INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: EUROPEAN ARTISTS ANXIOUS TO PROFIT FROM SALE OF THEIR WORKS.

Summary: With the EU Council of Ministers due to agree its common position before the end of the year regarding the proposal for a Directive harmonising artists' resale rights across the European Union, associations representing creative artists are seeking to mobilise support for this legislative project. They denounce existing competitive distortions which prevent artists from enjoying a share in the economic success of their work.

Resale rights enable artists producing works of graphic and fine art (and their direct heirs) to claim a percentage of the price for which items are sold on through public auction or by commercial agents. Artists attended in force a conference staged in...