COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 14 May 1991 on the legal protection of computer programs (91/250/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

RAADETS DIREKTIV af 14. maj 1991 om retlig beskyttelse af edb-programmer (91/250/EOEF)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community and in particular Article 100a thereof,

RAADET FOR DE EUROPAEISKE FAELLESSKABER HAR - under henvisning til Traktaten om Oprettelse af Det Europaeiske OEkonomiske Faellesskab, saerlig artikel 100 A,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

under henvisning til forslag fra Kommissionen (1),

In cooperation with the European Parliament (2),

i samarbejde med Europa-Parlamentet (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

under henvisning til udtalelse fra Det OEkonomiske og Sociale Udvalg (3), og ud fra foelgende betragtninger:

Whereas computer programs are at present not clearly protected in all Member States by existing legislation and such protection, where it exists, has different attributes;

Edb-programmer er i dag ikke klart beskyttet i alle medlemsstaterne i henhold til gaeldende lovgivning, og den beskyttelse, der findes, er af forskelligartet karakter;

Whereas the development of computer programs requires the investment of considerable human, technical and financial resources while computer programs can be copied at a fraction of the cost needed to develop them independently;

udviklingen af edb-programmer forudsaetter en investering af betydelige menneskelige, tekniske og finansielle ressourcer, mens edb-programmer kan kopieres til en broekdel af de omkostninger, der er forbundet med en selvstaendig udvikling af dem;

Whereas computer programs are playing an increasingly important role in a broad range of industries and computer program technology can accordingly be considered as being of fundamental importance for the Community's industrial development;

edb-programmer spiller en stadig stoerre rolle inden for en lang raekke industrier, og edb-programteknologi kan derfor betragtes som vaerende af fundamental betydning for Faellesskabets industrielle udvikling;

Whereas certain differences in the legal protection of computer programs offered by the laws of the Member States have direct and negative effects on the functioning of the common market as regards computer programs and such differences could well become greater as Member States introduce new legislation on this subject;

visse forskelle i den retlige beskyttelse, som edb-programmer nyder i henhold til medlemsstaternes lovgivning, har en direkte og negativ indvirkning paa det faelles markeds funktion for saa vidt angaar edb-programmer, og saadanne forskelle kan meget vel blive endnu stoerre, efterhaanden som medlemsstaterne indfoerer ny lovgivning paa dette omraade;

Whereas existing differences having such effects need to be removed and new ones prevented from arising, while differences not adversely affecting the functioning of the common market to a substantial degree need not be removed or prevented from arising;

eksisterende forskelle med en saadan negativ virkning skal fjernes og nye forskelle undgaas, mens forskelle uden maerkbar negativ virkning paa det faelles markeds funktion ikke behoever at blive fjernet eller forhindret i at opstaa;

Whereas the Community's legal framework on the protection of computer programs can accordingly in the first instance be limited to establishing that Member States should accord protection to computer programs under copyright law as literary works and, further, to establishing who and what should be protected, the exclusive rights on which protected persons should be able to rely in order to authorize or prohibit certain acts and for how long the protection should apply;

Faellesskabets retlige ramme for beskyttelsen af edb-programmer kan derfor i foerste omgang begraenses til fastsaettelse af, at medlemsstaterne kan give edb-programmer ophavsretlig beskyttelse som litteraere vaerker, samt til fastsaettelse af, hvem og hvad der skal beskyttes, hvilke enerettigheder de beskyttede personer kan paaberaabe sig som hjemmel for at tillade eller forbyde visse handlinger, samt hvor lang tid beskyttelsen skal vare;

Whereas, for the purpose of this Directive, the term 'computer program` shall include programs in any form, including those which are incorporated into hardware; whereas this term also includes preparatory design work leading to the development of a computer program provided that the nature of the preparatory work is such that a computer program can result from it at a later stage;

i dette direktiv omfatter betegnelsen »edb-program« programmer i enhver form, herunder programmer inkorporeret i datamater; betegnelsen omfatter ogsaa forberedende designarbejde, der foerer til udviklingen af et edb-program, under forudsaetning af at det forberedende arbejde er af en saadan karakter, at et edb-program paa et senere stadium kan vaere resultatet heraf;

Whereas, in respect of the criteria to be applied in determining whether or not a computer program is an original work, no tests as to the qualitative or aesthetic merits of the program should be applied;

de kriterier, der skal laegges til grund for at afgoere, om et edb-program er et originalt vaerk eller ej, skal ikke omfatte afproevning af edb-programmets kvalitetsmaessige eller aestetiske vaerdi;

Whereas the Community is fully committed to the promotion of international standardization;

Faellesskabet gaar fuldt ud ind for at fremme international standardisering;

Whereas the function of a computer program is to communicate and work together with other components of a computer system and with users and, for this purpose, a logical and, where appropriate, physical interconnection and interaction is required to permit all elements of software and hardware to work with other software and hardware and with users in all the ways in which they are intended to function;

edb-programmets funktion er at kommunikere og arbejde sammen med andre komponenter i et edb-system og med brugere, og med henblik herpaa er en logisk og i givet fald en fysisk sammenkobling og interaktion noedvendig, for at alle programmel- og maskineldele kan arbejde sammen med andet programmel og maskinel samt med brugerne, paa den maade det er hensigten, det skal fungere;

Whereas the parts of the program which provide for such interconnection and interaction between elements of software and hardware are generally known as 'interfaces`;

de dele af et edb-program, som tilvejebringer denne sammenkobling og interaktion mellem komponenterne i et system, benaevnes normalt »graenseflader«;

Whereas this functional interconnection and interaction is generally known as 'interoperability`; whereas such interoperability can be defined as the ability to exchange information and mutually to use the information which has been exchanged;

denne funktionelle sammenkobling og interaktion benaevnes normalt »interoperabilitet«; driftskompatibilitet kan defineres som evnen til at udveksle data og gensidigt goere brug af de udvekslede data;

Whereas, for the avoidance of doubt, it has to be made clear that only the expression of a computer program is protected and that ideas and principles which underlie any element of a program, including those which underlie its interfaces, are not protected by copyright under this Directive;

for at undgaa tvivl skal det praeciseres, at det kun er et edb-programs udtryksform, der er beskyttet, og at de idéer og principper, som ligger til grund for elementerne i et edb-program, herunder dem, der ligger til grund for graensefladerne, ikke nyder ophavsretlig beskyttelse i henhold til dette direktiv;

Whereas, in accordance with this principle of copyright, to the extent that logic, algorithms and programming languages comprise ideas and principles, those ideas and principles are not protected under this Directive;

i overensstemmelse med dette ophavsretsprincip er idéer og principper, i det omfang logik, algoritmer og programmeringssprog omfatter disse idéer og principper, ikke beskyttet i henhold til dette direktiv;

Whereas, in accordance with the legislation and jurisprudence of the Member States and the international copyright conventions, the expression of those ideas and principles is to be protected by copyright;

i henhold til medlemsstaternes lovgivning og retspraksis og de internationale ophavsretskonventioner skal saadanne idéers og princippers udtryksform beskyttes ophavsretligt;

Whereas, for the purposes of this Directive, the term 'rental` means the making available for use, for a limited period of time and for profit-making purposes, of a computer program or a copy thereof; whereas this term does not include public lending, which, accordingly, remains outside the scope of this Directive;

i dette direktiv forstaas ved udtrykket »udlejning«, at et edb-program eller en kopi heraf bliver stillet til raadighed til benyttelse i et begraenset tidsrum med henblik paa fortjeneste; udtrykket omfatter ikke offentligt udlaan, som dermed falder uden for direktivets raekkevidde;

