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Quick Answer
Copyright protection and enforcement remain largely national, but the Berne Convention's national-treatment principle means a work protected in one member country is also protected in every other member country, under that country's own law. For an EU cross-border infringement, Rome II Regulation applies the law of the country for which protection is sought — not automatically the law of the work's country of origin.
Quick Facts
- Governing framework
- Rome II Regulation (EC) 864/2007, Article 8 — law of the country for which protection is sought
- International framework
- Berne Convention — national treatment across member countries, not automatic application of the origin country's law
- Who this applies to
- Authors and rights holders facing infringement of their work in another country, or accused of infringing another's work
- Typical first step
- Identify the specific country (or countries) where the infringement occurred or where protection is sought
Your Options
Pursue enforcement under the law of the country where protection is sought
The applicable law for each country where your work is used without authorisation, under Rome II's specific IP rule.
Rely on Berne Convention national treatment
Your work is protected under each member country's own copyright law, without needing to register separately in most cases.
Address online infringement across multiple countries
Where content is accessible in several countries, enforcement may need to be considered separately for each relevant one.
Steps to Take
- 1
Identify where the infringement occurred or where protection is sought
Determines both the applicable law and, generally, jurisdiction.
- 2
Confirm your rights under that country's copyright law
Protection exists via Berne Convention national treatment, but scope and duration can vary.
- 3
Gather evidence of the infringement
Screenshots, publication dates, and proof of your own authorship/ownership.
- 4
Pursue enforcement in the relevant country
Formal notice, platform takedown requests, or court proceedings, depending on the situation.
- 5
Get country-specific legal advice
Copyright enforcement mechanics, remedies, and procedure are genuinely national even within a harmonised EU framework.
Documents You May Need
- Proof of authorship/ownership of the original work
- Evidence of the infringing use (screenshots, copies, dates)
- Any registration or prior publication records for the original work
- Correspondence with the infringing party or platform, if any
- Identity documents
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming Czech copyright law applies wherever the infringement occurred
- Not documenting the infringement promptly before it's removed or changed
- Overlooking platform-level takedown mechanisms as a faster first step
- Assuming a single enforcement action covers infringement in multiple countries
Risks & Deadlines
Which country's law applies depends on where protection is sought
Requires legal review for the specific case — Rome II's IP-specific rule looks to the country for which protection is sought, which can be more than one country for widely-accessible online content.
Limitation periods and remedies vary by country
Requires legal review for the specific country — the time limit to act, and what remedies are available, differ significantly across EU copyright systems.
Estimated Costs
- Platform takedown request: Typically free, but requires legal review for the specific platform's process
- Initial lawyer consultation: Varies by lawyer and country — ask for a quote upfront
- Full proceedings, if contested: Requires legal review — depends on the country and complexity
When to Contact a Lawyer
- The infringement is significant, ongoing, or commercial in nature
- A platform takedown request hasn't resolved the issue
- You're unsure which country's law and courts apply to your situation
- You've been accused of infringement and need to understand your position
Frequently asked questions
Generally no — under the Berne Convention, copyright protection is automatic upon creation and extends to other member countries via national treatment, without a separate registration requirement in most cases.
Under Rome II's specific rule for intellectual property, it's the law of the country for which protection is sought — not automatically your own country's law or the infringer's.
This is a genuinely complex area for online infringement — potentially relevant in each country where the content is accessible, which needs case-specific legal analysis rather than a single simple answer.
No. LawBridge is a platform that connects you with independent lawyers — it does not itself provide legal advice or legal services.
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