As a first step to the new process, eight sister societies with whom GVL has reciprocal agreements were sent remuneration transfers for distribution year 2010. Further information can be obtained from our press release.
Jana Vejmelka had been elected as a representative at the rights holders' assembly on 15 May 2012 for the group of producers of sound recordings to the Board of GVL. The 30-year-old now resigned from office as she is no longer active in the music industry (previously: with Sony classical international).
The reason for such a subsequent distribution is the release of the remaining money for private copying PCs by the supervisory authority, the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA).. GVL received those outstanding monies by the central collection and distribution organisation for private copying levies in Germany (ZPÜ). In the supplementary distribution to producers and artists, the relevant remuneration values for each distribution year shall be increased by the belated income.
The updated version dated 18 November 2013 includes many improvements for our members with regards to future group meetings. One of them is that a member may represent up to two other members for voting at Board member elections (in the previous version of the Articles of Association, a member was only allowed to represent another member in cases of force majeure).
As such the distribution regulations are subject to a continuous review by the distribution committee, especially with regards to the transition period of the usage-based distribution system for artists which has been introduced with the distribution for 2010.
The annual distribution for distribution year 2012 for video exploitation shall take place in January 2014. This is the first time that the distribution to producers is entirely managed by GVL, after this task had been carried out by the Federal Association of the Music Industry (registered association) [BVMI] on a fiduciary basis for decades.
The tariffs of the newly negotiated framework agreement shall apply retroactively from 01 January 2011 and be in force until 31 December 2016. A similar agreement between ZPÜ and the hardware manufacturers applicable to other devices enabling users to make copies, such as smartphones, is still pending.
One of the changes, among others, was to determine the criteria for Board member candidates in more detail; other, smaller editorial corrections have been applied as well.
The version now in force dated 21 January 2014 also forms the basis for the GVL rights holders' assembly to be held on 14 February.
A total of 392 members followed GVL's invitation and attended the rights holders' assembly 2014. Moreover, the simplified and expanded regulations for representation had a very positive reception: More than 300 artists were represented for voting purposes by another member. Eight members of the Board were confirmed and remain in office as representatives of their rights holders' group.
Via the initiative's website it is possible to participate in the public consultation by answering a questionnaire and/or to sign a petition for copyright. The contributions thus received shall then influence the reform of EU copyright. On the users' side, thousands have asked for a restriction of the existing scope of protection. As it affects their existence, it is vital that people active in the creative industries take position.
