Act Amending the 1912 Copyright Act in Connection
With the Prevention of Piracy of Works Protected by Copyright
(of July 3, 1989)
Section I. The following amendments shall be made to the 1912 Copyright Act*:
A. The letters (a), (b) and (c) in the first paragraph of Section 25, shall be amended to (b), (c) and
(d) respectively. A new part (a) shall be inserted in the first paragraph of Section 25, which shall read as follows:
(a) the right to oppose the publication of the work without stating his name or other designation as creator, unless such opposition would be unreasonable; The second paragraph of Section 25 shall be replaced by the following:
Upon the death of the creator and until the expiry of the copyright, the rights referred to in the
first paragraph shall be vested in the person designated by the creator in his last will and testament or
by codicil.
The third paragraph of Section 25 shall be replaced by the following: The right referred to under (a) in the first paragraph may be waived. The rights referred to under (b) and (c) may be waived insofar as changes to the work or its title are concerned.
B. A new Section 27a shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 27a. In addition to suing for damages, the creator or the person in whom his rights are vested may apply to the courts for a ruling ordering the person who has infringed the copyright to surrender the profit deriving from the infringement and to render accounts therefor.
The creator or the person in whom his rights are vested may also make one or both of the applications referred to in the first paragraph partly or wholly on behalf of a license holder without
prejudice to the latter’s right to join proceedings instituted independently or partly or wholly on his behalf by the creator or the person en whom his rights are vested in order to obtain direct compensation for losses he has suffered or to obtain a proportionate share of the profits surrendered by the defendant. Either or both of the applications referred to in the first paragraph may only be made by a license holder if he has secured the power to do so from the creator or the person in whom the creator’s rights are vested.
C. The first paragraph of Section 28 shall be replaced by the following: Copyright confers the right to seize objects which have been published in breach of copyright and unauthorized reproductions thereof in the manner prescribed by and taking into consideration the provisions governing the attachment of movable property and either institute a claim for these as one’s own property or apply for their destruction or that they be rendered useless. A similar power to seize or institute proceedings for recovery shall apply to admission fees paid by persons attending a lecture, performance, showing or exhibition at which a breach of copyright has taken place, as well as to other monies which it is reasonable to assume have been obtained through or as a result of a breach of copyright. The power of seizure referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph, and the right to apply for the destruction or rendering useless of objects shall also apply to objects which have been used to effect a breach of copyright. Unless otherwise agreed, the license holder shall have the right to
exercise the powers referred to in this subsection, insofar as the purpose is to protect rights which he is entitled to exercise.
D. A new Section 30b shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 30b. At the request of one or more commercial or professional bodies which, in the
opinion of Our Minister of Justice and Our Minister for Economic Affairs, can be deemed adequately to represent the interests of their members, which are legal persons with full legal capacity and whose
* For the basic law, see Copyright, 1973, pp. 181 et seq.
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objective is to further the interests of persons who import literary, scientific or artistic works into the Netherlands, and publish or reproduce such works on a commercial or professional basis, the aforementioned Ministers may together decide that the professional or commercial bodies designated by them shall be obliged to keep their records in a manner to be indicated by them.
Any person who fails to fulfill the obligation referred to above shall be liable to a second category fine. The offense shall be a summary offense.
E. A new Section 31a shall be inserted, which shall read as follows:
Section 31a. Any person who intentionally:
- (a)
- offers for public distribution,
- (b)
- has in his possession for the purpose of reproduction or distribution,
- (c)
- has in his possession for the purpose of import into the Netherlands or
- (d)
- keeps in order to make a profit
an object containing a work the copyright on which has been infringed, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fourth category fine.
F. A new Section 31b shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 31b. Any person who commits the summary offenses referred to in Sections 31 and 31a
on a professional or commercial basis shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding four years or a fifth category fine.
G. Section 32 shall be replaced by the following:
Section 32. Any person who intentionally:
- (a)
- offers for public distribution,
- (b)
- has in his possession for the purpose of reproduction or distribution,
- (c)
- has in his possession for the purpose of import into the Netherlands, or
- (d)
- keeps in order to make a profit
an object which he may reasonably suspect contains a work the copyright on which has been infringed, shall be liable to a third category fine.
H. Section 33 shall be replaced by the following: Section 33. The offenses described in Sections 31, 31a, 31b and 32 shall be indictable offenses.
I. A new Section 36a shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 36a. Officials investigating the offenses referred to in this Act shall be entitled at all times to see all documents or other data carriers in the possession of persons who on a professional or commercial basis import into the Netherlands, publish or reproduce literary, scientific or artistic
works, where inspection of such documents or data carriers may reasonably be deemed to be necessary for the performance of their duties.
