Lexicon
Board of Authors and Board of Publishers: the Boards are in charge of the distribution of the remunerations collected by Reprobel. The Board of Authors encompasses the Belgian copyright management companies for authors (Assucopie, Jam, Sabam, Sacd, Scam, Sofam and Vewa), whilst the Board of Publishers encompasses the Belgian copyright management companies for publishers (Copiebel, Copiepresse, Librius, Reprocopy, Repro PP, Repropress, Sabam and Semu). The Boards are also a forum for debate and the exchange of information, as well as reflection and development of common positions on topics of relevance to the authors or publishers.
Digital exception for education and scientific research: the law stipulates that the rights holders are entitled to remuneration for the reproduction and the release of their works that are authorised in closed networks (for example the intra and extranets to which students have access with login and password) in schools, universities and scientific institutions.
Duplicator (mimeograph): a stencil machine with ink or alcohol. A forerunner of the photocopy machine.
Equipment levy: remuneration on photocopy machines, independent of the actual use and the lifespan of these devices. The equipment levy payers are the manufacturers, importers and intracommunity purchasers of these devices.
Equipment levy payer: manufacturer, importer or intracommunity purchaser who is required to pay a contribution on photocopy machines he brings onto the Belgian market. This contribution compensates for the copies of protected works that the equipment levy payer makes with these devices.
Foreign mandates: reciprocal agreements that Belgian members of Reprobel establish with foreign societies regarding reprography or public lending right remuneration. Through this mandate Reprobel transfers the remunerations collected in Belgium on behalf of foreign rights holders to the Belgian copyright management companies that represent the foreign societies.
IFRRO (International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations): the international federation that encompasses copyright management companies who grant licenses or collect remunerations for the use (reproduction on paper or digital support, or release to the public) of literary, graphic or photographic works. The general secretariat is in Brussels.
Mailing: annual mailing in which Reprobel sends out the declaration forms to those liable to pay remunerations. They submit a declaration of honour of the total number of copies that they have made and the estimated percentage of copies of protected works.
Multifunctional device: a device that combines various functions (such as faxing, photocopying, printing or scanning).
Office offset printer: small, lightweight device for offset printing, a printing technique that transfers ink from a photographically exposed metal plate onto paper.
Operator levy: remuneration based on the number of copies of protected works. The operator levy payers are people or organisations who make copies or make photocopy machines available to others.
Operator levy payer: natural or moral person (such as a company, a government institution or school) that makes copies of protected works or that provides – either free of charge or for a fee – a photocopy machine or a multifunctional device to customers or users (such as a copyshop or a library).
Private copy: in Belgium, as a citizen, you have the right to make a copy of a music CD or a film on DVD. In order to support this right you pay a fee on devices that enable you to make a copy: your CD-writer, for example or your external hard disk, your USB stick or your iPod. This fee currently only goes to the music and film sector. Since 2005 photographers and publishers of books, newspapers, magazines and sheet music are supposed to be able to receive remuneration as well but the amendment to the law currently remains inactive. Auvibel collects the remuneration on the devices and supports with which people are able to make a private copy.
Public lending: zie Pubic Lending right
Public lending right: the rights holders of literary works, databases, photographic works or sheet music and sound and audiovisual works are entitled to a remuneration for the lending of their works in lending institutions that are certified or organised by the government. Reprobel collects this remuneration. It is subsequently further distributed between Reprobel and Auvibel. The boards of the societies are responsible for the distribution.
Reciprocal agreement: copies are not only made in Belgium. Works by Belgian rights holders are also copied abroad. And the inverse of course also happens, with works of foreign rights holders being copied in Belgium. That is why Reprobel establishes reciprocal agreements with foreign sister organisations. This way, together we are able to fairly distribute the remunerations stemming from transborder copying. The regulation of this type of remunerations is sometimes carried out through closed exchange (reciprocal agreement type B), but generally, it is a matter of actual money transfer (type A).
Release: operation at the close of the fiscal year in which the general assembly of Reprobel decides which amounts to be allocated to each board for distribution. The amount corresponds to the amounts collected by Reprobel (= revenues on machines and on copies, and revenues for the public lending right remuneration) increased by the financial revenue earned prior to the distribution, with the general management costs of Reprobel deducted.
(Remuneration for) Reprography: authors and publishers of works are entitled to a remuneration for the photocopying of their works by natural or moral persons for private purposes or as an illustration in education or scientific research.
RRO (Reproduction Right Organisation): a copyright collection society that grants licenses or collects remunerations (reproduction on paper or digital support, or release to the public) of literary, graphic or photographic works.
Stand-alone device: device that can only send faxes or make copies or print or scan (in contrast to a multifunctional device that combines various functions)
Year of use: the year in which the copy is made, in which the copy machine came onto the market, or in which the works were borrowed, regardless of the year in which Reprobel collects the remunerations.
