COPYRIGHT
RIGHTS IN DATABASES
The Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997
Made18th December 1997
Coming into force1st January 1998
Whereas a draft of the following Regulations has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament:
Now, therefore, the Secretary of State, being a Minister designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19721 in relation to measures relating to copyright2 and measures relating to the prevention of unauthorised extraction of the contents of a database and of unauthorised re-utilisation of those contents3, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) and (4) of that Act, hereby makes the following Regulations:—
PART I INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS¶
I11 Citation, commencement and extent¶
I22 Implementation of Directive¶
I33 Interpretation¶
In these Regulations “the 1988 Act” means the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 19887.I44 Scheme of the Regulations¶
PART II AMENDMENT OF THE COPYRIGHT, DESIGNS AND PATENTS ACT 1988¶
I55 Copyright in databases¶
In section 3(1), in the definition of “literary work”—I66 Meaning of “database”¶
After section 3 insert—.
I77 Meaning of “adaptation” in relation to database¶
In section 21 (infringement by making adaptation or act done in relation to adaptation), in subsection (3)—.
I88 Research¶
.
.
I99 Permitted acts in relation to databases¶
After section 50C insert—.
I1010 Avoidance of certain terms¶
After section 296A insert—.
I1111 Defined expressions¶
In section 179 (index of defined expressions), in the appropriate place in alphabetical order insert—.
PART III DATABASE RIGHT¶
I1212 Interpretation¶
- “database” has the meaning given by section 3A(1) of the 1988 Act (as inserted by Regulation 6);
- “extraction”, in relation to any contents of a database, means the permanent or temporary transfer of those contents to another medium by any means or in any form;
- “insubstantial”, in relation to part of the contents of a database, shall be construed subject to Regulation 16(2);
- “investment” includes any investment, whether of financial, human or technical resources;
- “jointly”, in relation to the making of a database, shall be construed in accordance with Regulation 14(6);
- “lawful user”, in relation to a database, means any person who (whether under a licence to do any of the acts restricted by any database right in the database or otherwise) has a right to use the database;
- “maker”, in relation to a database, shall be construed in accordance with Regulation 14;
- “Marrakesh beneficiary” has the meaning given by section 296ZE(1) of the 1988 Act;
- “national of the United Kingdom” has the meaning given by section 178 of the 1988 Act;
- “re-utilisation”, in relation to any contents of a database, means making those contents available to the public by any means;
- “substantial”, in relation to any investment, extraction or re-utilisation, means substantial in terms of quantity or quality or a combination of both.
I1313 Database right¶
I1414 The maker of a database¶
I1515 First ownership of database right¶
The maker of a database is the first owner of database right in it.I1616 Acts infringing database right¶
I1717 Term of protection¶
I1818 Qualification for database right¶
I1919 Avoidance of certain terms affecting lawful users¶
I2020 Exceptions to database right¶
20A Exceptions to database right: deposit libraries¶
20B Exceptions to database right: Marrakesh beneficiaries¶
Database right in a database is not infringed by the making of an accessible copy of a work under sections 31A, 31B or 31BA of, or paragraphs 3A, 3B or 3C of Schedule 2 to, the 1988 Act for the benefit of a Marrakesh beneficiary.I2121 Acts permitted on assumption as to expiry of database right¶
I22C1C3C222 Presumptions relevant to database right¶
I2323 Application of copyright provisions to database right¶
The following provisions of the 1988 Act apply in relation to database right and databases in which that right subsists as they apply in relation to copyright and copyright works—- sections 90 to 93 (dealing with rights in copyright works)
- sections 96 to 102 (rights and remedies of copyright owner and exclusive licensee)
- sections 113 and 114 (supplementary provisions relating to delivery up)
- section 115 (jurisdiction of county court and sheriff court).
I2424 Licensing of database right¶
The provisions of Schedule 2 have effect with respect to the licensing of database right.I2525 Database right: jurisdiction of Copyright Tribunal¶
PART IV SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS¶
I2626 Introductory¶
Expressions used in this Part which are defined for the purposes of Part I of the 1988 Act have the same meaning as in that Part.I2727 General rule¶
Subject to Regulations 28 and 29, these Regulations apply to databases made before or after 1st January 1998.I2828 General savings¶
I2929 Saving for copyright in certain existing databases¶
I3030 Database right: term applicable to certain existing databases¶
Where—SCHEDULE 1 ¶
EXCEPTIONS TO DATABASE RIGHT FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Regulation 20(2).
