hi philmh yes, i don't know that this twenty-first century spectrum music cd was distributed by universal / any other part of the music industry anywhere outside of the uk, nor that spectrum music uk had obtained eu-wide rights to do so; but that is quite separate from the eu inhabitant's right in any of the eu countries other than those with a temporary derogation to order it - if it is legally published in any eu country, which it was; and possibly of any and all eu wholesalers outside the yuk-of-gb-&-ni to order and distribute it also:
the legal right to do so *may* transcend the limitation upon the commercial licences granted;
this would in principle (and eventually) be fightable up to the eu supreme court by anyone with deep enough pockets (and suitably insane - ?), and possibly result in the eu law being emended. eventually.
Hi ppint, my understanding is that record company manufacture, warehousing and distribution arrangements in Europe are completely independent of any country's membership of the EU, or lack thereof; this I gleaned from a Discogs forum topic some years ago, stated by a member who has himself been involved in the record industry and seems to be familiar with most of the majors and their operating practices; "Made in EU" on a package and/or a disc just indicates that the item was made in an EU country, but does not necessarily mean that it is distributed in the EU (and this is shown by post-Brexit releases on the Ace/Kent/etc. group of labels, for example). Also, this collection was first released via PolyGram in 1997 with the same catalogue number and barcode, but with different packaging, and it seems that the earliest copies with the new Universal package came with PolyGram discs, so I recommend changing the release year here to 1997.
bears spectrum music, universal music, and tamla motown logos on both inserts and on the cd;
the last logo is presumably quoted as a historic reminder, rather than indicating a revival of the label.
front insert ''cover art'' is of the five temptations, two seated with one standing, one seated a level up behind the two seated lower, with the last standing next to him.
this cd will have been legally distributable anywhere in the eu aside of to countries with a temporary derogation from the applicable eu law until some time after the yuk-of-gb-&-ni left the eu - if it was still on the spectrum music uk catalogue by then:
but i do not know if any copies were so distributed by spectrum music uk - or by anyone acting for them.