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The agreements with all Norwegian municipalities and counties on photocopying of protected works in primary and secondary schools, as well as in local government administration, expired 31 December 2005.
Photo: Katrine Lunke
After negotiations and mediation, Kopinor and The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) have still not reached a new agreement. Consequently, a ban on copying in schools and municipalities came into effect 1 January.
New statistical surveys show a yearly volume of 260 million copyright protected copy-pages in this sector. KS has demanded a substantial cut in the remuneration. There are also disputes on payment for print-outs from the Internet and for video projection (PowerPoint) usage.
In order to rescue the agreements, Kopinor offered to reduce the total remuneration from the sector by 10,3 million Norwegian kroner (to 88,6 million kroner – € 11 million). However, this last offer was rejected by KS 12 January.
Kopinor has offered to let the public Remuneration Tribunal decide the unresolved matters, but KS has also refused this solution.
In schools and in local authorities, reprographic reproduction etc. from books, newspapers or magazines is now illegal without direct permission from the individual rights holders concerned. To make people aware of this, Kopinor has launched an information campaign with a TV commercial, newspaper ads and letters and posters to each school.