Parliamentary and judicial proceedings¶
Royal Commissions and statutory inquiries¶
Material open to public inspection or on official register¶
- “appropriate person” means the person required to make the contents of the database open to public inspection or, as the case may be, the person maintaining the register;
- “statutory register” means a register maintained in pursuance of a statutory requirement; and
- “statutory requirement” means a requirement imposed by provision made by or under an enactment.
Material communicated to the Crown in the course of public business¶
Public records¶
Acts done under statutory authority¶
SCHEDULE 2 ¶
LICENSING OF DATABASE RIGHT
Regulation 24.
Licensing scheme and licensing bodies¶
Reference of proposed licensing scheme to tribunal¶
Reference of licensing scheme to tribunal¶
Further reference of scheme to tribunal¶
Application for grant of licence in connection with licensing scheme¶
Application for review of order as to entitlement to licence¶
Effect of order of tribunal as to licensing scheme¶
-
If such a direction is made—
-
any necessary repayments, or further payments, shall be made in respect of charges already paid, and
-
the reference in sub-paragraph (2)(a) to the charges payable under the scheme shall be construed as a reference to the charges so payable by virtue of the order.
-
-
No such direction may be made where sub-paragraph (4) below applies.
References and applications with respect to licences by licensing bodies¶
Reference to tribunal of proposed licence¶
Reference to tribunal of expiring licence¶
Application for review of order as to licence¶
Effect of order of tribunal as to licence¶
-
If such a direction is made—
-
any necessary repayments, or further payments, shall be made in respect of charges already paid, and
-
the reference in sub-paragraph (1)(a) to the charges payable in accordance with the order shall be construed, where the order is varied by a later order, as a reference to the charges so payable by virtue of the later order.
-
General considerations: unreasonable discrimination¶
Powers exercisable in consequence of competition report¶
Footnotes
- I1Reg. 1 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I2Reg. 2 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I3Reg. 3 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I4Reg. 4 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I5Reg. 5 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I6Reg. 6 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I7Reg. 7 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I8Reg. 8 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I9Reg. 9 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I10Reg. 10 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I11Reg. 11 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I12Reg. 12 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I13Reg. 13 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I14Reg. 14 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I15Reg. 15 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I16Reg. 16 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I17Reg. 17 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I18Reg. 18 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I19Reg. 19 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I20Reg. 20 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I21Reg. 21 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I22Reg. 22 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I23Reg. 23 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I24Reg. 24 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I25Reg. 25 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I26Reg. 26 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I27Reg. 27 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I28Reg. 28 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I29Reg. 29 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I30Reg. 30 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I31Sch. 1 para. 1 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I32Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I33Sch. 1 para. 3 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I34Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I35Sch. 1 para. 5 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I36Sch. 1 para. 6 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I37Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I38Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I39Sch. 2 para. 3 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I40Sch. 2 para. 4 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I41Sch. 2 para. 5 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I42Sch. 2 para. 6 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I43Sch. 2 para. 7 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I44Sch. 2 para. 8 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I45Sch. 2 para. 9 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I46Sch. 2 para. 10 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I47Sch. 2 para. 11 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I48Sch. 2 para. 12 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I49Sch. 2 para. 13 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I50Sch. 2 para. 14 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- I51Sch. 2 para. 15 in force at 1.1.1998, see reg. 1(2)
- F1Reg. 14(4A) inserted (6.5.1999) by The Scotland Act 1998 (Consequential Modifications) (No.1) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1042), arts. 1(2)(a), 3, Sch. 1 para. 26
