbeenimplemented forblank tapes which
provides apossibility forpayment ofremuneration toIcelandic beneficiaries.
2. DoesIceland apply the"rule oftheshorter term" tophonograms andperformances fromother
WTO Members? Ifso,please explain howyoujustify suchaction under TRIPS Article 4.
Iceland doesnotapply any"rule oftheshorter term" tophonograms andperformances from
other WTO Members concerning rights granted intheTRIPS Agreement.
3. Please explain whether andhowIceland protects against bothdirect andindirect reproduction
ofphonograms asrequired byTRIPS Article 14.2, including bydigital transmission inthecontext of
subscription orinteractive services.
According toArticles 45and46oftheIcelandic Copyright Actaphonogram maynotbecopied
untilfiftyyears haveelapsed fromtheyearduring which therecording tookplace. Thisright-inthe
same wayastherightofreproduction ofauthors -hasalways beeninterpreted ascovering bothdirect
andindirect reproduction.
Thegeneral ruleisconsidered toapply toreproduction bydigital transmission.
According toArticle 61theprotection concerning recording andcopying applies toallsound
recording regardless oforigin.IP/Q/ISL/1
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4. PleaseexplainwhetherandhowIcelandprovidesfullretroactiveprotectiontoworks,phonograms
andperformances fromother WTO Members, asrequired byTRIPS Articles 9.1,14.6and70.2, each
ofwhich incorporate byreference orrelyupon Berne Article 18.Please givethedatebacktowhich
suchprotection extends withrespect toeachcategory ofsubject-matter.
Asregards works theprotection through TRIPS Article 9.1isguaranteed bytheIcelandic
Copyright Actof1972asamended in1984and1992. Asfarasperformers andproducers ofphonograms
areconcerned theobligations ofArticle 14.6, second sentence, wereexplicitly metinthecontext of
theenactment oftheCopyright Act.According toArticle 63,theIcelandic Copyright Actapplies also
toworks andperformances andphonograms etc.,made before thecoming intoforce ofthepresent
Actin1972.
Thetermofprotection forworks is50years aftertheyearoftheauthor 'sdeath cf.Article 43
oftheCopyright Act.
Thetermofprotection forperformances andrecordings is50years aftertheyeartherecording
wasmade, cf.Articles 45and46.Theprotection ofrecordings made in1946willconsequently expire
bytheendoftheyear1996.
5. Please explain theinterpretation andapplication ofthe"private use"exception inArticle 11
oftheCopyright Act.Inparticular, please explain howthisArticle, which appears toallow threecopies
ofaworktobemade forbusiness purposes, complies withBerne Article 9(2),asincorporated byTRIPS
Article 9.1,andTRIPS Article 13,which require limitations andexceptions toexclusive rights tobe
limited tocertain special cases which donotconflict withanormal exploitation ofthework anddo
notunreasonably prejudice thelegitimate interests oftherightholder.
TheprovisionsofArticle11areinfullconformitywithBerneArticle9(2)andTRIPSArticle13.
Themeaning of"private use"inArticle 11issubject tonarrow interpretation andislimited onlyto
natural persons allowing themonlytohavetheadvantage ofmaking copies forstrictprivate use.Firms,
companies, associations andother legalentities assuchareexcluded fromthose whomaybenefit from
thisprovision.
6. Please describe whether andhowtheregulations governing photocopying ofworks bylibraries,
archives andscientific andresearch institutions under Article 12oftheCopyright Actareapplied to
ensure thatthisexception complies withBerne Article 9(2), asincorporated intoTRIPS through
Article 9.1,andTRIPS Article 13,which require limitations andexceptions toexclusive rights tobe
limited tocertain special cases which donotconflict withanormal exploitation ofthework anddo
notunreasonably prejudice thelegitimate interests oftherightholder.
Noregulation based onArticle 12hasbeenissued andtherefore noexception fromexclusive
right oftheauthors canbebased onthisArticle. Itshould however benoted thatonlyanarrow
interpretation ofArticle 12would beallowed andwould beconfined onlytophotocopying forinternal
purposes inlibraries andnotforanypublic dissemination.
7. Please explain howthephrases "some other recognized purpose" and"forgeneral information"
inArticle 14oftheCopyright Acthavebeenapplied andinterpreted, andhowthisArticle complies
withBerne Article 10,asincorporated intoTRIPS through Article 9.1,which requires thatquotations
becompatible withfairpractice.
