Authors to cash in as libraries lend by-the-book

POPULAR Irish and international authors such as Marian Keyes, John Grisham, Maeve Binchy, Roddy Doyle and Cecilia Ahern are set for an income boost following a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

However, the funding of public libraries could be under threat as a result of this ECJ finding that the Irish Government was wrong to exempt public lending institutes from paying royalties to authors.

The Luxembourg-based court found that Ireland’s Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 is in breach of EU legislation because it exempts all types of public libraries from having to pay royalties. The ECJ claimed the Irish law breached an EU directive designed to ensure that authors and performers received appropriate income for their creative works.