J. In Sections 34, 35, 35a and 35b the words “shall be deemed to be” shall be replaced by “is.”
K. Section 45e shall be replaced by the following:
Section 45e. In addition to enjoying the rights referred to in the first paragraph of Section 25 under (b), (c) and (d), the creator of film shall be entitled to: - (a)
- have his name appear at the customary place on the work in question, together with his capacity or the nature of his contribution to the film;
- (b)
- require that the section of the film referred to under (a) is shown;
- (c)
- refuse to allow his name to appear in the film, unless such a refusal would be unreasonable.
L. In Section 45f the phrase “the first paragraph under (b)” shall be replaced by “the first paragraph under (c).”
Section II. This Act shall enter into force on a date to be determined by Royal Decree.
Entry into force: See Section II.
Source: Staatsblad, No. 282 of July 13, 1989. English text provided by the Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands.
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(of July 3, 1989)
Section I. The following amendments shall be made to the 1912 Copyright Act*:
A. The letters (a), (b) and (c) in the first paragraph of Section 25, shall be amended to (b), (c) and
(d) respectively. A new part (a) shall be inserted in the first paragraph of Section 25, which shall read as follows:
(a) the right to oppose the publication of the work without stating his name or other designation as creator, unless such opposition would be unreasonable; The second paragraph of Section 25 shall be replaced by the following:
Upon the death of the creator and until the expiry of the copyright, the rights referred to in the
first paragraph shall be vested in the person designated by the creator in his last will and testament or
by codicil.
The third paragraph of Section 25 shall be replaced by the following: The right referred to under (a) in the first paragraph may be waived. The rights referred to under (b) and (c) may be waived insofar as changes to the work or its title are concerned.
B. A new Section 27a shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 27a. In addition to suing for damages, the creator or the person in whom his rights are vested may apply to the courts for a ruling ordering the person who has infringed the copyright to surrender the profit deriving from the infringement and to render accounts therefor.
The creator or the person in whom his rights are vested may also make one or both of the applications referred to in the first paragraph partly or wholly on behalf of a license holder without
prejudice to the latter’s right to join proceedings instituted independently or partly or wholly on his behalf by the creator or the person en whom his rights are vested in order to obtain direct compensation for losses he has suffered or to obtain a proportionate share of the profits surrendered by the defendant. Either or both of the applications referred to in the first paragraph may only be made by a license holder if he has secured the power to do so from the creator or the person in whom the creator’s rights are vested.
C. The first paragraph of Section 28 shall be replaced by the following: Copyright confers the right to seize objects which have been published in breach of copyright and unauthorized reproductions thereof in the manner prescribed by and taking into consideration the provisions governing the attachment of movable property and either institute a claim for these as one’s own property or apply for their destruction or that they be rendered useless. A similar power to seize or institute proceedings for recovery shall apply to admission fees paid by persons attending a lecture, performance, showing or exhibition at which a breach of copyright has taken place, as well as to other monies which it is reasonable to assume have been obtained through or as a result of a breach of copyright. The power of seizure referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph, and the right to apply for the destruction or rendering useless of objects shall also apply to objects which have been used to effect a breach of copyright. Unless otherwise agreed, the license holder shall have the right to
exercise the powers referred to in this subsection, insofar as the purpose is to protect rights which he is entitled to exercise.
D. A new Section 30b shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 30b. At the request of one or more commercial or professional bodies which, in the
opinion of Our Minister of Justice and Our Minister for Economic Affairs, can be deemed adequately to represent the interests of their members, which are legal persons with full legal capacity and whose
* For the basic law, see Copyright, 1973, pp. 181 et seq.
NL003EN Copyright (Prevention of Piracy), Act (Amendment), 03/07/1989 page 1/2
objective is to further the interests of persons who import literary, scientific or artistic works into the Netherlands, and publish or reproduce such works on a commercial or professional basis, the aforementioned Ministers may together decide that the professional or commercial bodies designated by them shall be obliged to keep their records in a manner to be indicated by them.
Any person who fails to fulfill the obligation referred to above shall be liable to a second category fine. The offense shall be a summary offense.
E. A new Section 31a shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: an object containing a work the copyright on which has been infringed, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fourth category fine.
F. A new Section 31b shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 31b. Any person who commits the summary offenses referred to in Sections 31 and 31a
on a professional or commercial basis shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding four years or a fifth category fine.
G. Section 32 shall be replaced by the following: an object which he may reasonably suspect contains a work the copyright on which has been infringed, shall be liable to a third category fine.
