ProLitteris is continuing on the chosen path of harmonizing and shortening the royalty periods of the various work categories. The aim is a clearer and more consistent system that facilitates a later complete revision of the distribution and disadvantages as few rightsholders as possible. The changes are made to be as economically neutral as possible. Shortened royalty periods are therefore offset by adjusted weightings.
For books, a royalty period of eight years is envisaged. Periodicals are to be taken into account for four years, while for daily and weekly press a royalty period of one year will continue to apply.
The different periods reflect the typical use of these works and are also based on the previous situation in Print distribution. Books often remain available for a long time, are recorded bibliographically and are often present in libraries for several years. Periodicals are somewhat more short-lived in comparison. Daily and weekly press is strongly linked to current events and will therefore continue to be treated with the shortest royalty period.
The ProLitteris system distinguishes between royalty period and weighting. The royalty period primarily reflects the approximate lifespan of a work category. Weighting remains the instrument for appropriately reflecting differences between distribution classes within harmonized periods. To this end, we are guided by the social science studies that ProLitteris conducts in the context of the tariff procedures. The actual royalty also depends on the available distribution amounts and the point values in the respective areas.
The adjustments are made in stages. If the royalty period is shortened, the weighting is adjusted accordingly. In this way, the relative relationships between the work categories remain largely stable. If works drop out due to the shortened period, the distribution amount increases for all eligible works. For most rightsholders, especially for active ones, the adjustment by ProLitteris is more or less neutral in its effect.
With every adjustment of the royalty period, it happens that individual works receive lower or no further royalties. This is a consequence of every system improvement. The board examines this question in depth with every adjustment. For this reason, the changes are made step by step. Parallel operation of different distribution systems is excluded because it would be practically almost impossible to implement and would create other issues of distribution fairness.
There is a material change that ProLitteris is making on the basis of the latest study of copying behavior in schools. It concerns the category of teaching materials. The weighting is being increased and aligned with that of scientific works. This corresponds to a fundamental decision by ProLitteris to treat teaching materials and scientific works identically.
Several instruments will continue to be available in the future to manage the distribution appropriately: royalty period, weighting and the distribution amounts of the individual areas. In advising on further adjustments to the distribution regulations, ProLitteris also seeks to avoid excessively high individual royalties. This issue was the subject of a motion at the 2024 general meeting. Although this did not result in a resolution, critical monitoring of individual royalties is part of ProLitteris’ duty of care as a collective management organization.
The application to the Institute of Intellectual Property for approval will be submitted in May 2026. The revision of the distribution regulations contains further improvements. Implementation of the changes will take place in the main distribution 2027 (usage year 2026). Whether a later revision will require additional measures will be examined separately. One possible reason for this could be artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is currently used for all work categories, and ProLitteris is doing its utmost to implement the copyright conditions for protection as a work and for receiving a royalty. Management and the board are continuously dealing with these developments.