PLR SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD: SOME BASIC FACTS

FOUNDING SOURCE OF METHOD OF CITIZENSHIP AND/OR ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE MANAGED BY LIBRARIES OTHER USES OF
COUNTRY
LEGISLATION FUNDING CALCULATION LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT MATERIAL CONTRIBUTORS COVERED PLR FUNDS
AUSTRALIA PLR Act (1985) National Stock count Australian Citizens wherever Books, providing they Authors, Illustrators, Government Public and educational
Program since government they reside have an ISBN, be Publishers Department
1974 Non-citizens who are resident in offered for sale and
Australia have no more than 5
creators
AUSTRIA Copyright Act National Loans based Austrian/EU citizens and Works of literature lent Authors, Translators, Collecting society Public and scientific 26% funds go for
1993 government and permanent residents of Austria out as books, journals, Publishers (Literar Mechana) ‘social and cultural
Program since federal provinces audio-visual works purposes’
1977

BELGIUM Copyright Act The three Belgian PLR funding Not known Printed and audio Rightsholders of
1994 and Royal community based on visual works works lent out by Collecting society Public
Decree 2004 govenrments number of libraries (incl authors, (Reprobel)
registered library publishers, artists, (Payment distribution
users producers) by rightsholders’
organisations)
CANADA PLR Federal Stock count Canadian Citizens wherever Books (except how-to Authors, iIlustrators, PLR Commission Public
Commission set government they reside and other types of photographers, under the Canada
up in 1986 but Permanent residents of Canada non-fiction works) editors, compilers, Council for the Arts
no statutory books) providing they translators
basis are printed and have
at least 48 pages
CROATIA Copyright Act National Loans based Authors, illustrators, Croatian Writers Public
2003 government translators Association

CZECH REPUBLIC Ammendement National Loans based Czech Nationals and foreign Printed published Authors, illustrators, Collecting societies Public
of Copyright Act government authors works photographers, (DILIA – authors,
2006 translators, adaptors translators, adaptors;
OOA-S – illustrators,
photographers)
DENMARK 1942 amendment National Stock and page No nationality restriction but Books, talking books, Authors, illustrators, PLR office under the Public and school
to the Public government count books must be written in Danish recorded music & art translators, artists, National Library
Libraries Act language works photographers,
coming into composers and other
force in 1946; contributors
PLR Act 1992
ESTONIA Copyright Law National Loans based Citizens or permanent residents Books, audio visual Authors, translators, Authors Remuneration Public
amendment 2000 government of Estonia works editors, adaptors, Fund
Books must be first published in illustrators, publishers
Estonia
 LEGAL SOURCE OF METHOD OF CITIZENSHIP AND/OR ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE MANAGED BY LIBRARIES OTHER USES OF
COUNTRY
STATUS FUNDING CALCULATION LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT MATERIAL CONTRIBUTORS COVERED PLR FUNDS
FAROE ISLANDS Act of Lending National Stock count Faroese citizenship or authors Books – must be for Authors, Translators, Faroese Library Centre National Library,
(1988) government who write in the Faroese sale in book stores Illustrators public and school
libraries

FINLAND Act of Grants & National Loans based Authors and rightsholders living Books and copyright Authors, illustrators, Collecting societies Public
Subsidies government in EEA countries works lent out by translators, designers, representing authors
(1963); replaced libraries, but not films composers and other (SANASTO), artists
by amendment or computer programs rigthsholders (but not (KOPIOSTO) and
to Copyright Act publishers) composers (TEOSTO)
2007
FRANCE PLR Act 2003 National Payment per French authors and publishers; Books Authors, illustrators, Collecting society Public Authors’ pensions
(implemented government and copy purchased reciprocal agreements with publishers (SOFIA)
2005) library book and number of other countries
suppliers library users

GERMANY Copyright Law 90% National Loans based No nationality or language Books, talking books, Authors, illustrators, Collecting societies: Public, higher Authors’ pensions
(1972) government restriction, but distribution to audio visual material editors, translators, VG Wort (authors) and education and other
10% federal foreign authors only via publishers Bild Kunst (artists) libraries
government collecting societies

GREECE Amendment to Various ___________ Understood to be open to EU Books Authors OSDEL Private and Agency OSDEL to purchase
Copyright Act authors libraries books for libraries
1993 participating in PLR.

