Collection and distribution

SSA collects works usage remuneration from the users of such works and passes it on to authors and rights owners. The payout of remuneration is usually based on the actual usage of the individual works. The type of 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.... usage as well as the bases of calculation are shown in detail on the distribution statements.

Users often notify SSA about their 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.... usages without being prompted to do so. SSA does, however, monitor the exploitation of works in the media as well.

Broadcasting rightsThe right to authorise the terrestrial, satellite or internet transmission of a work via a broadcaster (radio, TV)....

SSA periodically negotiates the price for the exploitation of its repertoireEntirety of works of a certain administration category with the radio and TV stations and subsequently issues an invoice to them. The total income thus collected is distributed among the authors in line with the broadcast duration of the individual works, with minute-based tariffs being applied. The latter depend on 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.... category as well as criteria such as time of broadcast, initial broadcast (premiere) or repetitions, 1st or 2nd broadcasting group etc. The distribution is made monthly based on a provisional tariff and shall be complemented, if applicable, via a later allocation once the definitive numbers are available.

Catch-up TV

SSA negotiates with the TV broadcasters the conditions subject to which they may make the works of the SSA repertoireEntirety of works of a certain administration category available on their website for a duration of seven days after the broadcast.

Stage performing rights

Remuneration for performing rights is collected for each 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.... per seriesAudiovisual work consisting of several episodes using the same basic elements yet telling a self-contained story each time.... of performances and directly credited to the authorNatural person creating a work. A proportional share of the income from ticket sales or a minimum amount per available seat forms the basis for the calculation (in the case of guest performances and tour performances a percentage of the sales price of the performance). For school theatres and professional ensembles’ performances at schools, a preferential tariff shall apply.

Reproduction rights

Remuneration for reproduction and distribution of 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.... copies (sound and audiovisual recordings with content) is collected from the respective publishers.

Mandatory collective management rights

The five Swiss collective management organisationsThere are five collective management organisations (CMOs) in Switzerland for authors' and related rights: ProLitteris, SSA, SUISSIMAGE, SUISA, SWISSPERFORM... (SSA, SUISSIMAGE, SUISA, ProLitteris, Swissperform) jointly negotiate a common tariffConditions governing the collection of remuneration under the scope of mandatory collective management, negotiated between the Swiss collective management organisations and the associations representing work users. The tariffs are authorised by the Swiss Federal Arbitration Commission for copyright and related rights.... with the respective users’ umbrella organisations for each sector and determine a collective management organisationThere are five collective management organisations (CMOs) in Switzerland for authors' and related rights: ProLitteris, SSA, SUISSIMAGE, SUISA, SWISSPERFORM... among themselves as the agency for collection in each case. The remuneration thus collected is split according to the respective repertoireEntirety of works of a certain administration category shares among the collective management organisationsThere are five collective management organisations (CMOs) in Switzerland for authors' and related rights: ProLitteris, SSA, SUISSIMAGE, SUISA, SWISSPERFORM...; they pass it on to their members in question. Distributions are made annually.

Internet

There are no binding tariffs for the rapidly developing sector of online usagesUsage via digital networks (internet and other networks) on the internet yet. The simulcastSimultaneous, unaltered and unabridged transmission of radio and TV broadcasts via internet.... usage by different broadcasters is integrated in the broadcasting tariffs. Other digital kinds of exploitation shall be governed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account existing tariffs wherever possible.

Collections abroad

SSA has concluded contracts on reciprocal representation with the majority of foreign authors’ rights organisations which are active in the same sector. Each society collects remuneration according to its own tariffs in its territory and transfers them to the respective sister society. In such countries or areas where SSA does not have any representation, it can become active directly.

Rights in publishing contracts on translated stage works

SSA manages the rights of its members for publishing contracts on translated stage works and represents them vis-à-vis the publishers. The members of the cooperative submit their contracts to SSA before their signing. The remunerations owed by the publisher are payed via SSA, who also monitors whether the contractual obligations are respected.

SSA deductions

Of the rights remuneration collected, SSA retains a share varying depending on the kind of usage in order to finance its expenditure (average 2020: 11.12%) and to subsidise cultural and social funds (with up to 10% of the net royaltiesRemuneration for authors' rights).