Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Act 2026

What is this act about?

This law amends the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 to update rules about how performers and owners of sound recordings share money, and to align with international intellectual property agreements.

Who it applies to: Performers; Owners of copyright in sound recordings.

Deadlines:

If no agreement is reached within 6 months (or a shorter agreed period) after notice, either party can apply to the Circuit Court to determine the sharing.
An order made by the Circuit Court regarding sharing can be varied if circumstances change, but generally not within 12 months of the original order without court leave.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Intellectual property
Articles: 5
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The sharing of equitable remuneration between performers and owners of copyright in sound recordings.
The process for resolving disputes about this sharing, including applications to the Circuit Court.
The transfer of existing applications from the Controller to the Circuit Court.
The definition of "qualifying country" for copyright purposes, including international treaties.

Who does this act apply to?

Performers.
Owners of copyright in sound recordings.

What are the key points?

Equitable remuneration, less reasonable collecting costs, shall be shared equally between a performer and an owner of the copyright in a sound recording, unless otherwise agreed.
If an equal sharing is not acceptable, an alternative sharing can be agreed upon.
If no agreement is reached within 6 months (or a shorter agreed period) after notice, either party can apply to the Circuit Court to determine the sharing.
An order made by the Circuit Court regarding sharing can be varied if circumstances change, but generally not within 12 months of the original order without court leave.

Intellectual property

Referendum (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1992

Markets in Financial Instruments Act 2018

Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act, 1982

Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014

University of Limerick Act, 1989

Intellectual property

Legal text

Contents (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Act 2026 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2026 Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Act 2026 Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Act 2026 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 4 of 2026 COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS (AMENDMENT) ACT 2026 CONTENTS Section

Section 1

1.Definition

Section 2

2.Amendment of section 208 of Principal Act

Section 3

3.Transfer of existing applications from Controller to Circuit Court and transitional provision relating to applications made under section 208 of Principal Act

Section 4

4.Amendment of section 287 of Principal Act

Section 5

5.Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement Acts Referred to Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (No. 28) Copyright and Related Rights Acts 2000 to 2019 Number 4 of 2026 COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS (AMENDMENT) ACT 2026 An Act to amend the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 to make further provision for the sharing of equitable remuneration as between performers and owners of the copyright in sound recordings; to give further effect to Directive 2006/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 20061 on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the field of intellectual property; and to provide for related matters. [12th March, 2026] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:

Definition 1. In this Act, “Principal Act” means the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 .

Amendment of section 208 of Principal Act 2. Section 208 of the Principal Act is amended— (a) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (3): “(3A) Subject to subsections (3B) to (3E), equitable remuneration less reasonable collecting costs shall be shared equally as between a performer and an owner of the copyright in a sound recording. (3B) Where the sharing of equitable remuneration in accordance with subsection (3A) is not acceptable to a performer or an owner of the copyright in a sound recording, an alternative sharing of equitable remuneration as between a performer and an owner of the copyright in a sound recording may be agreed by, or on behalf of, the performer and the owner of the copyright concerned. (3C) Where a performer and an owner of the copyright in a sound recording do not reach an agreement under subsection (3B), either party may serve a notice, in such form and manner as the Minister may prescribe, on the other party of its intention to make an application to the Circuit Court under subsection (3D) if no agreement under subsection (3B) is reached within 6 months (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the parties) of service of the notice. (3D) Where a notice has been served under subsection (3C) and the period referred to in that subsection has expired without an agreement under subsection (3B) having been reached, either party may make an application to the Circuit Court for an order to determine how the equitable remuneration shall be shared as between the parties concerned. (3E) The Circuit Court, on application to it in that behalf under subsection (3D) may, having regard, inter alia, to the importance of the performer’s contribution to a sound recording which is the subject of the application concerned, make such order as to the sharing of equitable remuneration as between the performer and the owner of the copyright in a sound recording as the Circuit Court determines to be just and reasonable. (3F) Subject to subsection (3G), a party to an order under subsection (3E) or (3H) may apply to the Circuit Court to vary that order where a change in circumstances has occurred since the order was made, relevant to the particulars of that order. (3G) An application under subsection (3F) may not be made within 12 months from the date on which the order in respect of the application was made except with the leave of the Circuit Court. (3H) The Circuit Court, on application to it in that behalf under subsection (3F), having regard, inter alia, to the importance of the performer’s contribution to a sound recording which is the subject of the order concerned and, in particular, the change in circumstances that has occurred since the order was made relevant to the particulars of that order, may—

(a) confirm the order, or (b) make such order varying the order as the Circuit Court determines to be just and reasonable.”, (b) by the deletion of subsections (4) to (9), and (c) in subsection (10)— (i) in paragraph (a), by the substitution of “this section, or” for “this section,”, (ii) in paragraph (b), by the substitution of “equitable remuneration.” for “equitable remuneration, or”, and (iii) by the deletion of paragraph (c).

Transfer of existing applications from Controller to Circuit Court and transitional provision relating to applications made under section 208 of Principal Act 3. (1) An application made to the Controller under section 208 of the Principal Act before the coming into operation of section 2 which has not been finally determined on such coming into operation shall be transferred for determination to the Circuit Court and the Circuit Court may, having regard to any submissions made by the parties to the application, give such directions and make such orders for the conduct and hearing of the application as the Circuit Court determines to be just and reasonable in the circumstances.

(2)An appeal on a point of law arising from a decision of the Circuit Court under subsection (1) shall lie to the High Court.

(3)Subject to subsection (4), a decision of the High Court under this section shall be final and may not be appealed.

(4)By leave of the High Court, an appeal from a decision of the High Court under this section shall lie to the Court of Appeal on a question of law.

(5)An agreement made under section 208(4) of the Principal Act prior to the coming into operation of section 2 shall, after such coming into operation, be deemed to have been made under section 208(3B) of that Act.

Amendment of section 287 of Principal Act 4. Section 287 of the Principal Act is amended, in the definition of “qualifying country”— (a) in paragraph (b), by the deletion of “or”, (b) in paragraph (c), by the substitution of “section, or” for “section;”, and (c) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (c): “(d) any country, territory, state or area that is a contracting party to— (i) the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty, adopted by the Diplomatic Conference at Geneva on December 20, 1996, or (ii) the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations, done at Rome on October 26, 1961;”.

Short title, collective citation, construction and commencement 5. (1) This Act may be cited as the Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Act 2026.

(2)The Copyright and Related Rights Acts 2000 to 2019 and this Act may be cited as the Copyright and Related Rights Acts 2000 to 2026, and shall be construed together as one.

(3)This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

1 OJ No. L376, 27.12.2006, p.28 Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

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