Urheberrechtsgesetz

Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG) is the central German statute governing copyright and related rights. It codifies the protection of literary, scientific and artistic works, as well as the rights of performers, producers of sound recordings, and broadcasting organizations. The act implements European Union directives on copyright and provides the overall framework for how works may be used and protected in Germany.

Protected works include original intellectual creations fixed in a tangible form, such as texts, music, works of art, software, and architectural designs. The author generally holds exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform or display, communicate the work to the public, and create derivative works. In addition to economic rights, the UrhG recognises moral rights that preserve the author’s personal connection to the work, such as attribution and protection against derogatory treatment; these moral rights are typically inalienable or only partially transferable.

Duration of protection follows general rules: for most works, life of the author plus 70 years after death; for joint works, 70 years after the death of the last surviving author; for anonymous or pseudonymous works, 70 years from publication or creation, with variations for neighboring rights like those of performers and producers.

Limitations and exceptions, known as Schrankenregelungen, allow certain uses without permission, including quotations, private use, teaching and research, and some library or accessibility provisions. These limitations aim to balance creators’ rights with public interest and educational needs.

Enforcement is civil and, in certain cases, criminal. Remedies include injunctions, damages and the stopping of infringing activities. Rights management is supported by collective societies such as GEMA for musical works and VG Wort for written and academic works.

The UrhG remains subject to amendments to align with EU law and digital innovation, maintaining its role as Germany’s core copyright framework.