Legislation relating to Copyright and Related Rights.
Unofficial consolidated Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (as amended)
This is an unofficial consolidation of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 and amendments up to and including 30 September 2024 and is produced here as a reference document only.
Unofficial consolidated Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (as amended)
Copyright and related rights primary legislation effective in Ireland
Primary legislation:
Copyright and related rights secondary legislation
Secondary legislation on copyright in Ireland consists of statutory instruments (SIs) that fall into one of the following categories:
- Copyright Rules and subsequent amendments
- Regulations implementing EU Copyright and Related Rights legislation into Irish law
- Regulations made under the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (as amended)
- Commencements Orders
SIs, Rules, Fees and Commencement Orders made under the primary legislation are available to view under the Principal Act on the Irish Statute Book: Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000
Regulations implementing EU copyright and related rights legislation into Irish law
International Agreements or Treaties effective in Ireland
Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances
The Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances is a multilateral treaty which regulates copyright for audiovisual performances and expands the performers' rights. It was adopted on 26 June 2012 by the Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances of the World Intellectual Property Organization. It grants performers four kinds of economic rights for their performances fixed in audiovisual fixations, such as motion pictures: (i) the right of reproduction; (ii) the right of distribution; (iii) the right of rental; and (iv) the right of making available.
Ireland signed the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances on 19 June 2013.
Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works
The Berne Convention, adopted in 1886, deals with the protection of works and the rights of their authors. It provides creators such as authors, musicians, poets, painters etc. with the means to control how their works are used, by whom, and on what terms. It is based on three basic principles and contains a series of provisions determining the minimum protection to be granted, as well as special provisions available to developing countries that want to make use of them.
Notification of Ireland’s accession to the Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works
More on the Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works
Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled
The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on 27 June 2013 in Marrakesh and it forms part of the body of international copyright treaties administered by WIPO. It has a clear humanitarian and social development dimension and its main goal is to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired, and otherwise print disabled (VIPs).
More on the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled
Rome Convention for the protection of performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organizations
The Rome Convention secures protection in performances for performers, in phonograms for producers of phonograms and in broadcasts for broadcasting organizations. WIPO is responsible for the administration of the convention jointly with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Ireland became a contracting party to the Rome Convention on 19 September 1979.
More on the Rome Convention for the protection of performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organizations
WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)
The WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) is a special agreement under the Berne Convention which deals with the protection of works and the rights of their authors in the digital environment. In addition to the rights recognized by the Berne Convention, they are granted certain economic rights. The Treaty also deals with two subject matters to be protected by copyright: (i) computer programs, whatever the mode or form of their expression; and (ii) compilations of data or other material ("databases").
Ireland signed the WIPO Copyright Treaty on 19 December 1997.
More on the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT)
The WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) deals with the rights of two kinds of beneficiaries, particularly in the digital environment: (i) performers (actors, singers, musicians, and so on); and (ii) producers of phonograms (persons or legal entities that take the initiative and have the responsibility for the fixation of sounds).
Ireland signed the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty on 19 December 1997.
More on the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT)