A new EU directive may lead to some countries changing their laws in regards to intellectual property rights of living artists. The new laws will allow living artists to receive a portion of the sale price made when their work is traded or resold. Works sold at €1,000 or more will get a royalty payment to the artist. In France and other European countries, artists are paid a percentage of the resale proceeds for up to 70 years after the death of the artist. The law is expected to have a large impact on the UK, Austria and Ireland, where no similar rights have existed. The directive was approved in 2001 after negotiations, but will be enforced beginning this month. The UK government has taken measures to ensure no negative effects occur towards their arts market. "The introduction of the UK Artists’ Resale Right will bring the UK into line with Europe,” said Ron Marchant, Chief Executive of the UK Patent Office. “Specific details such as the threshold of €1,000 for royalty payments and the derogation not to extend the rights to deceased artists until 2012, will strike a balance between the needs of artists, traders and buyers in the UK." Click HERE for a view on the new law from The Times. To view the draft regulations CLICK HERE.