Whereas the exclusive rights of the author to prevent the unauthorized reproduction of his work have to be subject to a limited exception in the case of a computer program to allow the reproduction technically necessary for the use of that program by the lawful acquirer;

ophavsmandens eneret til at hindre uretmaessig reproduktion af sit vaerk maa, naar der er tale om edb-programmer, underlaegges en begraenset undtagelse med henblik paa at tillade reproduktion, der er teknisk noedvendig for, at det paagaeldende program kan benyttes af den, der lovligt har erhvervet det;

Whereas this means that the acts of loading and running necessary for the use of a copy of a program which has been lawfully acquired, and the act of correction of its errors, may not be prohibited by contract; whereas, in the absence of specific contractual provisions, including when a copy of the program has been sold, any other act necessary for the use of the copy of a program may be performed in accordance with its intended purpose by a lawful acquirer of that copy;

dette betyder, at handlinger som indlaesning og koersel, der er noedvendige for anvendelsen af en kopi af et program, som er lovligt erhvervet, herunder rettelse af fejl deri, ikke maa forbydes ved aftale; naar intet saerligt er aftalt, herunder naar en kopi af et program er solgt, maa enhver anden handling, der er noedvendig for anvendelsen af kopien af et program, udfoeres i overensstemmelse med dens formaal af den, der lovligt har erhvervet kopien;

Whereas a person having a right to use a computer program should not be prevented from performing acts necessary to observe, study or test the functioning of the program, provided that these acts do not infringe the copyright in the program;

en person, der har ret til at benytte et edb-program, boer ikke hindres i at udfoere handlinger, der er noedvendige for at besigtige, undersoege eller afproeve, hvordan edb-programmet fungerer, forudsat at saadanne handlinger ikke kraenker ophavsretten til edb-programmet;

Whereas the unauthorized reproduction, translation, adaptation or transformation of the form of the code in which a copy of a computer program has been made available constitutes an infringement of the exclusive rights of the author;

uretmaessig reproduktion, oversaettelse, bearbejdelse eller omarbejdelse af formen af den kode, hvori en kopi af et edb-program er gjort tilgaengelig, udgoer en kraenkelse af ophavsmandens enerettigheder;

Whereas, nevertheless, circumstances may exist when such a reproduction of the code and translation of its form within the meaning of Article 4 (a) and (b) are indispensable to obtain the necessary information to achieve the interoperability of an independently created program with other programs;

imidlertid kan der forekomme situationer, hvor en saadan reproduktion af et edb-programs kode og oversaettelse af kodens form som omhandlet i artikel 4, litra a) og b), er en forudsaetning for at skaffe de oplysninger, der er noedvendige for at tilvejebringe interoperabilitet mellem et selvstaendigt udviklet edb-program og andre edb-programmer;

Whereas it has therefore to be considered that in these limited circumstances only, performance of the acts of reproduction and translation by or on behalf of a person having a right to use a copy of the program is legitimate and compatible with fair practice and must therefore be deemed not to require the authorization of the rightholder;

under disse ganske bestemte omstaendigheder skal det derfor betragtes som lovligt og i overensstemmelse med god forretningsskik, at en person, der har ret til at benytte et edb-program, eller en person, der handler paa dennes vegne, foretager reproduktion og oversaettelse, og dette skal derfor anses for ikke at kraeve rettighedshaverens tilladelse;

Whereas an objective of this exception is to make it possible to connect all components of a computer system, including those of different manufacturers, so that they can work together;

formaalet med denne undtagelse er at goere det muligt at forbinde alle komponenter i et edb-system, herunder komponenter af forskellige fabrikater, saaledes at de kan arbejde sammen;

Whereas such an exception to the author's exclusive rights may not be used in a way which prejudices the legitimate interests of the rightholder or which conflicts with a normal exploitation of the program;

denne undtagelse fra ophavsmandens eneret maa ikke benyttes paa en maade, som goer indgreb i rettighedshaverens legitime interesser eller er i modstrid med den normale udnyttelse af edb-programmet;

