Our customers include educational institutions, businesses and public administration. Our licences allow them to copy and use copyrighted publications and works digitally and use TV contents in a diverse manner. The remunerations collected from the licences are distributed to the authors and publishers of the works.
We are a joint copyright organisation for 45 organisations from the fields of culture and communications. We serve more than 50,000 creative authors and promote the creative economy in Finland.
We work according to our values of openness, unity and boldness to promote creative work.
Through our 45 member organisations, we represent creative authors, such as filmmakers, graphic designers, authors, critics, illustrators, publishers, translators, musicians, actors, directors, radio and TV commentators, lyricists, comic artists, composers, reporters and photographers.
In addition to over 50,000 Finnish authors, performing artists and publishers, we represent foreign authors based on our agreements with our sister organisations abroad.
Our customers include educational institutions, the Finnish state administration, municipalities, religious communities, companies and communities. We sell licences for the copying and digital use of publications and works, as well as for the various ways of using TV contents.
Copying of publications and works in education, businesses and public administration
Our licences allow the photocopying, scanning and digital copying of books, magazines, newspapers and online material in educational environments, businesses and public administration. The extent of the licence depends on the situation. The terms of licences used are negotiated collectively for educational environments and public administration. Businesses, communities and other education providers can purchase licences directly from us.
Online recording services for television programmes
In cooperation with Teosto, Gramex and APFI, we offer a copyright licence required to provide online recording services. Of all the copyright owners of television programmes, this extensive licence includes the AV authors and performers represented by Kopiosto as well as production companies, authors, performers and publishers of musical works and record producers.
Retransmission of TV broadcasts
The retransmission of TV broadcasts in collective antenna networks of housing associations, for example, requires authorisation from the authors of television programmes. We provide a collective licence on behalf of the screenwriters, actors, directors and other AV authors behind the works. Our customers include housing associations, hotels and cable television networks.
Use of TV programmes in education
We license the recording and public performance of TV programmes in educational environments on behalf of AV authors. This licence includes the use of Yle Areena and Elävä Arkisto in education. The licence is acquired annually by the state on behalf of educational institutions. The also acquires a similar licence from the broadcasting companies and film producers.
Use of TV and radio programme recordings in libraries and institutions
Our licence allows the use of recordings of TV and radio programmes produced by Yleisradio, Finland’s national public broadcasting company, in libraries and various institutions. We grant the licence on behalf of AV authors. Libraries and institutions also negotiate on the use of recordings with Yleisradio.
Illustration licence for libraries
If the illustration or cover of a book appears on the video in a main role or is more prominently displayed, its use in the video usually requires permission from the copyright holder. You can easily obtain this illustration licence from Kopiosto on behalf of illustrators. Kopiosto’s license covers both domestic and foreign illustrators.
Use of old newspaper and magazine materials
Our licence allows newspaper and magazine publishers and the National Library of Finland, for instance, to digitise and publish old material online. The extensive scope of our licence includes such authors and copyright holders as journalists, photographers, illustrators, graphic designers and translators. We have also licensed the Elektra online collection of Finnish scientific articles as well as the use of old newspapers and magazines at the National Library of Finland’s Digi service.
We distribute the remunerations collected from licensing fees to the authors and publishers in the creative industry.
Remunerations for radio and TV programmes are primarily distributed as individual remunerations to the authors and performers of the programmes, such as directors, screenwriters and actors.
Remunerations for the use of books, newspapers, magazines and works published online are distributed to our member organisations that forward them to authors and publishers in the form of various grants and awards, for instance.
The copyright remunerations we collect are used to fund several awards in the creative industry, such as the Critics’ Spurs, Warelius Award, Topelius Prize, Mikael Agricola Award, Science Journalist Award, Rudolf Koivu Prize and Finlandia Prize.
In 2020, Kopiosto’s remunerations amounted to 54.1 million euros, 3.6% more than the previous year.
The remunerations came primarily from the use of audiovisual works and from photocopying and digital use of publications. In addition to these, the remunerations include the compensation for private copying and public lending right scheme as well as grants to AVEK from the Ministry of Education and Culture.
The expenses of our operations were 5,1 million euros in total. The previous year, expenses were 5.6 million euros. The decrease in costs is mainly explained by the fact that the previous year’s costs were exceptionally large due to legal proceedings in the Market Court concerning a dispute related to the retransmission of Finnish television channels via cable networks. Additionally, the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on normal operations reduced costs in many respects.
Remuneration funds are invested according to the investment policy approved by Kopiosto’s Board of Directors for the period between collecting licensing revenue and paying our remunerations. In 2020, the returns of investments and financing were in all 0.6 million euros, when the previous year the corresponding figure was 1.0 million euros.
Transfer to funds distributable to copyright holders was 49.6 million euros in total, 5.6% more than the previous year. In 2020, remunerations and grants paid amounted to a total of 65.3 million euros (43.7 the previous year). The considerable increase in the amount of remunerations paid is mainly due to a multi-year dispute between authors and producers about the division of profit from online recording services being settled.
