Content
Collective Management Organisations, Copyright
The DPMA acts as the supervisory authority under the Act on Collective Management Organisations (CMO Act - Verwertungsgesellschaftengesetz). The Arbitration Board under the CMO Act is also integrated in the organisation of the DPMA.
The DPMA is also responsible for the Register of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works. The DPMA is also involved in tasks in connection with the European Orphan Works Database. The DPMA does not have any further duties in the field of copyright.
Until 6 June 2021, the DPMA also maintained the Register of Out-of-Commerce Works.
Since 7 June 2021, it is no longer possible to make entries in the Register of Out-of-Commerce Works. Out-of-commerce works must now be entered in the 
Out-Of-Commerce Works portal maintained by the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office). The Register of Out-of-Commerce Works previously maintained by the DPMA was closed after a transition period ending on 31 December 2025 and is no longer publicly accessible.
- General information on copyright
- Supervision under the Collective Management Organisations Act
- Supervision over authorised entities under the Copyright Act
- The Arbitration Board under the Act on Collective Management Organisationst
- Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works
- Orphan Works
How to contact the supervisory authority under the Collective Management Organisations Act (Verwertungsgesellschaftengesetz) and the supervisory authority for authorised entities under the Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz)
Please send your requests and submissions
- concerning collective management organisations and management entities by e-mail to AufsichtVGG@dpma.de
- concerning authorised entities by e-mail to Aufsicht.befugteStellen@dpma.de
General information on copyright
Unlike industrial property rights, copyright arises upon creation of the work. There are no formal requirements to be met. Accordingly, a registration in an official register is neither required nor possible in order to obtain copyright protection.
Works protected by copyright are individual intellectual creations. The author has moral rights, such as the recognition of his authorship and protection from distortion of his work, and economic exploitation rights.
The author enjoys copyright protection from the time of creation of the work; protection ends 70 years after the death of the author. Upon expiry of the term of protection, the work is free for general use and can be freely exploited. It is not necessary to obtain the authorisation of the author's successors in title.
The Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz) defines the rights of authors, but also provides for exceptions (known as limitations) for certain users (e.g. for educational institutions).
The EUIPO (European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights), together with all EU member states, has compiled questions and answers specifically for educatior and learners. These FAQs help teachers and students in the EU to find information on using copyright protected content in the context of education and training, particularly online. The FAQs are available in English for the EU member states and the official language of each respective member state.
Supervision under the Collective Management Organisations Act
Every use of a work protected by copyright – such as copying of a text or communication of a musical work to the public – generally requires prior permission by the author. In particular, in the case of the mass use of works, it is virtually impossible to seek permission in each individual case. Furthermore, since the author often does not have knowledge of each particular use and consequently cannot assert claims for appropriate compensation, collective management organisations generally manage the rights of creative people collectively. Collective management organisations are associations of creative people organised under private law. They grant licenses for the works managed by them, monitor the use of these works and collect royalties in order to subsequently distribute the revenues to the right holders on the basis of distribution schemes.
As most collective management organisations have specialised in a certain field – for example, GEMA and VG Wort have specialised in musical works and literary works, respectively – they often have an actual monopoly position in their respective field. Because of this monopoly position and because they act on a trust basis for the right holders they represent, they are subject to government supervision pursuant to the Collective Management Organisations Act (Verwertungsgesellschaftengesetz), which is exercised by the DPMA.
Grant of collective licences with extended effect by collective management organisations
The amendment of the Act on Collective Management Organisations ("CMO Act") in 2021 has provided the option to grant collective licences with extended effect (ECLs) based on the model of the Scandinavian countries. In accordance with the requirements of sections 51 et seq. of the CMO Act, collective management organisations can also grant rights of external rightholders, i.e. rightholders who do not maintain a management relationship with the relevant collective management organisation, for uses in Germany. Compared to the provisions in most Scandinavian countries, the German legislator has decided not to provide for a special authorisation or other approval procedure at the DPMA. Rather, collective management organisations can grant ECLs on the basis of their original management authorisation pursuant to section 77 of the CMO Act. However, the refutable presumption of the representativity of collective management organisations pursuant to section 51b (2) of the CMO Act is based on the general authorisation of collective management organisations. This also applies to collective management organisations established in another Member State of the European Union or another Contracting Party of the Agreement on the European Economic Area if they have appropriate authorisation (section 77 (2) no. 3 of the CMO Act). The collective management organisations that currently have authorisation are published in the list of collective management organisations established in Germany (in German).