Whereas, in order to remain in accordance with the provisions of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the term of protection should be the life of the author and fifty years from the first of January of the year following the year of his death or, in the case of an anonymous or pseudonymous work, 50 years from the first of January of the year following the year in which the work is first published;

for at sikre fortsat overensstemmelse med bestemmelserne i Berner-konventionen til vaern for litteraere og kunstneriske vaerker skal varigheden af beskyttelsen vaere ophavsmandens levetid og 50 aar fra den 1. januar i det aar, der foelger efter aaret for hans doed, eller, for anonyme eller pseudonyme vaerker, 50 aar fra den 1. januar i det aar, der foelger efter det aar, hvori vaerket foerst blev offentliggjort;

Whereas protection of computer programs under copyright laws should be without prejudice to the application, in appropriate cases, of other forms of protection; whereas, however, any contractual provisions contrary to Article 6 or to the exceptions provided for in Article 5 (2) and (3) should be null and void;

en ophavsretlig beskyttelse af edb-programmer boer ikke vaere til hinder for, at andre beskyttelsesformer kan finde anvendelse, naar omstaendighederne taler herfor; dog boer aftalemaessige bestemmelser, der strider mod artikel 6 eller mod undtagelserne i artikel 5, stk. 2 og 3, vaere ugyldige;

Whereas the provisions of this Directive are without prejudice to the application of the competition rules under Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty if a dominant supplier refuses to make information available which is necessary for interoperability as defined in this Directive;

bestemmelserne i dette direktiv beroerer ikke anvendelsen af konkurrencereglerne i artikel 85 og 86 i Traktaten, naar en leverandoer med en dominerende stilling afslaar at goere oplysninger, der er noedvendige for at opnaa interoperabilitet som defineret i dette direktiv, tilgaengelige;

Whereas the provisions of this Directive should be without prejudice to specific requirements of Community law already enacted in respect of the publication of interfaces in the telecommunications sector or Council Decisions relating to standardization in the field of information technology and telecommunication;

bestemmelserne i dette direktiv beroerer ikke allerede vedtagne faellesskabsretlige saerbestemmelser om offentliggoerelse af graenseflader inden for telekommunikationssektoren eller for raadsbeslutninger om standardisering inden for informationsteknologi og telekommunikation;

Whereas this Directive does not affect derogations provided for under national legislation in accordance with the Berne Convention on points not covered by this Directive,

dette direktiv beroerer ikke de undtagelse, der i medfoer af Berner-konventionen er fastsat i de nationale lovgivninger, vedroerende spoergsmaal, som direktivet ikke daekker - UDSTEDT FOELGENDE DIREKTIV:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Artikel 1 Beskyttelsens genstand

Article 1 Object of protection

1. I henhold til bestemmelserne i dette direktiv skal medlemsstaterne give edb-programmer ophavsretlig beskyttelse som litteraere vaerker efter Berner-konventionen til vaern for litteraere og kunstneriske vaerker. I dette direktiv omfatter udtrykket »edb-program« forberedende designmateriale hertil.

1. In accordance with the provisions of this Directive, Member States shall protect computer programs, by copyright, as literary works within the meaning of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. For the purposes of this Directive, the term 'computer programs` shall include their preparatory design material.

2. Beskyttelsen i henhold til dette direktiv finder anvendelse paa enhver form, hvori et edb-program udtrykkes. Idéer og principper, som ligger til grund for de enkelte elementer i et edb-program, herunder saadanne idéer og principper, som ligger til grund for dets graenseflader, nyder ikke ophavsretlig beskyttelse efter dette direktiv.

2. Protection in accordance with this Directive shall apply to the expression in any form of a computer program. Ideas and principles which underlie any element of a computer program, including those which underlie its interfaces, are not protected by copyright under this Directive.

