30th April 2026
A change in Irish copyright law, made in the Copyright and Related Rights Amendment Act 2026, came into effect in Ireland on 29 April 2026. This changes the rules on how music royalties are shared in Ireland when the producers and performers are based outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The change follows a Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in September 2020 in a case referred by the Irish High Court (RAAP v PPI).
The Rental and Lending Directive, the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) and the Rome Convention require that a single equitable remuneration, payable when music is played in public or broadcast, is shared between producers and performers. Member States cannot reciprocate reservations entered by Contracting States under the WPPT to similarly limit the right to a single equitable remuneration in respect of nationals of those states; this must be done at EU level.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said,
“As we prepare for our upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ireland will work with the European Commission and with Member States in the Council to help to find a solution that balances the various interests and concerns expressed by Member States, to be addressed via a legislative proposal from the European Commission, which we hope can be proposed without undue delay.”
ENDS
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