Tasks
As supervisory authority, the DPMA ensures that the collective management organisations comply with the statutory provisions of the Collective Management Organisations Act (Verwertungsgesellschaftengesetz). The Collective Management Organisations Act, which entered into force on 1 June 2016, implements "Directive 2014/26/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market" and forms the legal basis for the supervisory function of the DPMA.
Pursuant to the Collective Management Organisations Act, the DPMA ensures that the organisation of the collective management organisations meets the statutory requirements. It also supervises that the collective management organisations fulfil their obligations both towards their members and right holders and towards users, examining in particular whether the requirements for setting tariffs and preparing distribution schemes are met. To fulfil this duty, the DPMA has, among other rights, an extensive right to information and can attend the meetings of the various boards of the collective management organisations.
As supervisory authority, the DPMA as a matter of principle acts ex officio and only in the public interest. But it also carries out supervisory audits on the basis of submissions made by right holders or users.
Organisations and entities to be supervised
Collective management organisations
The obligations of a collective management organisation under the Collective Management Organisations Act (Verwertungsgesellschaftengesetz) include obtaining authorisation from the DPMA as the competent supervisory authority prior to the commencement of its business. At present, 14 collective management organisations have such authorisation in Germany, which is granted in consultation with the Federal Cartel Office.
If collective management organisations established in another member state of the European Union (EU) or another Contracting Party of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) are active in Germany, the DPMA ensures that the collective management organisations conduct their activities in compliance with the provisions that the country where they are established has adopted to implement Directive 2014/26/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market.
Collective management organisations established in another member state of the EU or the EEA are required to obtain authorisation for their business only in exceptional cases. However, they must notify the DPMA of their activity if they manage rights resulting from the Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz). Currently, nine collective management organisations established in another member state of the European Union or another contracting party of the Agreement on the European Economic Area have notified the DPMA accordingly.
Dependent and independent management entities
Since the introduction of the Collective Management Organisations Act in 2016, the DPMA has also been the supervisory authority for dependent and independent management entities.
Dependent management entities are subsidiary companies of one or more collective management organisations. To the extent collective management organisations outsource certain activities, such as the collection of remuneration claims against users, and the subsidiaries thus themselves act as a collective management organisation, they must also observe the provisions of the Collective Management Organisations Act and are subject to supervision by the DPMA. Unlike collective management organisations, dependent management entities are generally not required to obtain authorisation. However, to the extent they manage copyright or related rights, they must notify the DPMA of their activities. Currently, seven dependent management entities have notified their activities.
Independent management entities are usually profit-oriented entities. The main difference from collective management organisations is that independent management entities are not associations of the creative people themselves. Rather, their organisation is independent of the right holders. Nevertheless, they collectively manage the rights of the right holders like a collective management organisation and share their income with them. Only certain provisions of the Collective Management Organisations Act, in particular information requirements, apply to independent management entities; in this respect, they are also subject to supervision by the DPMA. They must notify the DPMA of the commencement of their management activities. Currently, two independent management entities have notified the DPMA accordingly.
- Dependent and independent management entities (in German)
Supervision over authorised entities under the Copyright Act
Since the entry into force of section 45c of the Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz) and the Ordinance on Authorised Entities under the Copyright Act (Verordnung über befugte Stellen nach dem Urheberrechtsgesetz) as of 1 January 2019, the DPMA has been acting as the supervisory authority for authorised entities, in addition to its supervision of collective management organisations. Authorised entities are establishments providing education or accessible reading or information access on a non-profit basis to people with a visual impairment or reading disability (section 45c (3) of the Copyright Act). They include, for example, libraries for the blind, special education centres for blind and visually impaired pupils or format conversion services at universities.
