Amateur theatres, school theatres

Performances of a workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... by amateur and school theatres require the authorisation by the authors even if the admission is free. The authorisation is issued by SSA and includes foreign authors. Such authorisation is usually valid for an integral (unabridged and unaltered) performance of a workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... within a specific time frame and for a defined territory.
Application form for an authorisation

SSA passes the application for an authorisation to the authorNatural person creating a work and suggests a remuneration in line with the basic tariff. The authorNatural person creating a work is free to assert his own conditions, be it with respect to the level of the remuneration or the actual scope of of the authorisation. Translations or adaptations of a workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... also require an authorisation. The authorNatural person creating a work may entitle SSA to grant authorisations without prior consultation.

Declaration of income

The relevant party in charge must declare their income by means of our form for the declaration of income within ten days after the end of the performance(s) to SSA.
SSA shall base its invoicing on this declaration of income.

• Check whether the workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... is protected under copyrightEntirety of legal provisions attributing the author of a work moral and proprietary privileges.... or whether it is “free” (the term of protectionTerm during which a work or an intangible performance are protected. The term of protection in Switzerland is 70 years after the death of an author, resp. the last co-author, resp. the director in the case of audiovisual works. It is 50 years for performing artists.... is 70 years). If the workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... is “free”, i.e. in the so-called public domainWorks whose term of protection has expired and which can thus be used without being subject to payment of a remuneration fall into the so-called category of "public domain" (common property)...., you do not have to undertake any further steps. A workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... may, however, be free in its original version, while translations and adaptations are protected.
• Obtain the authorisation from the authors or the rights owners as soon as possible (3 to 6 months before rehearsals begin).
• Provide for a sufficient term of the authorisation and make sure the territorial scope of the authorisation would thus cover any potential foreign performances.
  Indicate exactly which version of the workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... is used.
• Describe any intended modifications and abridgements of the workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.....
• Specify whether any other works or parts thereof shall be integrated (music, song lyrics, quotations).

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In the case of tours and foreign performances it is sufficient to provide SSA with information on the venue and the date, as long as they are covered by the authorisation.Failing this, a new authorisation must be obtained. This principle shall also apply to tours abroad.

Performances by school theatres are subject to remuneration as soon as a performance is not held strictly within the limits of an individual school class. In the case of guest performances at schools, but also in the case of performances by pupils of several grades or of the entire school the rights remuneration must be paid as soon as a workIntellectual property creation in literature and art (as well as computer programmes) exhibiting an individual and therefore unique character. Said individual character is the prerequisite that a work can be protected.... protected by copyrightEntirety of legal provisions attributing the author of a work moral and proprietary privileges.... is performed. This shall also apply in cases of free admission.

Uses at schools are subject to a reduced tariff.

In the case of guest performances at schools, the authorisation must be obtained by the group of performers. The school organising the performance shall notify SSA of the performance in advance in order to clarify the issue of the rights remuneration for the works. In such cases, a different set of tariffs shall apply.