- F2Sch. 2 para. 15(1)-(2) substituted for Sch. 2 para. 15(1)(2) (20.6.2003) by The Enterprise Act 2002 (Consequential and Supplemental Provisions) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1398), art. 1, Sch. para. 31(2) (with art. 3(1))
- C1Reg. 22 applied (31.10.2003) by 1988 c. 48, s. 296ZA(7) (as substituted by The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2498), regs. 1, 24 (with regs. 31-40))
- C2Reg. 22 applied (31.10.2003) by 1988 c. 48, s. 296ZD(9) (as substituted by The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2498), regs. 1, 24 (with regs. 31-40))
- C3Reg. 22 applied (31.10.2003) by 1988 c. 48, s. 296ZG(9) (as inserted by The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2498), regs. 1, 25 (with regs. 31-40))
- F3Word in reg. 2(1)(a) omitted (1.11.2003) by virtue of The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 3(a)
- F4Reg. 2(1)(c) inserted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 3(c)
- F5Word in reg. 2(1)(b) substituted for full stop (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 3(b)
- F6Words in reg. 12(5) inserted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 4
- F7Reg. 18(2A) inserted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 5(d)
- F8Word in reg. 18(1)(b) omitted (1.11.2003) by virtue of The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 5(a)
- F9Reg. 18(1)(d)-(f) inserted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 5(c)
- F10Reg. 18(1)(c): comma substituted for full stop (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 5(b)
- F11Reg. 26 substituted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 6
- F12Words in reg. 27 substituted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 7
- F13Reg. 28 substituted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 8
- F14Words in reg. 29 substituted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 9
- F15Reg. 30 substituted (1.11.2003) by The Copyright and Rights in Databases (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2501), regs. 1(2), 10
- F16Reg. 20A inserted (30.10.2003 for specified purposes, 1.2.2004 in so far as not already in force) by Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 (c. 28), ss. 8(2), 16(1) (with s. 16(4)); S.I. 2004/130, art. 2
- C4Sch. 1 para. 6 applied by 2000 c. 36, s. 80(3) (as added (1.1.2005) by The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3089), arts. 1, 3(3))
- F17Reg. 23 substituted (29.4.2006) by The Intellectual Property (Enforcement, etc.) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1028), reg. 1, Sch. 3 para. 6
- F18Word in Sch. 2 para. 15 substituted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/549), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 27(a) (with art. 3)
- F19Words in Sch. 2 para. 15 inserted (1.4.2014) by The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/549), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 27(b) (with art. 3)
- F20Words in Sch. 2 para. 15 substituted (1.4.2014) by virtue of The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/549), art. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 27(c) (with art. 3)
- F21Sch. 1 para. 3(5) inserted (26.2.2015) by The Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/374), arts. 1(1), 10(2)
- F22Sch. 1 para. 6(2A) inserted (26.2.2015) by The Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/374), arts. 1(1), 10(3)
- F23Words in Sch. 1 para. 6(3) inserted (26.2.2015) by The Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/374), arts. 1(1), 10(4)
- F24Reg. 20B inserted (11.10.2018) by The Copyright and Related Rights (Marrakesh Treaty etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/995), regs. 1(2), 19
- F25Words in reg. 12 inserted (11.10.2018) by The Copyright and Related Rights (Marrakesh Treaty etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/995), regs. 1(2), 18
- F26Words in reg. 12(5) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Exhaustion of Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/265), regs. 1, 7; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F27Words in reg. 12(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 28(2) (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F28Words in reg. 18(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 28(3)(a)(iii) (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F29Words in reg. 18(1)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 28(3)(a)(iii) (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F30Words in reg. 18(1)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 28(3)(a)(ii) (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F31Words in reg. 18(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 28(3)(a)(i) (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F32Words in reg. 18(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 28(3)(b) (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- F33Reg. 18(4)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Intellectual Property (Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/605), regs. 1(2), 28(3)(c) (with reg. 38) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1050, regs. 1(2), 4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
- 1
1972 c. 68; by virtue of the amendment of section 1(2) of that Act by section 1 of the European Economic Area Act 1993 (c. 51) regulations may be made under section 2(2) to implement obligations of the United Kingdom arising under the EEA Agreement.
- 2
S.I. 1993/595.
- 3
S.I. 1996/3155.
- 4
O.J. No. L77, 27.3.96 p.20.
- 5
Cm 2073.
- 6
Cm 2183.
- 7
1988 c. 48.
- 8
1958 c. 51.
- 9
1937 c. 43.
- 10
1923 c. 20 (N.I.).