3. Et edb-program skal nyde beskyttelse, hvis det er originalt i den forstand, at det er ophavsmandens egen intellektuelle frembringelse. Der gaelder ikke andre kriterier for, om et edb-program er berettiget til beskyttelse.

3. A computer program shall be protected if it is original in the sense that it is the author's own intellectual creation. No other criteria shall be applied to determine its eligibility for protection.

Artikel 2 Ophavsmanden til et program

Article 2 Authorship of computer programs

1. Ophavsmanden til et edb-program er den fysiske person eller den gruppe af fysiske personer, der har udviklet edb-programmet, eller, hvis medlemsstatens lovgivning tillader det, den juridiske person, der i henhold til denne lovgivning anerkendes som rettighedshaver. Hvis en medlemsstats lovgivning anerkender kollektive vaerker, betragtes den person, som i henhold til medlemsstatens lovgivning anses for at have frembragt vaerket, som ophavsmand hertil.

1. The author of a computer program shall be the natural person or group of natural persons who has created the program or, where the legislation of the Member State permits, the legal person designated as the rightholder by that legislation. Where collective works are recognized by the legislation of a Member State, the person considered by the legislation of the Member State to have created the work shall be deemed to be its author.

2. Er et edb-program udviklet af flere fysiske personer i faellesskab, besidder disse personer enerettighederne i faellesskab.

2. In respect of a computer program created by a group of natural persons jointly, the exclusive rights shall be owned jointly.

3. Er et edb-program udviklet af en arbejdstager under udfoerelsen af dennes arbejde eller efter arbejdsgiverens anvisninger, er arbejdsgiveren eneberettiget til at udoeve alle de oekonomiske rettigheder, der er knyttet til det saaledes udviklede edb-program, medmindre andet fastsaettes ved aftale.

3. Where a computer program is created by an employee in the execution of his duties or following the instructions given by his employer, the employer exclusively shall be entitled to exercise all economic rights in the program so created, unless otherwise provided by contract.

Artikel 3 Den beskyttede personkreds

Article 3 Beneficiaries of protection

Beskyttelse skal indroemmes alle fysiske og juridiske personer, der er beskyttelsesberettigede i henhold til den nationale ophavsretslovgivning, der finder anvendelse paa litteraere vaerker.

Protection shall be granted to all natural or legal persons eligible under national copyright legislation as applied to literary works.

Artikel 4 De enkelte enerettigheder

Article 4 Restricted Acts

Uden at dette beroerer bestemmelserne i artikel 5 og 6, skal den eneret, som tilkommer rettighedshaveren som defineret i artikel 2, omfatte ret til at foretage eller tillade:

Subject to the provisions of Articles 5 and 6, the exclusive rights of the rightholder within the meaning of Article 2, shall include the right to do or to authorize:

a) varig eller midlertidig, hel eller delvis reproduktion af et edb-program paa en hvilken som helst maade og i en hvilken som helst form. Hvis indlaesning, visning paa skaerm, koersel, overfoersel eller lagring af edb-programmet noedvendiggoer reproduktion af edb-programmet, forudsaetter en saadan reproduktion rettighedshaverens tilladelse b) oversaettelse, bearbejdelse, arrangement og enhver anden omformet gengivelse af et edb-program samt reproduktion af resultaterne heraf, uden at dette beroerer de rettigheder, som tilkommer den person, som omformer programmet c) enhver form for offentlig spredning, herunder udlejning, af det originale edb-program eller kopier deraf. Foerste gang en kopi af et edb-program saelges i Faellesskabet af rettighedshaveren eller med dennes tilladelse, er rettighedshaverens ret til at sprede den paagaeldende kopi inden for Faellesskabet udtoemt, med undtagelse af retten til at udoeve kontrol med yderligere udlejning af edb-programmet eller af en kopi deraf.