H. Section 33 shall be replaced by the following: Section 33. The offenses described in Sections 31, 31a, 31b and 32 shall be indictable offenses.
I. A new Section 36a shall be inserted, which shall read as follows: Section 36a. Officials investigating the offenses referred to in this Act shall be entitled at all times to see all documents or other data carriers in the possession of persons who on a professional or commercial basis import into the Netherlands, publish or reproduce literary, scientific or artistic
works, where inspection of such documents or data carriers may reasonably be deemed to be necessary for the performance of their duties.
J. In Sections 34, 35, 35a and 35b the words “shall be deemed to be” shall be replaced by “is.”
K. Section 45e shall be replaced by the following:
Section 45e. In addition to enjoying the rights referred to in the first paragraph of Section 25 under (b), (c) and (d), the creator of film shall be entitled to: L. In Section 45f the phrase “the first paragraph under (b)” shall be replaced by “the first paragraph under (c).”
Section II. This Act shall enter into force on a date to be determined by Royal Decree.
Entry into force: See Section II.
Source: Staatsblad, No. 282 of July 13, 1989. English text provided by the Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands.
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Section 31a. Any person who intentionally:
Section 32. Any person who intentionally:
Loi portant modification de la loi de 1912 sur le droit d’auteur en ce qui concerne la prévention de la piraterie
des oeuvres protégées par le droit d’auteur*
(du 3 juillet 1989)
Article premier. — Les modifications suivantes sont apportées à la loi de 1912 sur le droit d’auteur** :
A. Au premier alinéa de l’article 25, les lettres a), b) et c) deviennent respectivement b), c) et d). Un nouveau sous-alinéa a), ayant la teneur suivante, est inséré au premier alinéa de l’article 25 :
a) le droit de s’opposer à ce que l’oeuvre soit publiée sans l’indication de son nom ou de sa dénomination en tant qu’auteur, à moins que cette opposition soit injustifiée ;
Le deuxième alinéa de l’article 25 est remplacé par le suivant : A la mort de l’auteur et jusqu’à l’extinction du droit d’auteur, les droits mentionnés au premier
alinéa reviennent à la personne que l’auteur a désignée dans son dernier testament ou par codicille. Le troisième alinéa de l’article 25 est remplacé par le suivant :
Le droit mentionné sous la lettre a) du premier alinéa peut faire l’objet d’une renonciation. Les droits mentionnés sous les lettres b) et c) du même alinéa ne peuvent faire l’objet d’une renonciation que pour ce qui touche aux modifications de l’oeuvre ou de son titre. B. Un article 27a, ayant la teneur suivante, est inséré :
Art. 27a. — L’auteur ou son ayant cause peut demander en justice, outre le versement de dommages-intérêts, la délivrance d’une ordonnance enjoignant à la personne qui a porté atteinte au droit d’auteur de restituer les bénéfices que cette atteinte lui a permis de réaliser et de rendre des comptes à cet effet.
L’auteur ou son ayant cause peut aussi présenter, partiellement ou exclusivement au nom d’un titulaire de licence et sans préjudice du droit qu’a ce dernier d’intervenir dans une action intentée indépendamment ou partiellement ou exclusivement en son nom par l’auteur ou l’ayant cause de celui-ci, l’une des requêtes visées au premier alinéa, ou les deux à la fois, afin d’obtenir un dédommagement direct pour les pertes que le titulaire de licence a subies ou d’obtenir pour celui-ci une part proportionnelle des bénéfices restitués par le défendeur. Le titulaire de licence ne peut présenter de requête en vertu du premier alinéa que s’il a été habilité à le faire par l’auteur ou son ayant cause. C. Le premier alinéa de l’article 28 est remplacé par le suivant :
Le droit d’auteur confère le pouvoir de faire saisir, conformément aux dispositions régissant la saisie-revendication de biens meubles, des objets qui ont été publiés en violation de ce droit d’auteur ainsi que des reproductions non autorisées desdits objets et, soit d’en revendiquer la propriété personnelle auprès des tribunaux, soit d’en demander la destruction ou la mise hors d’usage. Un pouvoir semblable de saisie ou d’action en restitution s’applique aux droits d’entrée payés par des personnes pour assister à une conférence, représentation, exécution, présentation ou exposition qui a eu lieu en violation du droit d’auteur, ainsi qu’aux autres sommes qui peuvent légitimement être présumées avoir été obtenues au moyen ou à la suite d’une violation du droit d’auteur. Le pouvoir de saisie visé dans la première phrase du présent alinéa, ainsi que le droit de demander la destruction d’objets ou leur mise hors d’usage, s’appliquent aussi aux objets qui ont été utilisés pour commettre une violation du droit d’auteur. Sauf convention contraire, le titulaire d’une licence a le droit
* Entrée en vigueur : Voir l’article II de la présente loi. Source : Staatsblad, n° 282 du 13 juillet 1989.— Traduction française de l’OMPI à partir de la traduction anglaise communiquée par le Ministère de la justice des Pays-Bas.
