Contact:
Mirosław Stefanik
ms@pnplaw.pl

Acquisition of copyright by employer

Pursuant to a recent decision of the Supreme Court (resolution of February 14, 2012, case file no. III UZP 4/11), remuneration for work created by an employee and acquired by his or her employer under copyright law constitutes a basis for pension contribution payments and disability fund premiums, as well as accident and health insurance premiums. This is provided that the acquired work was created as a result of the duties the person was employed to perform.

Prolongation of perpetual usufructuary

On February 16, 2012, Poland’s Supreme Court decided that an agreement for prolonging perpetual usufructuary may also be concluded after the period for which the usufructuary had been established. This is provided the request for the agreement was made within the period defined in Article 236 § 2 of the Civil Code. This covers the five years before the expiry of the period which had been stipulated in the agreement that established the perpetual usufructuary in question.

Draft legislation on seed production

A new draft act on seed production, which was presented by the president and which is to implement several EU provisions into Polish law, is scheduled for its first reading on February 28. The draft act applies to the reporting and registration of varieties of crops, and includes provisions concerning production and evaluation of agricultural plant seeds and vegetables, and material for nurseries, as well as provisions related to the reproduction and planting of vegetables and decorative plants. Furthermore, the draft act is to guarantee the government and parliament the time they need to prepare and implement a new comprehensive law relating to genetically modified organisms.