(a) the permanent or temporary reproduction of a computer program by any means and in any form, in part or in whole. Insofar as loading, displaying, running, transmision or storage of the computer program necessitate such reproduction, such acts shall be subject to authorization by the rightholder;

Artikel 5 Undtagelser fra enerettighederne

(b) the translation, adaptation, arrangement and any other alteration of a computer program and the reproduction of the results thereof, without prejudice to the rights of the person who alters the program;

1. Medmindre andet udtrykkeligt er fastsat ved aftale, kraever de i artikel 4, litra a) og b), naevnte handlinger ikke tilladelse fra rettighedshaveren, naar de er noedvendige for, at den, der retmaessigt har erhvervet edb-programmet, kan benytte det efter dets formaal, herunder til korrektion af fejl.

(c) any form of distribution to the public, including the rental, of the original computer program or of copies thereof. The first sale in the Community of a copy of a program by the rightholder or with his consent shall exhaust the distribution right within the Community of that copy, with the exception of the right to control further rental of the program or a copy thereof.

2. Det kan ikke ved aftale forhindres, at en person, der har ret til at benytte et edb-program, laver en sikkerhedskopi, for saa vidt det er noedvendigt for denne benyttelse.

Article 5 Exceptions to the restricted acts

3. Den, der har ret til at benytte en kopi af et edb-program, kan uden rettighedshaverens tilladelse besigtige, undersoege eller afproeve edb-programmet for at fastslaa, hvilke idéer og principper der ligger til grund for de enkelte elementer af edb-programmet, hvis dette sker i forbindelse med saadanne handlinger som indlaesning, visning paa skaerm, koersel, overfoersel eller lagring af edb-programmet, som han er berettiget til at udfoere.

1. In the absence of specific contractual provisions, the acts referred to in Article 4 (a) and (b) shall not require authorization by the rightholder where they are necessary for the use of the computer program by the lawful acquirer in accordance with its intended purpose, including for error correction.

Artikel 6 Dekompilering

2. The making of a back-up copy by a person having a right to use the computer program may not be prevented by contract insofar as it is necessary for that use.

1. Rettighedshaverens tilladelse kraeves ikke, naar reproduktion af koden eller oversaettelse af kodens form som omhandlet i artikel 4, litra a) og b), er en forudsaetning for at skaffe de oplysninger, der er noedvendige for at tilvejebringe interoperabilitet mellem et selvstaendigt udviklet edb-program og andre edb-programmer, forudsat at foelgende betingelser er opfyldt:

3. The person having a right to use a copy of a computer program shall be entitled, without the authorization of the rightholder, to observe, study or test the functioning of the program in order to determine the ideas and principles which underlie any element of the program if he does so while performing any of the acts of loading, displaying, running, transmitting or storing the program which he is entitled to do.

a) handlingerne udfoeres af licenshaveren eller af en anden person, der har ret til at benytte en kopi af et edb-program, eller paa disses vegne af en person, der har tilladelse hertil b) de oplysninger, der er noedvendige for at tilvejebringe interoperabilitet, har ikke tidligere vaeret let og hurtigt tilgaengelige for de i litra a) naevnte personer c) handlingerne er begraenset til de dele af det oprindelige edb-program, der er noedvendige for at opnaa interoperabilitet.

Article 6 Decompilation

2. Bestemmelserne i stk. 1 maa ikke aabne mulighed for, at oplysninger indhentet i forbindelse med anvendelse heraf:

1. The authorization of the rightholder shall not be required where reproduction of the code and translation of its form within the meaning of Article 4 (a) and (b) are indispensable to obtain the information necessary to achieve the interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, provided that the following conditions are met:

a) benyttes til andre formaal end at goere det selvstaendigt udviklede edb-program interoperabelt b) videregives til tredjemand, undtagen naar dette er noedvendigt for at goere det selvstaendigt udviklede edb-program interoperabelt, eller c) benyttes til udvikling, fremstilling eller markedsfoering af et edb-program, der i sin udtryksform i vid udstraekning svarer til det oprindelige, eller til nogen som helst anden handling, som kraenker ophavsretten.