We survey the use of publications in educational institutions, businesses and public administration. In addition, we study how audiovisual works are used in homes and educational institutions.
We utilise this research data in pricing and distributing remunerations, as well as designing new licence models and planning for the future. We continuously develop our research methods, as the studied environment changes at a quick pace.
We work to secure the position of creative authors, defend copyrights and promote a positive attitude towards copyright.
We visit approximately one hundred educational institutions every year to talk about copyrights and copyright licences. We influence legislation by issuing statements and meeting with decision-makers. We develop the industry in cooperation with other organisations and highlight the significance of copyrights and the creative industry in our communications.
Openness
We are interested and present
We share information
We are easy to approach
Boldness
We advocate our issues boldly
We recognise opportunities
We explore ideas and experiment
We take a stand
Unity
We listen and ask questions
We respect different perspectives
We find solutions together
We build trust through cooperation
Promoting creative work
Vision
Copyrights are valued
Mission
We facilitate the extensive and legal use of works in cooperation with copyright holders.
Strategy 2020-2021
Permission granted
Authorised by authors and publishers, Kopiosto provides quick and easy solutions that meet the needs of users. Copyright holders are provided with appropriate remunerations. The strong shared voice of our extensive membership base ensures people’s growing appreciation and defending of copyrights. We operate at the very heart of a multi-channel media world in an efficient, open and cooperative manner.
Cornerstones of our strategy
1. Deep understanding of users’ needs
We have the ability and skills to create copyright solutions for users with judically definite and secure way. Our licences are clear and easy to acquire.
We are a respected agreement and co-operation partner
We innovatively develop nw licencing activities
We create electronic solutions for users
2. Important services and information for rightsholders
We establish and strengthen trust with systematic and continuous communication
We distribute remunerations to rightsholders quickly and cost-efficiently
We manage and protect the copyright authorisations we are given
We develop electronic solutions for rightsholders
3. Continuous development of copyrights
We network and influence actively
Our communication about copyright is systematic, proactive and positive
We work to secure the autonomy of rightholders
4. Effective and open operations
We have a clear and effecient administrative model
We handle and solve conflicts of interest in an open manner
Rightsholders understand and accept what we do and why, and how we operate
We have a collaborative staff who wants to educate itself
We are members of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) and Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA).
Reciprocal agreements
We have made reciprocal agreements with other collective management organisations concerning rights management and distribution of remunerations. These agreements enable us to grant licences for the use of foreign publications and audiovisual works in Finland. Accordingly, we are also able to distribute remunerations to Finnish rightsholders for the use of their works abroad.
We have reciprocal agreements with the following collective management organisations:
Audiovisual rights
Copyswede (Sweden), Norwaco (Norway), Copydan (Denmark), SABAM (Belgium), SGAE ja DAMA (Spain), SDCSI (Ireland), ALCS, Directors UK ja Screen Craft Rights (UK), SIAE (Italy), VDFS (Austria), AKKA/LAA (Latvia), SFP-ZAPA (Poland), SACD ja SCAM (France), Bildkunst (Germany), Lita (Slovakia), SSA ja Suissimage (Switzerland), Hungart ja Filmjus (Hungary), EAÜ (Estonia), OAZA, Dilia ja OOA-S (Czech Republic), Albautor (Albania), AWGACS ja ASDACS (Australia), WGJ (Japan), CSCS ja DRCC (Canada), SOGEM (Mexico), DAC ja Argentores (Argentina), DHFR (Croatia).
Reprographic rights
ACCESS (Canada), Bonus Copyright Access (Sweden), CAL (Australia), Copyright Lisensing Agency CLA (UK), Copyright Clearence Center CCC (USA), CEDRO (Spain), Copydan Writing (Denmark), Fjölrit (Faroe Islands), Newspaper Lisensing Agency NLA (UK), Reprobel (Belgium), VG Musikedition (Germany), Kopinor (Norway), CFC (France), CADRA (Argentina), CopyRus (Russia), Fjölis (Iceland), HARR (Hungary), HKRRLS (Hong Kong), Jamcopy (Jamaica), KOPIPOL (Poland), Literar-Mechana (Austria), MASA (Mauritius), ProLitteris (Switzerland), TTRRO (Trinidad and Tobago), VG Wort (Germany), ALCS (UK) ja CLASS (Singapore).
The Promotion Center for Audiovisual Culture, AVEK operates as a part of Kopiosto. It promotes audiovisual culture with copyright remunerations by supporting the works, productions, and projects of audiovisual industry professionals. The majority of the funds come from private copying levies financed from the General State Budget.
AVEK supports the production of documentary and short films, short animations and media art, international promotion of the Finnish audiovisual industry, further education of professionals in the audiovisual field, and industry events and festivals.
For the development of cultural content and entrepreneurship, AVEK awards DigiDemo, CreaDemo/CreMa and StepDemo grants from the Creative Culture funds allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
AVEK has a board of directors, an education section, and creative culture expert groups (DigiDemo, CreaDemo, and CreMa) appointed by the Kopiosto board of directors.