** Pour la loi de base, voir Le Droit d’auteur, 1973, pp. 189 et suiv.
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d’exercer les pouvoirs visés dans le présent alinéa, pour autant que le but soit de protéger des droits qu’il est habilité à exercer. D. Un article 30b, ayant la teneur suivante, est inséré :
Art. 30b. — Sur requête d’un ou de plusieurs organismes commerciaux ou professionnels qui, de l’avis du ministre de la justice et du ministre de l’économie, peuvent être considérés comme représentant adéquatement les intérêts de leurs membres, qui sont des personnes morales jouissant de la pleine capacité juridique et dont l’objectif est de servir les intérêts de personnes qui, à titre commercial ou professionnel, importent des oeuvres littéraires, scientifiques ou artistiques aux Pays-Bas et publient ou reproduisent de telles oeuvres, les ministres susmentionnés peuvent décider conjointement que les organismes professionnels ou commerciaux qu’ils désignent devront tenir leurs registres de la manière qu’ils indiqueront.
Tout organisme ainsi désigné qui n’exécute pas l’obligation susmentionnée est passible d’une amende de deuxième catégorie. Cette infraction constitue une contravention. E. Un article 31a, ayant la teneur suivante, est inséré :
Art. 31a. — Quiconque, intentionnellement, a) offre au public aux fins de diffusion, b) a en sa possession aux fins de reproduction ou de diffusion, c) a en sa possession aux fins d’importation aux Pays-Bas, ou d) conserve afin de réaliser un bénéfice
un objet contenant une oeuvre protégée par un droit d’auteur auquel il a été porté atteinte est passible d’une peine d’emprisonnement de six mois au maximum ou d’une amende de quatrième catégorie. F. Un article 31b, ayant la teneur suivante, est inséré :
Art. 31b. — Quiconque commet, dans le cadre de sa profession ou du commerce, l’une des infractions prévues aux articles 31 et 31a est passible d’une peine d’emprisonnement de quatre ans au maximum ou d’une amende de cinquième catégorie. G. L’article 32 est remplacé par le suivant :
Art. 32. — Quiconque, intentionnellement, a) offre au public aux fins de diffusion, b) a en sa possession aux fins de reproduction ou de diffusion, c) a en sa possession aux fins d’importation aux Pays-Bas, ou d) conserve afin de réaliser un bénéfice
un objet qu’il peut légitimement supposer contenir une oeuvre protégée par un droit d’auteur auquel il a été porté atteinte est passible d’une amende de troisième catégorie. H. L’article 33 est remplacé par le suivant :
Art. 33. — Les infractions prévues aux articles 31, 31a, 31b et 32 constituent des délits. I. Un article 36a, ayant la teneur suivante, est inséré :
Art. 36a. — Les fonctionnaires chargés d’enquêter sur les infractions visées dans la présente loi ont le droit, à tout moment, de consulter tous documents ou autres supports de données dont sont en possession des personnes qui, à titre professionnel ou commercial, importent aux Pays-Bas des oeuvres littéraires, scientifiques ou artistiques ou publient ou reproduisent de telles oeuvres, s’il y a des raisons valables de considérer que la consultation de ces documents ou supports de données est nécessaire à l’exercice de leurs fonctions. J. Aux articles 34, 35, 35a et 35b, l’expression “est considéré comme” est remplacée par
“constitue”. K. L’article 45e est remplacé par le suivant :
Art. 45e. — Le créateur d’un film jouit des droits ci-après, en sus de ceux qui sont visés au premier alinéa de l’article 25, sous les lettres b), c) et d) :
a) le droit d’exiger que son nom figure à l’endroit habituel sur l’oeuvre en question, avec l’indication de sa qualité ou de la nature de sa contribution au film ;
b) le droit d’exiger que la partie du film visée sous la lettre a) soit projetée à l’écran ;
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c) le droit de refuser la mention de son nom dans le film, à moins qu’un tel refus soit injustifié.
L. A l’article 45f, les mots “premier alinéa, sous b)” sont remplacés par “premier alinéa, sous c)”.
Art. II. — La présente loi entrera en vigueur à une date fixée par décret royal.
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