Panorama exception introduced in Belgium

Under the InfoSoc Directive of 2001, the 'panorama exception' in EU copyright law allows EU Member States to lay down exceptions or limitations to copyright concerning the use of works, such as works of architecture or sculpture, made to be located permanently in public places (for example uploading images of monuments online). Belgium has now implemented this exception through national legislation (Act of 27 June 2016) by adding the freedom of panorama to the list of exceptions on copyright in article XI.190, 2/1° of the Economic Law Code:

de reproductie en de mededeling aan het publiek van werken van beeldende, grafische of bouwkundige kunst, die zijn gemaakt om permanent in openbare plaatsen te worden geplaatst, indien de reproductie of de mededeling gebeurt van het werk zoals het zich aldaar bevindt en wanneer die reproductie of mededeling geen afbreuk doet aan de normale exploitatie van het werk en geen onredelijke schade wordt berokkend aan de wettige belangen van de auteur;

The exception is limited to the reproduction and communication to the public of “works of visual, graphic or architectural nature” and is subject to a number of conditions which at first sight may inspire to further discussion. First, the exception is not limited to works in open space and can also relate to works inside public buildings. The legislative comment specifies that these must be "permanently accessible places", and not “public museums or buildings which are not permanently open to the public”. However, this limitation is not enacted in the final text, and this may create doubt. Second, the works must be "made" to be placed permanently in public spaces. One wonders how this must be determined, and whether only the intention of the author will count? Also, what will happen if an initially privately owned work is later permanently relocated in a public place? Finally, any reproduction or communication under the panorama exception should neither conflict with a normal exploitation of the work nor unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author.

The panorama exception was published in the Belgian Official Journal on 5 July 2016, and has entered into force on 15 July 2016. Note that the European Commission also intends to harmonize the freedom of panorama exceptions in the framework of a further harmonisation of EU copyright rules as part of its Digital Single Market Strategy.