VQF

VQF stands for Verein quality-label für freiwillige Urheberrechte (Association for quality-label of voluntary copyrights). It is a Swiss non-profit organization that provides a quality-label for music sellers and download stores that grant free rights to artists, in exchange for a flat fee.

The VQF was founded in 2009 by several Swiss music industry professionals, with the goal of creating a simple and convenient way for artists to license their music for free download. Under the VQF scheme, artists can voluntarily add a small flat fee to their free music downloads, thereby ensuring they receive fair compensation for their work.

To be eligible for the VQF label, online music stores and download sites must adhere to strict guidelines and standards, including paying the flat fee to artists, providing clear information about the license and terms of use, and complying with various technical and operating requirements.

The VQF label is administered by the Verein quality-label für freiwillige Urheberrechte, a non-profit organization registered in Switzerland. The organization's goals include promoting transparency and fairness in music licensing, supporting independent artists and labels, and protecting the rights of music creators.

While the VQF scheme has been widely adopted in Switzerland, it has also been the subject of some controversy and debate within the music industry. Critics have argued that the scheme's flat fee is too low to adequately compensate artists, while others have raised concerns about the potential for quality control issues and piracy.

Despite these challenges, the VQF remains a significant player in the Swiss music market, and a notable example of an effort to strike a balance between the interests of artists, labels, and download sites.