(a) these acts are performed by the licensee or by another person having a right to use a copy of a program, or on their behalf by a person authorized to to so;

3. I overensstemmelse med bestemmelserne i Berner-konventionen til vaern for litteraere og kunstneriske vaerker maa bestemmelserne i denne artikel ikke fortolkes saaledes, at de finder anvendelse paa en maade, som paa urimelig maade goer indgreb i rettighedshaverens legitime interesser eller er i modstrid med den normale udnyttelse af edb-programmet.

(b) the information necessary to achieve interoperability has not previously been readily available to the persons referred to in subparagraph (a); and (c) these acts are confined to the parts of the original program which are necessary to achieve interoperability.

Artikel 7 Saerlige beskyttelsesforanstaltninger

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not permit the information obtained through its application:

1. Uden at det beroerer artikel 4, 5 og 6, traeffer medlemsstaterne i overensstemmelse med deres nationale lovgivning passende foranstaltninger over for en person, som foretager en af de handlinger, der er anfoert i litra a), b) og c):

(a) to be used for goals other than to achieve the interoperability of the independently created computer program;

a) enhver form for omsaetning af en kopi af et edb-program, naar den paagaeldende ved eller har grund til at tro, at det er en ulovlig kopi b) besiddelse i kommercielt oejemed af en kopi af et edb-program, naar den paagaeldende ved eller har grund til at tro, at det er en ulovlig kopi c) enhver form for omsaetning eller besiddelse i kommercielt oejemed af et hvilket som helst middel, hvis eneste formaal er at lette ulovlig fjernelse eller omgaaelse af tekniske indretninger, som maatte vaere blevet anvendt til at beskytte et edb-program.

(b) to be given to others, except when necessary for the interoperability of the independently created computer program; or (c) to be used for the development, production or marketing of a computer program substantially similar in its expression, or for any other act which infringes copyright.

2. En ulovlig kopi af et edb-program skal beslaglaegges i overensstemmelse med den paagaeldende medlemsstats lovgivning.

3. In accordance with the provisions of the Berne Convention for the protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the provisions of this Article may not be interpreted in such a way as to allow its application to be used in a manner which unreasonably prejudices the right holder's legitimate interests or conflicts with a normal exploitation of the computer program.

3. Medlemsstaterne kan fastsaette, at de i stk. 1, litra c), omhandlede midler skal beslaglaegges.

Article 7 Special measures of protection

Artikel 8 Beskyttelsens varighed

1. Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 4, 5 and 6, Member States shall provide, in accordance with their national legislation, appropriate remedies against a person committing any of the acts listed in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) below:

1. Beskyttelsen gaelder for ophavsmandens levetid og 50 aar efter hans doed eller 50 aar efter den laengstlevende ophavsmands doed; naar edb-programmet er et anonymt eller pseudonymt vaerk, eller naar en juridisk person i henhold til den nationale lovgivning anerkendes som ophavsmand til edb-programmet i overensstemmelse med artikel 2, stk. 1, varer beskyttelsen, indtil 50 aar er forloebet efter det tidspunkt, da edb-programmet foerste gang lovligt blev gjort tilgaengeligt for offentligheden. Beskyttelsen skal anses for at begynde den 1. januar i det aar, der foelger efter ovennaevnte begivenheder.

(a) any act of putting into circulation a copy of a computer program knowing, or having reason to believe, that it is an infringing copy;

2. De medlemsstater, som allerede har en laengere beskyttelsesperiode end den, der er anfoert i stk. 1, kan opretholde den nugaeldende periode, indtil beskyttelsesperioden for ophavsretligt beskyttede vaerker mere generelt er blevet harmoniseret i EF-lovgivningen.

