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Capital Markets

Denmark

From January 1 2011, issuers have a duty to publish internal knowledge as soon as possible if such knowledge can no longer be considered confidential, irrespective of whether the internal knowledge concerns matters that are uncertain (eg, information about ongoing negotiations which might not become a reality). The new rules aggravate the issuer's duty to disclose and place heavier demands on assessment of information.

Media & Entertainment

Denmark

The handing over of paintings for scrapping is not an assignment of ownership or copyright in the works. A new Supreme Court judgment establishes that such abandonment does not imply a right to sell the paintings. This judgment strengthens the protection of artists' works and illustrates a central element of copyright - namely, the scope of the protection of such works.

The dispute between film company Zentropa and writer Peter Øvig Knudsen has received wide media coverage and raises the question of whether making a close screen adaptation of a historically based book without obtaining permission from the author constitutes copyright infringement.

European Union

The European Parliament has voted to extend the copyright protection term for sound recordings from 50 years to 70 years. The extension would take into account the fact that performers are increasingly outliving the existing 50-year period of protection for their recordings, and would ensure that they can rely on their rights to prevent the occurrence of objectionable uses of their performances during their lifetime.