GVL (copyright collection society)

GVL
Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH
Founded1959
FounderDeutsche Orchestervereinigung e.V. (DOV) and the Deutsche Landesgruppe der internationalen Vareinigung der phonographischen industrie
TypeGmbH Company with limited liability
Registration no.Company registration number: District Court Charlottenburg, HRB 92075
Location
Area served
International
ServicesMusic copyright collection organisation
Key people
Guido Evers
Tilo Gerlach
Revenue€230 million (2019)
Websitewww.gvl.de/en

The GVL (German: Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH) is a German music copyright collection society that represents the interests of performing artists and producers of sound recordings. Its German name translates to English as "Society for the exploitation of ancillary copyrights".

Incorporated in 1959, the GVL represents 160,000 performers and over 12,000 rights-holders. They have international agreements in place, often referred to as "reciprocal deals"[1][2][3][4][5] with music copyright collection societies including Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), the oldest established sound recordings copyright collective.[6] The GVL also collects so-called "secondary exploitation rights" on behalf of its members.[7][8]

The total income of the GVL in 2014 was €163.4 million.[9][10] The GVL collected approximately €230 million ($261 million) for members in 2018, a 25.9 percent decline of income compared to the previous year's high of €310 million ($352 million).[11][12] In May 2020 GEMA and GVL called for a state aid program for all sectors of the music industry in view of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

History

Foundation of GVL (1959)

The GVL was founded as a joint society in 1959 by the German orchestra union, Deutsche Orchestervereinigung e.V. (DOV)[14] and the private company Deutsche Landesgruppe der internationalen Vareinigung der phonographischen industrie, which was the German national group of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The first two managing directors were Herrmann Voss and Rudi Thalheim.[15] Its full legal name is Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH.

Foundation of ZPÜ (1963)

On 16 May 1963 GEMA, VG Wort and the GVL founded ZPÜ which is, as of 2020, an association of nine German collective management organisations which asserts claims for remuneration, information and reporting related to reproductions/copies of audio and audiovisual works pursuant to Art. 53 paragraph 1-3 German Copyright Ac. Due to massive back payments, the GVL collected nearly €170 million ($200 million) in this sector in 2017.[16][17][18]

On 9 September 1965 the German legislature integrated Neighbouring Rights into the Copyright Law of Germany called Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG) as Related Rights to both Producers and Performers.

Introduction of the Label Code (1976)

Since 1 May 1976, the GVL had used the Label Code (also referred to as "Labelcode") for its internal data. The first issued Label Code 00001 was in 1977 and was issued to the record company Ultraphone. Label Codes made it easier for broadcasters to detect which recordings were covered by the broadcasting license agreement with the GVL. The Broadcast Reports are vital for the remuneration of producers. However, the absence of individual track identification and associated Performers via the Label Code system via ISRC use has meant allocation of some performers' rights to equitable remuneration have been neglected. As of 2017, the GVL has adopted the internationally recognised ISRC form of sound recording identification which enables the remuneration to be allocated on an individual recording much more precisely than before.[19]

Associates

Associates of the GVL are the Deutsche Orchestervereinigung e.V. (German Orchestra Association, short: DOV), Bundesverband Musikindustrie e.V. (Federal Association of the Music Industry; BVMI), Bundesverband Schauspiel e.V. (Federal Acting Association; BFFS) and the Verband unabhängiger Musikunternehmer*innen (Association of Independent Musicians and Music Companies; VUT).[20]

References

  1. ^ "PPL announces Performer ER deal with Jamaican society | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  2. ^ "PPL, ADAMI Strike Reciprocal Deal". Billboard. 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  3. ^ "PPL announces reciprocal deal with Serbian society | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  4. ^ "PPL does reciprocal deal with New Zealand society | Complete Music Update". Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  5. ^ "PPL ADDS EUROPEAN PARTNERS". connection.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2020-08-23.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Q&A International affairs". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  7. ^ "Legal basis". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten. 2015-03-12. Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  8. ^ "Wenn die GVL kassiert, merkt es keiner | Ausgabe: 2/10 | nmz - neue musikzeitung". www.nmz.de. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  9. ^ "GVL steigert Gesamterträge um 8,5 Prozent auf 163,4 Millionen Euro". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten (in German). 2015-06-15. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  10. ^ "DPMA | Liste der Verwertungsgesellschaften". Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  11. ^ "German Neighbouring Rights Org GVL Turns 60". Billboard. 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  12. ^ "General management". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  13. ^ "Musikwirtschaft fordert Hilfsprogramm in Höhe von 582 Millionen Euro". www.das-musikinstrument.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  14. ^ "Home - German Orchestra Union | DOV". www.dov.org. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  15. ^ "Our history". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  16. ^ "Our history". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  17. ^ "Reproduction/copying". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  18. ^ "Copyright Levies in Germany - Settlement for Computers, Netbooks & Co". Global Media and Communications Watch. 2014-01-31. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  19. ^ "Der Labelcode wurde abgeschafft". Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  20. ^ "About". GVL | Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2020-08-24.