Implementation of Chapter 3 DSM Directive: Status in Norway

By Liliia Oprysk[*]Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Bergen. This contribution is a summary of a presentation given at the 2024 Nordic Copyright Symposium in Copenhagen on September 26, 2024.

1. Implementation of the DSM Directive in Norway: State of Play

The DSM Directive[1]Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC (DSM Directive) [2019] OJ L 130/92. has not yet been implemented in Norway. The decision to incorporate the Directive into the EEA Agreement was adopted in December 2023.[2]Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 333/2023 of 8 December 2023 amending Annex XVII (Intellectual property) to the EEA Agreement [2024] OJ L 2024/1465. In November 2023, the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Equality (Kultur- og likestillingsdepartementet) published a consultation paper,[3]Kultur- og likestillingsdepartementet, Forslag til endringer i åndsverkloven mv. – gjennomføring av digitalmarkedsdirektivet (EU) 2019/790 og nett- og videresendingsdirektivet (EU) 2019/789 (Høringsnotat 2023). Available at <https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/horing-om-endringer-i-andsverkloven-digitalmarkedsdirektivet-m.v/id3013710/> accessed 22 November 2024. inviting public feedback on the proposed implementation of the DSM Directive into Norwegian law. By the consultation deadline in March 2024, the paper had received input from 80 parties, including collective management organisations (CMOs), organisations representing right holders, public institutions, and universities.[4]Input on the consultation paper are available at <https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/horing-om-endringer-i-andsverkloven-digitalmarkedsdirektivet-m.v/id3013710/?showSvar=true&term=&page=1&isFilterOpen=true> accessed 22 November 2024.

When it comes to the implementation of Chapter 3 of the DSM Directive, few general remarks can be made regarding the preliminary proposal. First, the right to appropriate (rimelig) remuneration under the current § 69 of the Norwegian Copyright Act[5]Lov om opphavsrett til åndsverk mv. (åndsverkloven) LOV-2018-06-15-40. is considered sufficient to fulfil the obligations under Article 18 of the DSM Directive, though a slight adjustment to its scope is suggested. Other provisions in Chapter 3 of the DSM Directive will necessitate the introduction of new provisions.