5.2.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 31/6


Reference for a preliminary ruling by the Østre Landsret by decision of that court of 16 November 2004 in the case of Laserdisken ApS against Kulturministeriet

(Case C-479/04)

(2005/C 31/14)

Language of the case: Danish

By order of 16 November 2004 of the Østre Landsret (Eastern Regional Court), Denmark, received at the Court Registry on 19 November 2004, reference has been made to the Court of Justice of the European Communities for a preliminary ruling in the case of Laserdisken ApS against Kulturministeriet on the following questions:

1.

Is Article 4(2) of Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society (1) invalid?

2.

Does Article 4(2) of Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society preclude a Member State from retaining international exhaustion in its legislation?

The second question is aimed at clarifying whether a Member State wishing to accord greater weight to freedom of expression and citizens' access to cultural goods than to the wish to protect national rightholders against competition may derogate from Article 4(2).


(1)  OJ L 167, 22.6.2001, p. 10.