Again theprovisions inArticle 14issubject tonarrow interpretation. "Arecognizable purpose"
shallbeunderstood intherelation tothereason forthequotation inquestion andwhether itcanbe
regarded asfairpractice. Thiscanforexample beinterpreted inthelightoftheauthors moral rightsIP/Q/ISL/1
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according toArticle 4.2oftheCopyright Actifquotation isnotdoneinthecontext ofacritical or
scientific public discussion.
Themeaning of"forgeneral information" inArticle 14.2intheCopyright Actisapplicable
when awork ofartispublished inrelation toatextconcerning ageneral promotion ofthearts. In
suchcases theauthor hasarighttoremuneration fortheuseofhisworks. Thisisaspecial provision
forvisual artists.
8. Please explain howArticle 15oftheCopyright Act,which allows thereproduction ofpictures
ordrawingsofart,isconsistentwithBerneArticle10bis,asincorporatedintoTRIPSthroughArticle9.1,
which permits suchreproduction only"totheextent justified bytheinformatory purpose".
AreproductionofpicturesordrawingsofartonthebasisofArticle15oftheIcelandicCopyright
Actisonlyallowed asaninseparable partofareproduction ofother copyrightable subject matter for
authorized usage under Article 10oftheBerne Convention, i.e.inrelation toinformation ofnewsworthy
events.
9. Please explain howtheoperation ofArticle 17oftheCopyright Act,which permits the
reproduction incomposite works foruseindivine services, forclassroom instruction orforeducational
broadcasting, complies withBerne Article 9(2),asincorporated intoTRIPS through Article 9.1,and
TRIPS Article 13,which require limitations andexceptions toexclusive rights tobelimited tocertain
special cases which donotconflict withanormal exploitation ofthework anddonotunreasonable
prejudice thelegitimate interests oftherightholder.
Article 17oftheIcelandic Copyright Actisconsistent withArticle 9,paragraph 2oftheBerne
Convention andisstrictly limited forthepurpose ofteaching andunder suchconditions asnottoconflict
withnormal exploitation ofaworkorunreasonably prejudice thelegitimate interests oftherightholder,
i.e.theexception covers onlyworks thathavebeenpublished forteaching purposes, fiveyears must
haveelapsed frompublication andonlyworks byadiversity ofauthors canbesubjected tosuchuse.
10. Please describe whether andhowtherules governing themaking ofsound recordings by
educational authorities under Article 18oftheCopyright Actareapplied toensure thatthisexception
complies withTRIPS Article 13,which require limitations andexceptions toexclusive rights tobelimited
tocertain special cases which donotconflict withanormal exploitation ofthework anddonot
unreasonably prejudice thelegitimate interests oftherightholder.
Theprovisions ofArticle 18oftheIcelandic Copyright Actdonotgrant arighttomake direct
copies ofphonograms intended forcommercial exploitation butarestrictly limited toephemeral
recordings ofother publicly presented works strictly foreducational purposes inaclassroom.
11. Please explain whether andhow, under Icelandic law,computer programmes areprotected
asliterary works andwhether andhowcompilations ofdataorother material areprotected asrequired
byTRIPS Article 10.
Article 1.4oftheIcelandic Copyright Actstipulates thatcomputer programmes areprotected
asliterary works, andunder Article 24.2asamended in1992therightholders ofcomputer programmes
aregranted therental rights oftheirwork.
Compilations ofdatawhich constitute intellectual creations areprotected either asliterary works
under Article 1orasacomposite work under Article 6oftheIcelandic Copyright Act.IP/Q/ISL/1
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Asuigeneris rightisafforded inArticle 50oftheCopyright Actforcatalogues, tables and
other similar productions inwhich alarge number ofinformation items havebeencompiled. This
suigeneris rightisforthebenefit ofthose whohavecontributed tothecompilation ofthedata.Those
maynotbereproduced without theauthorization oftheproducer until10years haveelapsed fromthe
yearinwhich theproduction wasmade public.
12. Please explain whether andhowIcelandic lawprovides arental rightforsound recordings,
cinematographic works andcomputer programmes, asrequired byTRIPS Articles 11and14.4.
Article 24oftheIcelandic Copyright Actstipulates thatrightholders ofcinematographic works
andcomputer programmes aregranted therighttocontrol therental oftheirwork.
13. Please explain whether andhowArticles 45and46oftheCopyright Acthavebeenamended
toprovide terms ofprotection consistent withTRIPS Article 14andifnot,when suchamendments will
bemade.
