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Act on Copyright and Related Rights
(Urheberrechtsgesetz – UrhG)

Full text in format:   HTML  PDF   text in German

Übersetzung durch Ute Reusch.

Translation provided by Ute Reusch.

Stand: Die Übersetzung berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 25 des Gesetzes vom 23. Juni 2021 (BGBl. I S. 1858)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/urhg/BJNR012730965.html.

Version information: The translation includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 25 of the Act of 23 June 2021 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 1858)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/urhg/BJNR012730965.html.

Zur Nutzung dieser Übersetzung lesen Sie bitte den Hinweis unter "Translations".

For conditions governing use of this translation, please see the information provided under "Translations".

           
Part 1
Copyright
Division 1
General
Section 1General
Division 2
Works
Section 2Protected works
Section 3Adaptations
Section 4Collections and database works
Section 5Official works
Section 6Published works and released works
Division 3
Authors
Section 7Author
Section 8Joint authors
Section 9Authors of compound works
Section 10Presumption of authorship or ownership
Division 4
Scope of copyright
Subdivision 1
General
Section 11General
Subdivision 2
Moral rights of authors
Section 12Right of publication
Section 13Recognition of authorship
Section 14Distortion of work
Subdivision 3
Exploitation rights
Section 15General
Section 16Right of reproduction
Section 17Right of distribution
Section 18Right of exhibition
Section 19Right of recitation, performance and presentation
Section 19aRight of making works available to public
Section 20Right of broadcasting
Section 20aEuropean broadcasts transmitted by satellite
Section 20bRetransmission
Section 20cEuropean additional online service
Section 20dDirect injection
Section 21Right of communication by video or audio recordings
Section 22Right of communication of broadcasts and of works made available to public
Section 23Adaptations and transformations
Section 24(repealed)
Subdivision 4
Other rights of authors
Section 25Access to copies of works
Section 26Right of resale
Section 27Remuneration for rental and lending
Division 5
Dealings in rights in copyright
Subdivision 1
Succession to copyright
Section 28Inheritance of copyright
Section 29Transfer of copyright
Section 30Author’s successor in title
Subdivision 2
Rights of use
Section 31Grant of rights of use
Section 31aContracts concerning unknown types of use
Section 32Equitable remuneration
Section 32aAuthor’s further participation
Section 32bCompulsory application
Section 32cRemuneration for types of use which subsequently become known
Section 32dProvision of information by and accountability of contracting party
Section 32eProvision of information by and accountability of third parties in licence chain
Section 32fMediation and out-of-court dispute resolution
Section 32gRepresentation by associations
Section 33Continuing effect of rights of use
Section 34Transfer of rights of use
Section 35Grant of further rights of use
Section 35aMediation and out-of-court dispute resolution in relation to video-on-demand services
Section 36Joint remuneration agreements
Section 36aArbitration board
Section 36bInjunctive relief following breach of joint remuneration agreement
Section 36cIndividual consequences of breach of joint remuneration agreement
Section 36dInjunctive relief following failure to provide information
Section 37Agreements to grant rights of use
Section 38Contributions to collections
Section 39Alterations of work
Section 40Agreements as to future works
Section 40aRight to other exploitation after 10 years in case of flat-rate remuneration
Section 41Right of revocation for non-exercise
Section 42Right of revocation for changed conviction
Section 42aCompulsory licence for production of audio recordings
Section 43Authors in employment or service
Section 44Sale of original of work
Division 6
Limitations on copyright through uses permitted by law
Subdivision 1
Uses permitted by law
Section 44aTemporary acts of reproduction
Section 44bText and data mining
Section 45Administration of justice and public security
Section 45aPersons with disabilities
Section 45bPersons with visual impairment or reading disability
Section 45cAuthorised entities; remuneration; authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 45dUse permitted by law and contractually authorised use
Section 46Collections for religious use
Section 47School broadcasts
Section 48Public speeches
Section 49Newspaper articles and broadcast commentaries
Section 50Reporting on current events
Section 51Quotations
Section 51aCaricature, parody and pastiche
Section 52Communication to public
Sections 52a and 52b(repealed)
Section 53Reproduction for private and other personal uses
Section 53a(repealed)
Subdivision 2