GREENLAND Included in National Stock count Publications must be in Books and talking Authors, illustrators, National Library National Library and
National Library government Greenlandic or translated into books of more than 32 translators other Greenlandic
Act, 1993 Greenlandic pages libraries

HUNGARY Amendment to National Loans based Hungarian authors and foreign Books Authors Hungarian Literary Public libraries
Copyright Act government authors under reciprocal Authors Collecting
2008 (funding agreements Society (MISZJE)
allocated but not
available until
2012)
ICELAND Author’s Fund National Loans based Resident in Iceland and books Books – exceptions Authors, illustrators, Writers Library Fund National University
Library Act government written in Icelandic books with more than translators, library, public, school
(1988); updated 3 authors and adult composers and institutional
in 2007 books with less than libraries funded by
36 pages; talking govenrment
books
IRELAND Amendment to National Loans based Open to Irish nationals Books Authors, illustrators, PLR office under The Public
Copyright Act in government anywhere and authors resident translators, editors, Library Council
2007 in EEA countries photographers
 LEGAL SOURCE OF METHOD OF CITIZENSHIP AND/OR ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE MANAGED BY LIBRARIES OTHER USES
COUNTRY
STATUS FUNDING CALCULATION LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT MATERIAL CONTRIBUTORS COVERED OF PLR FUNDS
ISRAEL Program Since National Loans based Citizens of Israel who write in Books but non fiction Authors Committee Public
1986 but no PLR government Hebrew or Arabic books not included representing Ministry
legislation. of Education & Culture
and Association of
Hebrew Writers
ITALY PLR Law (2006) National Not determined Unknown Printed works, audio Authors, publishers Collecting society State-funded and
government yet but will be books and other A/V and other (SIAE) local government
related to loans material rightsholders libraries (but not
school or university
libraries)
LATVIA Copyright Law National Funding based No special requirements Books, sheet music, Writers, translators, Collecting society State funded libraries
(2000). Took government on 5% of state phonograms, films illustrators, compilers, (AKKA/LAA) except educational
effect 2006 expenditure on adaptors/retellers, libraries
library stock; composers, film
payments based producers, narrators
on loans
LIECHTENSTEIN Copyright Law Not known Not known Rightsholders under copyright Copies of literary and Authors, artists Libraries accessible to Not known
(1999) law artistic works lent out Collecting society the public
(Pro-Litteris)

LITHUANIA Copyright Law National Loans based Open to Lithuanian nationals, Books Authors,illustrators, Collecting society Public
(1999). Came government authors writing in Lithuanian, translators (LATGA-A)
into effect 2002 translators into Lithuanian,
illustrators; open to foreign
authors where reciprocal
arrangements exist.

LUXEMBOURG Copyright Act Public Libraries Loans based Residents of Luxembourg Books, audio visual Writers, illustrators, Collecting society Educational and
(2001); works, music & photographers, (LUXORR) scientific libraries are
Regulations newspapers and translators, exempt and other
2007 electronic media adaptors/retellers specialist libraries;
leaving about 15
public libraries to be
included
NETHERLANDS Copyright Law Libraries Loans based No restriction since part of Books, Talking Books, Authors, Illustrators, Collecting society Public
(1988 and 1995) copyright law Audio Visual Material, Photographers, (Stichting Leenrecht
Program since Music, Magazines, Editors/Compilers, working with LIRA)
1971 Brochures, Works of Translators,
Art, CDROMs Adaptors/Retellers,
Publishers, Copyright
Holders
 LEGAL SOURCE OF METHOD OF CITIZENSHIP AND/OR ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE MANAGED BY LIBRARIES OTHER USES OF
COUNTRY
STATUS FUNDING CALCULATION LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT MATERIAL CONTRIBUTORS COVERED PLR FUNDS
NEW ZEALAND Program Since National Copies based Must have permanent abode in Printed Books Author/Illustrator National Library of New Zealand NA
1973 Government New Zealand or be resident in New Zealand
New Zealand 6 months of the
last twelve months (not
consecutive)
NORWAY PLR Act (1987) National Funding based Books only written in Norwegian Books Any author of a book Government Public, school, Travel and study
but first Government on library stock or Sami and published in published in Norway department giving research, prison grants
established in holdings across Norway PLR funds to
1947 the country rightsholders’
organisations for
payment to authors as
grants
SLOVAK Copyright Act National Loans based Not known Literary, dramatic, Authors Collecting society Public
REPUBLIC (1998); amended government via audio visual, (LITA)
2007. National Library photographic and
artistic works

SLOVENIA Law on Authors’ National Loans based Citizens of Slovenia for books Books, audio visual Authors, illustrators, Slovenian Book Public Scholarships
Rights (1995) Government and grants published in Slovenia works translators, Agency
followed by laws (funding based composers, lyrics
in 2002, 2004, on 25% of writers, film directors,
2009 government screenplay writers
spend on library
stock)
SPAIN 1994 legislation Local Likely to be Not known Books Authors Collecting society Public
revised in 2006 municipalities based on copies (CEDRO)
IP Act to include with more than purchased and
public libraries 5000 citizens; payment per
central registered user
government
SWEDEN State Decree National Loans based Authors who write in Swedish or All books including Authors, illustrators, Swedish Authors Fund Public Grants and support for
(1954) Government live permanently in Sweden, reference translators authors
translators

UNITED KINGDOM PLR Act 1979. National Loans based Residents of the EEA regardless Books and (since Authors, illustrators, Registrar of PLR Public
Scheme government of nationality 2010) audio and some editors/compilers,
operational from types of ebook translators ,
1982. adaptors/retellers;
producers and
narrators of audio
books

(UPDATED MAR 2014)