Source: http://www.husovec.eu/2012/02/collective-societies-free-movement-new.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 19:41:34+00:00

Document:
Huťko´s Technology Law Blog: Collective Societies & Free Movement - A New Preliminary Reference to CJEU?
Collective Societies & Free Movement - A New Preliminary Reference to CJEU?
In November 2011, the Czech Constitutional Court, in its ruling II. ÚS 1658/11, canceled decision of the City Court in Prague and referred it back (due to breach of a right to statutory judge), arguing that the court failed to ask the Court of Justice of European Union on issue of whether Czech Copyright Act, which sets out certain limits to operation of collective societies is compatible with free movement of services. The Constitutional Court specifically questioned whether monopoly of collective societies [in CzechR, one type of right can be administered by one subject only - § 98(6)(c)] and necessity to obtain authorization from the Czech Ministry, is still compatible with Art. 56 TFEU and/or Art. 14 and Art. 16 of Directive 2006/123/EC on services in the internal market.
The above questions arose in a 'regular' dispute of a collective society suing owner of a pub for unjust enrichment due to not paying license fees. The owner of the pub lost its case twice, and then filled petition to the Constitutional Court [Huťko still wonders how much contribution to copyright law pub owners in Europe can bring, see Football Association Premier League C-403/08].
The Constitutional Court also briefly discussed possibility of applying competition law, Art. 101 and Art. 102 TFEU, pointing to recent decision in Football Association Premier League C-403/08 and Karen Murphy C-429/08. Lets see what is now going to happen on City Court in Prague. Huťko (with help of his friends & readers) will monitor the case closely.

References: § 98
 Art. 56
 Art. 14
 Art. 16
 Art. 101
 Art. 102