(b) the possession, for commercial purposes, of a copy of a computer program knowing, or having reason to believe, that it is an infringing copy;

Artikel 9 Fortsat anvendelse af andre retsforskrifter

(c) any act of putting into circulation, or the possession for commercial purposes of, any means the sole intended purpose of which is to facilitate the unauthorized removal or circumvention of any technical device which may have been applied to protect a computer program.

1. Bestemmelserne i dette direktiv beroerer ikke anvendelsen af andre retsforskrifter vedroerende f.eks. patenter, varemaerker, illoyal konkurrence, forretningshemmeligheder, beskyttelse af halvlederprodukter eller aftalelovgivningen. Aftalemaessige bestemmelser, som strider mod artikel 6 eller mod undtagelserne i artikel 5, stk. 2 og 3, er ugyldige.

2. Any infringing copy of a computer program shall be liable to seizure in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned.

2. Bestemmelserne i dette direktiv finder ogsaa anvendelse paa edb-programmer, der er udviklet foer den 1. januar 1993, men beroerer ikke handlinger, der er afsluttet, og rettigheder, der er erhvervet, inden denne dato.

3. Member States may provide for the seizure of any means referred to in paragraph 1 (c).

Artikel 10 Afsluttende bestemmelser

Article 8 Term of protection

1. Medlemsstaterne saetter de noedvendige love og administrative bestemmelser i kraft for at efterkomme dette direktiv inden den 1. januar 1993.

1. Protection shall be granted for the life of the author and for fifty years after his death or after the death of the last surviving author; where the computer program is an anonymous or pseudonymous work, or where a legal person is designated as the author by national legislation in accordance with Article 2 (1), the term of protection shall be fifty years from the time that the computer program is first lawfully made available to the public. The term of protection shall be deemed to begin on the first of January of the year following the abovementioned events.

Naar medlemsstaterne vedtager disse love og administrative bestemmelser, henvises der deri til dette direktiv, eller de skal ved offentliggoerelsen ledsages af en saadan henvisning. De naermere regler for denne henvisning fastsaettes af medlemsstaterne.

2. Member States which already have a term of protection longer than that provided for in paragraph 1 are allowed to maintain their present term until such time as the term of protection for copyright works is harmonized by Community law in a more general way.

2. Medlemsstaterne meddeler Kommissionen de nationale retsforskrifter, som de udsteder paa det omraade, der er omfattet af dette direktiv.

Article 9 Continued application of other legal provisions

Artikel 11

1. The provisions of this Directive shall be without prejudice to any other legal provisions such as those concerning patent rights, trade-marks, unfair competition, trade secrets, protection of semi-conductor products or the law of contract. Any contractual provisions contrary to Article 6 or to the exceptions provided for in Article 5 (2) and (3) shall be null and void.

Dette direktiv er rettet til medlemsstaterne.

2. The provisions of this Directive shall apply also to programs created before 1 January 1993 without prejudice to any acts concluded and rights acquired before that date.

Udfaerdiget i Bruxelles, den 14. maj 1991. Paa Raadets vegne J. F. POOS Formand

Article 10 Final provisions

(1) EFT nr. C 91 af 12. 4. 1989, s. 4, og EFT nr. C 320 af 20. 12. 1990, s. 22.

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 1 January 1993.

(2) EFT nr. C 231 af 17. 9. 1990, s. 78, og afgoerelse af 14. april 1991 (endnu ikke offentliggjort i Tidende).

When Member States adopt these measures, the latter shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.

(3) EFT nr. C 329 af 30. 12. 1989, s. 4.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.

Article 11

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 14 May 1991. For the Council The President J. F. POOS

(1) OJ No C 91, 12. 4. 1989, p. 4; and OJ No C 320, 20. 12. 1990, p. 22.

(2) No C 231, 17. 9. 1990, p. 78; and Decision of 17 April 1991. yet published in the Official Journal).

(3) OJ No C 329, 30. 12. 1989, p. 4.