A deal - in 15 years time!

The European decision to give artists a share in the resale of paintings has been delayed by the UK.

While the European Commission decision puts visual artists - to a limited degree - on a par with producers, writers and directors, the UK Government has ensured it will not be implemented for 15 years.

The UK has one of the world's top international art markets, and so the issue has great commercial importance. But while auction house make money every time the same painting is sold, artists receive no further payment once they have sold their artwork.

The new resale right give artists a royalty payment of up to 4% for the resale of their work for 70 years.

Helen Liddle, UK Minister for Competitiveness, defended the 15-year lead time for the new rights by suggesting it would allow time to achieve a similar structure in other international art markets. New York and Switzerland do not have such obligations.

But the EU's internal market commissioner warned countries at a single market council meeting about the dangers of the precedent.

BECTU welcomed the fact that the rights have now been agreed, but has expressed disappointment about the time lag. BECTU official Willy Donaghy commented: "On the face of it, it seems that artists' decedents are going to benefit more than the artists themselves."

BECTU has said that it will continue to lobby for a reduction of the transitional period.