Authorised entities must notify the DPMA of the commencement of their activities. The DPMA can be notified by e-mail Aufsicht.befugteStellen@dpma.de.
Further information and answers to fundamental questions about authorised entities are available in the 
FAQ .
List of authorised entities
The list contains all authorised entities (in alphabetical order) that have notified their activities to the DPMA pursuant to section
45c (5) no. 2 of the Copyright Act.
The classification as an authorised entity pursuant to section 45c (3) of the Copyright Act lies within the responsibility of the notifying establishment. Basically, the DPMA does not verify, prior to the entry in the list of authorised entities, whether the requirements provided for by section 45c (3) of the Copyright Act are fulfilled.
Arbeitsgruppe Services Behinderung und Studium (AG SBS)
(früher: Arbeitsgruppe Studium für Blinde und Sehbehinderte)
Technische Universität Dresden
Nöthnitzer Straße 46
01187 Dresden
Tel: 0351 463 38467
Fax: 0351 463 38491
E-Mail: agsbs@tu-dresden.de
Internet: www.tu-dresden.de/agsbs
Bayerische Hörbücherei für Blinde, Seh- und Lesebeeinträchtigte e.V.
(früher: Bayerische Blindenhörbücherei e.V.)
Lothstraße 62
80335 München
Tel: 089 12155-0
E-Mail: info@bbh-ev.org
Internet: www.bbh-ev.org
Bayerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund e.V. (BBSB)
BIT-Zentrum
Arnulfstr. 22
80335 München
Tel: 089 55988-235
Fax: 089 55988-336
E-Mail: bit@bbsb.org
Internet: www.bbsb.org
Berliner Blindenhörbücherei gemeinnützige GmbH (BHB)
Auerbachstr. 5
14193 Berlin
Tel: 030 826 31 11
Fax: 030 92 37 41 01
E-Mail: info@berliner-hoerbuecherei.de
Internet: www.berliner-hoerbuecherei.de
Blindenhörbibliothek der Stadtbibliothek Köln
Josef-Haubrich-Hof 1
50676 Köln
Tel: 0221 221 26207
E-Mail: blindenbibliothek@stbib-koeln.de
Internet: www.stadt-koeln.de/leben-in-koeln/stadtbibliothek/blindenhoerbibliothek
Blindenschrift-Verlag und –Druckerei gGmbH
„Pauline v. Mallinckrodt“
Graurheindorfer Str. 151a
53117 Bonn
Tel: 0228 55949-20
Fax: 0228 55 949-19
E-Mail: info@pader-braille.de
Internet: www.pader-braille.de
Zentrum für blinde und sehbehinderte Studierende (BliZ) an der Technischen Hochschule Mittelhessen
Wiesenstraße 14
35390 Gießen
Tel: 0641 309 2455
E-Mail: befugte-stelle@bliz.thm.de
Internet: www.thm.de/bliz
Büro für die Belange von Studierenden mit Beeinträchtigungen der Universität Hamburg
(früher: Büro für die Belange Studierender mit Behinderungen oder chronischen Krankheiten der Universität Hamburg)
Universität Hamburg
Alsterterrasse 1
20354 Hamburg
Tel: 040 42838-3764
E-Mail: befugte-stelle@uni-hamburg.de
Internet: www.uni-hamburg.de/studieren-mit-behinderung
Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt e.V. (blista)
Am Schlag 2-12
35037 Marburg
Tel: 06421 606-0
Fax: 06421 606-476
E-Mail: info@blista.de
Internet: www.blista.de
Deutsche Katholische Bücherei für barrierefreies Lesen gGmbH (DKBBLesen)
Graurheindorfer Straße 151a
53117 Bonn
Tel: 0228 55 94 9-0