Remuneration for reproductions permitted under section 53 and sections 60a to 60f
Section 54Obligation to pay remuneration
Section 54aAmount of remuneration
Section 54bTrader’s or importer’s obligation to pay remuneration
Section 54cObligation incumbent on operator of photocopiers to pay remuneration
Section 54dObligation to make reference
Section 54eObligation to report
Section 54fObligation to provide information
Section 54gInspection
Section 54hCollecting societies; handling of reports
Subdivision 3
Other uses permitted by law
Section 55Reproduction by broadcasting organisations
Section 55aUse of database work
Section 56Reproduction and communication to public in commercial enterprises
Section 57Incidental works
Section 58Advertising exhibition and public sale of works
Section 59Works in public places
Section 60Portraits
Subdivision 4
Uses permitted by law for teaching, science and institutions
Section 60aTeaching in educational establishments
Section 60bMedia collections for teaching
Section 60cScientific research
Section 60dText and data mining for scientific research purposes
Section 60eLibraries
Section 60fArchives, museums and educational establishments
Section 60gUse permitted by law and contractually authorised use
Section 60hEquitable remuneration for uses permitted by law
Subdivision 5
Special uses of orphan works permitted by law
Section 61Orphan works
Section 61aDiligent search and documentation obligations
Section 61bTermination of use and obligation to pay remuneration
Section 61cUse of orphan works by public broadcasting organisations
Subdivision 5a
Special uses of unavailable works permitted by law
Section 61dUnavailable works
Section 61eAuthorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 61fInformation about unavailable works
Section 61gUse permitted by law and contractually authorised use
Subdivision 6
Common provisions for uses permitted by law
Section 62Prohibition of alteration
Section 63Acknowledgement of source
Section 63aStatutory remuneration rights
Division 7
Duration of copyright
Section 64General
Section 65Joint authors, cinematographic works, musical compositions with text
Section 66Anonymous and pseudonymous works
Section 67Serial works
Section 68Reproductions of works of visual arts in public domain
Section 69Calculation of time limits
Division 8
Special provisions on computer programs
Section 69aObject of protection
Section 69bAuthors in employment or service relationships
Section 69cRestricted acts
Section 69dExceptions to restricted acts
Section 69eDecompilation
Section 69fInfringement of rights; supplementary protective provisions
Section 69gApplication of other legal provisions; law of contract
Part 2
Related rights
Division 1
Protection of certain editions
Section 70Scientific editions
Section 71Posthumous works
Division 2
Protection of photographs
Section 72Photographs
Division 3
Protection of performers
Section 73Performers
Section 74Recognition as performer
Section 75Derogatory treatment of performance
Section 76Duration of moral rights
Section 77Recording, reproduction and distribution
Section 78Communication to public
Section 79Rights of use
Section 79aPerformers’ entitlement to remuneration
Section 79bPerformers’ remuneration for types of use which become subsequently known
Section 80Work performed jointly by several performers
Section 81Protection of organisers
Section 82Duration of exploitation rights
Section 83Limitations of exploitation rights
Section 84(repealed)
Division 4
Protection of producers of audio recordings
Section 85Exploitation rights
Section 86Right of participation
Division 5
Protection of broadcasting organisations
Section 87Broadcasting organisations
Division 6
Protection of makers of database
Section 87aDefinitions
Section 87bRights of makers of database
Section 87cLimitations on rights of makers of database
Section 87dDuration of rights
Section 87eContracts concerning use of database
Division 7
Protection of publishers of press publications
Section 87fDefinitions
Section 87gRights of publishers of press publications
Section 87hExercise of rights of publishers of press publications
Section 87iPresumption of ownership; uses permitted by law
Section 87jDuration of rights of publishers of press publications
Section 87kRight of participation
Part 3
Special provisions on films
Division 1
Cinematographic works
Section 88Right to make film
Section 89Rights in cinematographic works
Section 90Limitation of rights
Section 91(repealed)
Section 92Performers
Section 93Protection against distortion; claim to identification
Section 94Protection of producers of films
Division 2
Moving pictures
Section 95Moving pictures
Part 4
Common provisions on copyright and related rights
Division 1
Supplementary protective provisions
Section 95aProtection of technical measures
Section 95bMeasures in respect of limitations
Section 95cProtection of rights management information
Section 95dLabelling obligations