Article 45oftheIcelandic Copyright Actstipulates thatthetermofprotection asregards
performances is50years from theexpiry oftheyearinwhich therecording tookplace. A50-year
termofprotection alsoapplies tosound fixations pursuant toArticle 46.Thetermofprotection was
extended from 25years to50years in1992. (ActNo.57of1992).
14. Please explain howtheoperation ofArticle 21oftheCopyright Act,which contains exceptions
forpublic performance ofworks foreducational, charitable, non-profit andreligious purposes, complies
withBerne Articles 11and11ter, asincorporated intoTRIPS through Article 9.1andTRIPS Article 13,
which requires limitations andexceptions toexclusive rights tobelimited tocertain special cases which
donotconflict withanormal exploitation oftheworkanddonotunreasonably prejudice thelegitimate
interests oftherightholder. Inaddition, please explain howtherules oftheMinister governing use
forreligious purposes under Article 21.4limitthescope ofthatexception.
Articles 11and11teroftheBerne Convention apply todramatic, dramatico-musical andmusical
works only. Asstipulated inArticle 21oftheIcelandic Copyright Actitonlyapplies topublished
literary ormusical works thatarenotdramatic works. TheBerne Convention doesnotcontain any
articles thatrelated tothesubject ofArticle 21oftheCopyright Act,butinanexplanatory memorandum
totheBrussels textin1948 itisobserved thatrules suchasArticle 21oftheCopyright Actare
permissible. Itshould beemphasized thatexemptions according tothisArticle apply onlyifnopayment
ismade totheperformers, which isinfactexceptional.
Iceland hasbeenamember oftheBerne Convention since1947andWIPO hasnever forwarded
anycomplaints regarding thisarticle oranyother intheIcelandic Copyright legislation.
15. Please explain howtheprovisions ofArticle 23oftheCopyright Act,which restrict therights
ofauthors notrepresented byaprofessional society ororganization, comply withBerne Article 9(2)
andTRIPS Article 13,which require thatlimitations andexceptions toexclusive rights beconfined
tocertain special cases which donotconflict withanormal exploitation ofthework anddonot
unreasonably prejudice thelegitimate interests oftherightholder.
Theclauses mentioned inthequestion donotgrantcompulsory licences butextensions ofagreed
collective licences formass useswhich areimpossible tobelicensed byindividual agreement.
Thecondition fortheapplication ofthisarticle iswithout exception anagreement between
anorganization representing byamandate alargenumber ofrightholders, andtheuser.TheorganizationIP/Q/ISL/1
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hastofulfil certain requirements andonthatbasis berecognized bytheMinistry ofCulture and
Education inIceland.
Theterms agreed uponbytheorganization apply totheuseofworks ofrightholders notdirectly
represented bytheorganization. Theorganization hastogivethoserightholders whoarenotrepresented
thesame treatment which theorganization accords tothose whohavegiven them mandates. Itshould
however benoted thatarightholder outside theorganization hasalways aright toclaim individual
remuneration evenincases when theorganization doesnotaccord suchposition totherightholder on
behalf ofwhom itacted onthebasis ofmandates ortransfers ofrights. These rightholders canalso
prohibit theirperformance forbroadcasting purposes byawritten interdict.
16. Please explain thecriminal andcivilremedies available forcopyright infringement andthe
extent towhich theyfullyimplement theobligations inTRIPS Articles 41,45,50and61.Intheresponse,
please specify, interalia,whether these remedies mayinclude theseizure, forfeiture anddestruction
ofinfringing articles andequipment used tomake theinfringing articles, asrequired by
Articles46and61,andthemannerinwhichthegrantofcivilprovisionalreliefisprovidedinaccordance
withTRIPS Article 50.
According toArticle 54oftheIcelandic Copyright Actvarious remedies areavailable for
copyright infringements, i.e.fines, detention andimprisonment. According toArticle 55,thecourt
mayorder thatinfringing copies beseized, transferred totheinfringed party, destroyed ormade available
tothepublic against damage andcompensation. Thesame applies correspondingly toequipment used
tomake infringing articles. According toArticle 56thecourt mayorder theinfringer topayreasonable
remuneration, damages, compensation andtort.
Theobligation togiveprovisional relief ismetthrough theprovisions oninjunction. Judicial
authorities havetheauthority toorder search onprivate premises topreserve evidence ortosearch
forobjects, which aresubject toseizure. Measures indicated hereareordered bythecourts oflaw.
Inprinciple suchmeasures shallbeundertaken onlyaftertheadverse partyhasbeengiven anopportunity
torespond totherequest.