E-Mail: info@dkbblesen.de
Internet: www.dkbblesen.de
Deutsches Zentrum für barrierefreies Lesen (dzb lesen)
Gustav-Adolf-Straße 7
04105 Leipzig
Tel: 0341 7113-0
Fax: 0341 7113-125
E-Mail: info@dzb.de
Internet: www.dzb.de
Deutscher Verein der Blinden und Sehbehinderten in Studium und Beruf e.V. (DVBS)
Frauenbergstraße 8
35039 Marburg
Tel: 06421 94888-0
E-Mail: info@dvbs-online.de
Internet: www.dvbs-online.de
Hope Hörbücherei
Eine Stimme der Hoffnung für blinde und sehbehinderte Menschen
Sandwiesenstr. 35
64665 Alsbach-Hähnlein
Tel: 06257 506 53-350
E-Mail: info@hope-hoerbuecherei.de
Internet: www.hope-hoerbuecherei.de
Jürgen-Fuchs-Bibliothek
Markt 1
08468 Reichenbach im Vogtland
Tel: 03765 524-4141
E-Mail: fuchs.biblio@reichenbach-vogtland.de
Internet: www.opac.reichenbach-vogtland.de
Kontakt- und Informationsstelle für Studierende mit Behinderung und chronischer Erkrankung (KIS) der Universität Würzburg
Universität Würzburg
KIS
Mensanebengebäude, Am Hubland
97074 Würzburg
Tel: 0931-31-84052
E-Mail: kis@uni-wuerzburg.de
Internet: www.uni-wuerzburg.de/chancengleichheit/kis
Medienzentrale im Landesbildungszentrum für Blinde, Hannover
Bleekstraße 22
30559 Hannover
Tel: 0511 5247-0
Fax: 0511 5247-349
E-Mail: f-j.beck@lbzb.de
Internet: www.lbzb.niedersachsen.de
Norddeutsche Hörbücherei e.V.
Bücherei für blinde, seh- und lesebehinderte Menschen
Georgsplatz 1
20099 Hamburg
Tel: 040 227 286-0
E-Mail: info@blindenbuecherei.de
Internet: www.blindenbuecherei.de
Die Norddeutsche Hörbücherei produziert und verleiht Hörbücher. Der begünstigte Personenkreis umfasst blinde, seh- und lesebehinderte Menschen.
Die Hörbücherei ist Mitglied der Mediengemeinschaft für blinde, seh- und lesebehinderte Menschen e.V. (Medibus).
ProBlind e.V.
Feuchter Str. 3
90610 Winkelhaid
Tel: 0176 466 7434
E-Mail: info@problind.org
Internet: www.problind.org
Service für Blinde und Sehbehinderte (SfBS) der Universitätsbibliothek Dortmund
Technische Universität Dortmund
Sebrathweg 7
44149 Dortmund
Tel: 0231/755-4006
E-Mail: sfbs.ub@tu-dortmund.de
Internet: www.ub.tu-dortmund.de/sfbs
Stadtbibliothek Lößnitz
Marktplatz 13 (Bürgerhaus)
08294 Lößnitz/Erzg.
Tel: 03771 - 55 75 50
Fax: 03771 - 55 75 68
E-Mail: bibliothek@stadt-loessnitz.de
Internet: www.loessnitz.bbopac.de
Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart
Mailänder Platz 1
70173 Stuttgart
Tel: 0711/216-96500
E-Mail: stadtbibliothek@stuttgart.de
Internet: www.stadtbibliothek-stuttgart.de
Stadtbibliothek Werdau
Stadtbibliothek Werdau
Holzstr. 2a
08412 Werdau
Tel: 03761 - 752 62
Fax: 03761 - 885 621
E-Mail: Hohberger@werdau.de
Internet: www.werdau.de/de/bibliothek.html
Waldpiraten-Camp
Promenadenweg 1
69117 Heidelberg
Tel: 06221 180466
E-Mail: camp@kinderkrebsstiftung.de
Internet: https://www.kinderkrebsstiftung.de/wir-helfen/leben-nach-der-behandlung/waldpiraten-camp/
Westdeutsche Bibliothek der Hörmedien
für blinde, seh- und lesebehinderte Menschen e.V. (WBH)
(früher: Westdeutsche Blindenhörbücherei e.V.)
