jogdíjat

Jogdíjat is the Hungarian term for royalties or licensing fees paid to creators and rights holders for the use of copyrighted works. The payment is required when a work is used beyond private consumption and permission must be obtained to reproduce, perform, distribute, or publicly display the work.

The concept covers a wide range of protected materials, including music, literature, film, photography, software, and databases. Uses that typically trigger jogdíj obligations include public performances, broadcasting, online streaming or publishing, reproduction in prints or digital copies, and distribution in various formats.

Payments are usually governed by licensing arrangements between users and rights holders or their representatives. In many cases, collective management organizations act on behalf of multiple rights holders, issuing licenses and collecting royalties for different types of uses and ensuring distribution to the creators.

Royalties are generally calculated through tariff schedules or negotiated contracts. The calculation takes into account factors such as the type of use, the scope and duration of use, audience size, format, and the revenue generated. Some uses may have statutory rates or minimum fees established by licensing bodies or law.

Legal framework and enforcement are determined by the jurisdiction’s copyright law. In Hungary, the use of jogdíjat is regulated under the national copyright act, which defines rights, licensing processes, and remedies for infringement. Cross-border licensing arrangements enable use of works in other countries through international agreements and reciprocal arrangements.

Examples include a radio station paying jogdíjat for playing songs, a bookstore paying for the right to reproduce excerpts, or a streaming platform compensating rights holders for digital music usage.