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Legal Alert - Amendments to Copyright Law

As of 20 September 2024, an amendment to the Polish Copyright Act has come into effect, granting new rights to authors. The key changes include, among others, the author’s right to withdraw from a copyright transfer agreement if the work is not distributed within the agreed timeframe, as well as the right to regularly receive information on the revenues generated from the use of the work.

Under the new regulations, organisations may, in certain circumstances, lose previously acquired copyright and be required to repurchase or replace it. Moreover, organisations may be requested to provide information on revenues from the works they hold rights to, which could lead to the disclosure of trade secrets or a breach of confidentiality agreements.

These changes should be reflected in agreements transferring economic copyright to ensure uninterrupted use of works. The amendment also offers an opportunity to review whether your organisation has properly secured its key intellectual property assets.

We encourage you to contact Michał Pekała, a partner in our technology department (contact details below). Michał and his team have extensive experience in drafting and negotiating intellectual property transfer agreements and providing ongoing advice to technology companies for whom intellectual property is a critical asset. Michał will be happy to discuss the details of the amendment and offer recommendations for updating IP agreement templates.

The full text of the Polish Copyright Act, including the amendments, is available here.

Best regards,

Michał Pękała Partner

michal.pekala@rzmlaw.com

+48 662 011 061