Harkortstr. 9
48163 Münster
Tel: 0251 719901
Fax: 0251 712846
E-Mail: wbh@wbh-online.de
Internet: www.wbh-online.de
The Arbitration Board under the Act on Collective Management Organisations
Contact
Address:
Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt
Zweibrückenstraße 12
80331 München, Germany
Mailing address:
Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt
80297 München, Germany
Phone: +49 89 2195-2673
Fax: +49 89 2195-3306
The Arbitration Board under the Act on Collective Management Organisations (CMO Act) mediates disputes between collective copyright management organisations and users of copyrighted works. For example, the Board deals with disagreements between Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte (GEMA) and concert organisers, discotheque operators, broadcasting organisations and producers of phonograms.
The Board also deals with disputes between broadcasting organisations and cable network operators. A frequently disputed point is whether the tariffs of the collective management organisations are applicable and reasonable in an individual case.
The Arbitration Board strives to reach amicable arrangements between the parties. Where this goal is not already achieved in the course of the proceedings, for example by way of an amicable settlement, the Arbitration Board submits a settlement proposal to the parties. If this proposal is not contested, its effect is similar to a court judgement.
Although the Arbitration Board is integrated in the organisation of the DPMA, it is an autonomous body and not identical with the DPMA as supervisory authority of the CMOs.
The publications by the Arbitration Board, as settlement proposals, decisions, notices and publications (pursuant to Sections 112 (2),114 (2),116, second sentence, of the CMO Act), are only available in German.
Register of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works
Statutory framework:
- Verordnung über das Register anonymer und pseudonymer Werke (Ordinance on the Register of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works – in German)
- Merkblatt über das Register anonymer und pseudonymer Werke beim DPMA (Information on the DPMA Register of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works – in German)
Copyright of a work generally expires 70 years after the author's death (Sec. 64 Copyright Act [Urheberrechtsgesetz]). If the real name of the author is unknown, the date of death of the author cannot be ascertained for determining the beginning of the term of protection. That is why the term of protection is reduced for authors whose works were published anonymously or under a pseudonym (i.e. assumed name); it expires 70 years after publication.
If the real name of the author is submitted for registration in the Register of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works, the term of copyright protection is calculated similarly to that applicable to the works which were not published anonymously or under a pseudonym. Thus the registration ensures the maximum term of copyright protection.
Note: Copyright protection arises by virtue of law immediately upon the creation of a work. Therefore, the registration in the Register of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works does not establish copyright protection of a work.
The Register is kept at the DPMA so that the standard term of protection, pursuant to Section 64 Copyright Act, will apply to works published anonymously or under a pseudonym. It is only a paper-based register and can be inspected at the DPMA.
Orphan Works Database
Statutory framework:
Orphan works are works such as books, magazines and newspapers, films or sound carriers that are still protected by copyright but whose authors or other right holders are not known or cannot be located despite a diligent search.
Under certain conditions, institutions such as publicly accessible libraries or museums are allowed to copy and online publish orphan works contained in their collections for the purpose of digitisation, pursuant to Sections 61 et seqq. Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz). In this case, certain pieces of information on orphan works must be recorded in the Orphan Works Database.
The Orphan Works Database is kept by the European Union Intellectual Property Office ( EUIPO) and is publicly accessible throughout Europe. The background is the Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain permitted uses of orphan works. The DPMA does not keep its own register but forwards the information about orphan works provided by the institutions to the EUIPO for the purpose of making the information available in the European database.
For detailed information and access to the Orphan Works Database please refer to the Website of EUIPO.
Picture: iStock.com/jlgutierrez
Last updated: 19 March 2026
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