Section 96Prohibition of exploitation
Division 2
Infringements
Subdivision 1
Civil law provisions; legal recourse
Section 97Right to require cessation of infringement and to damages
Section 97aNotification
Section 98Claim to destruction, recall and release of copies
Section 99Liability of owner of enterprise
Section 100Pecuniary compensation
Section 101Right of information
Section 101aEntitlement to presentation and inspection
Section 101bSecuring claims for damages
Section 102Limitation period
Section 102aEntitlements resulting from other statutory provisions
Section 103Publication of judgment
Section 104Legal recourse
Section 104aPlace of jurisdiction
Section 105Courts for copyright litigation
Subdivision 2
Criminal and regulatory fine provisions
Section 106Unlawful exploitation of copyrighted works
Section 107Unlawful affixing of designation of authorship
Section 108Infringement of related rights
Section 108aCommercial unlawful exploitation
Section 108bInfringement of technical measures and rights management information
Section 109Application for criminal prosecution
Section 110Confiscation
Section 111Publication of judgement
Section 111aRegulatory fine provisions
Subdivision 3
Provisions on measures by customs authorities
Section 111bProceedings under German law
Section 111cProceedings pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 608/2013
Division 3
Compulsory enforcement
Subdivision 1
General
Section 112General
Subdivision 2
Compulsory enforcement for pecuniary claims against author
Section 113Copyright
Section 114Originals of works
Subdivision 3
Compulsory enforcement for pecuniary claims against author’s successor in title
Section 115Copyright
Section 116Originals of works
Section 117Executor
Subdivision 4
Compulsory enforcement for pecuniary claims against authors of scientific editions and against photographers
Section 118Analogous application
Subdivision 5
Compulsory enforcement for pecuniary claims in respect of certain devices
Section 119Compulsory enforcement in respect of certain devices
Part 5
Scope of application, transitional and final provisions
Division 1
Scope of Act
Subdivision 1
Copyright
Section 120German nationals and nationals of other EU Member States or Contracting Parties of Agreement on EEA
Section 121Foreign nationals
Section 122Stateless persons
Section 123Foreign refugees
Subdivision 2
Related rights
Section 124Scientific editions and photographs
Section 125Protection of performers
Section 126Protection of producers of audio recordings
Section 127Protection of broadcasting organisations
Section 127aProtection of makers of database
Section 127bProtection of publishers of press publications
Section 128Protection of producers of films
Division 2
Transitional provisions
Section 129Works
Section 130Translations
Section 131Literary works set to music
Section 132Contracts
Section 133Transitional provision in implementation of contract law provisions in Directive (EU) 2019/790
Section 134Authors
Section 135Holders of related rights
Section 135aCalculation of term of protection
Section 136Reproduction and distribution
Section 137Transfer of rights
Section 137aPhotographic works
Section 137bCertain editions
Section 137cPerformers
Section 137dComputer programs
Section 137eTransitional provisions in implementation of Council Directive 92/100/EEC
Section 137fTransitional provisions in implementation of Council Directive 93/98/EEC
Section 137gTransitional provisions in implementation of Directive 96/9/EC
Section 137hTransitional provisions in implementation of Council Directive 93/83/EEC
Section 137iTransitional provisions regarding Act to Modernise the Law of Obligations (Gesetz zur Modernisierung des Schuldrechts)
Section 137jTransitional provisions occasioned by implementation of Directive 2001/29/EC
Section 137k(repealed)
Section 137lTransitional provisions for new types of use
Section 137mTransitional provision occasioned by implementation of Directive 2011/77/EU
Section 137nTransitional provision occasioned by implementation of Directive 2012/28/EU
Section 137oTransitional provision regarding Act to Align Copyright Law with the Current Demands of the Knowledge-based Society (Urheberrechts-​Wissensgesellschafts-​Gesetz)
Section 137pTransitional provision occasioned by implementation of Directive (EU) 2019/789
Section 137qTransitional provision on publishers’ participation
Section 137rTransitional provision on protection of publishers of press publications
Division 3
Final provisions
Section 138Register of anonymous and pseudonymous works
Section 138aData protection
Section 139Amendment to Code of Criminal Procedure
Section 140Amendment to Act concerning Universal Copyright Convention of 6 September 1952 (Gesetz über das am 6. September 1952 unterzeichnete Welturheberrechtsabkommen)
Section 141Repealed provisions
Section 142Evaluation
Section 143Entry into force
Annex (to section 61a)
Sources for diligent search