The introduction of a resale right would allow visual artists to receive a share of the proceeds from the resale of their works through art dealers. The Federal Council today adopted a report on this subject, which fulfils a postulate from Council of States member Luginbühl. The report presents various possibilities for the resale right and analyses the economic impact of its introduction.

• Media Release and Report in German / French / Italian

The interpellation Quadri 12.3396 - Der Auftrag der Suisa an die Yacast schadet der schweizerischen Musikproduktion (‘Suisa’s contract to Yacast damages Swiss music production’) was submitted during the Spring session 2014. It involves the automatic reporting of works of music played in clubs and discos.

The Federal Council treated the AGUR12 recommendations on June 6, 2014 and mandated the FDJP to prepare a draft bill for public consultation by the end of 2015. The following parliamentary interventions will have to be taken into consideration: the Fluri Motion 13.3583 - Compensation for authors (in German, French and Italian) and the CEAT-N Motion 14.3293 – Blank media (in German, French and Italian) as well as the parliamentary initiative 13.404 – Stop to the unfair levy on blank media (in German, French and Italian).

The Luginbühl postulate 13.4083 – Resale right for Swiss artists (in German, French and Italian) will be treated in a separate report.

The Marrakesh Treaty, which was concluded at the diplomatic conference held in Marrakesh in June 2013, facilitates access to works protected by copyright for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. It will enter into force three months after 20 parties have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession. On the basis of an exception to copyright, organisations for the blind and visually impaired persons can, thanks to the treaty, produce, distribute and make available books in Braille or in an electronic version which is readable with a device for the visually impaired. Permission from the copyright owner will no longer be necessary.

Switzerland signed the Marrakesh Treaty on 28 June 2013. Swiss legislation already includes exceptions in this field. The Marrakesh Treaty provides now for an international rule.

Several procedural requests are currently dealing with the enforcement of copyright simultaneously: the Fluri Postulate 12.4238 - Economic damage caused by illegal offers on the internet, which requests a report from the Federal Council on the extent of the damage incurred from the use of unlicensed offers, the Freysinger Motion 12.3834 - Copyright protection, which calls for an approach on the continuous protection of copyright by the Federal Council, as well as the Fluri Interpellation 12.3902 - Switzerland as a refuge for illegal offers, which calls for an assessment by the Federal Council on the causes, effects and possible measures concerning breaches of copyright.

The Beijing Treaty, which was concluded at the diplomatic conference held in Beijing in June 2012, grants actors the same protection as that given to performers under the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) and thus resolves unjustified unequal treatment at international level. It will enter into force three months after 30 parties have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession.

Switzerland signed the Beijing Treaty on 26 June 2012. This improved protection at international level does not require an amendment to national law as actors and performers are already treated equally under Swiss legislation.

Three procedural requests, which deal with questions concerning the collective management of copyright, were submitted during the 2012 spring session: the Recordon Postulate 12.3326 - For copyright which is fair and compatible with the freedom of the internet community, the Glättli Postulate 12.3173 - Appropriate remuneration for creative artists while ensuring the privacy of internet users and the Mörgeli Interpellation 12.3092 - Collective management of copyright. The  Federal Council's opinion on the Glättli Postulate, its response to the Mörgeli Interpellation as well as the verbatim report on the Recordon Postulate can be found at the relevant links above (in German, French or Italian). Parliament accepted both postulates.

Preparations for the implementation of the Stadler Motion 08.3589 - Copyright remuneration for authors instead of for legal proceedings (in German, French and Italian) showed that, contrary to expectations, the aim of the motion - a more efficient implementation of the entitlement to remuneration for photocopying – cannot be put into effect in the way proposed by the  author of the motion. The Federal Council has therefore decided to request the abandonment of the motion.

Report in German, French and Italian (pdf 115 KB).

On 30 November 2011, the Swiss Federal Council adopted the report regarding the Savary postulate, "Does Switzerland need a law against the illegal downloading of music?" (in German, French and Italian). Technological developments have fundamentally changed user behaviour. This leads to understandable insecurity but does not endanger Switzerland's cultural landscape. Legislative intervention at this point in time is neither required nor sensible.

• Press release (pdf 40 KB)
• Report of the Swiss Federal Council on unlawful internet uses of works in reply to the Savary postulate 10.3263 (in German, pdf 331 KB, French, pdf 335 KB, or Italian, pdf 398 KB)

Mr. Luc Recordon, MP, asked the Federal Council by way of Interpellation of 1 June 2001 to communicate Switzerland’s position at the session of the WIPO committee in June 2011. Mr. Recordon is especially interested in the opinion of the Federal Council on exceptions and limitations for a barrier-free access to books by people with visual impairments
11.3491 – WIPO Treaty proposal. Improved access to book for people with visual impairments (in German, French and Italian)

Mr NR Gerhard Pfister submitted a motion on 16 June 2010, which aims at a change to the Copyright Act. The existing reduced tariffs for school use should be specified and a reduced rate of 65% adopted in the Copyright Act.

10.3612 - Relieve education. Change to the Copyright Act (in German, French and Italian)

On 10 June 2010, the Council of States mandated the Federal Council to compile a study investigating the extent of the use of unlicensed music offers and to show possible courses of action.
10.3263 – Does Switzerland need a law against the illegal downloading of music? (in German, French and Italian)

A corresponding motion by Mr CS Hansruedi Stadler under the title "Copyright renumeration for authors instead of for legal proceedings" was accepted by Parliament on 17 December 2008 (CS) and  on 17 December 2008 (NC). The IPI has now been entrused with the implementation of the motion and it is expected that a preliminary draft will go into consultation at the beginning of January 2011.

08.3589 – Copyright remuneration for authors instead of for legal proceedings (German, French or Italian)