Print

The order of copyright seeks for the balance of a manifold contrast of interests: The author is interested in a strong and extensive exclusive right, which entitles him as often as possible to prohibit others from using his work or to profit from such monopoly. As opposed to this individual interest lies the interest of the general public in an open culture and business, in which the cultural producing under inspiration and mutual influence is not being made impossible by the author’s right to speak a total ban to use his work.

The copyright act in power privileges or easens the use of other works in particular for private use. This, because it would be problematic and hardly enforceable to give the author the competence to control and accordingly forbid the use of his work up to the ultimate angle of each individual’s private life.

Within the scope of a support and an exchange between the copyright holder and the interests of the users, collecting societies assume an important role. These collective administration societies are in broad fields, as " clearing centers", in charge for a simple and fast handling of the use of works and the compensations to the copyright holder linked thereto.