About us

Through our 44 member organisations, we represent creative authors, such as filmmakers, graphic designers, authors, critics, illustrators, publishers, translators, musicians, actors, directors, radio and TV commentators, lyricists, comic artists, composers, reporters and photographers. 

In addition to over 80,000 Finnish authors, performing artists and publishers, we represent foreign authors based on our agreements with our sister organisations abroad.

Kopiosto member organisations

Our customers include educational institutions, the Finnish state administration, municipalities, religious communities, companies and communities. We sell licences for the copying and digital use of publications and works, as well as for the various ways of using TV contents. 

Copying of publications and works in education, businesses and public administration 

Our licences allow the photocopying, scanning and digital copying of books, magazines, newspapers and online material in educational environments, businesses and public administration. The extent of the licence depends on the situation. The terms of licences used are negotiated collectively for educational environments and public administration. Businesses, communities and other education providers can purchase licences directly from us. 

Online recording services for television programmes 

In cooperation with Teosto, Gramex and APFI, we offer a copyright licence required to provide online recording services. Of all the copyright owners of television programmes, this extensive licence includes the AV authors and performers represented by Kopiosto as well as production companies, authors, performers and publishers of musical works and record producers. 

Retransmission of TV broadcasts 

The retransmission of TV broadcasts in collective antenna networks of housing associations, for example, requires authorisation from the authors of television programmes. We provide a collective licence on behalf of the screenwriters, actors, directors and other AV authors behind the works. Our customers include housing associations, hotels and cable television networks. 

Use of TV programmes in education 

We license the recording and public performance of TV programmes in educational environments on behalf of AV authors. This licence includes the use of Yle Areena and Elävä Arkisto in education. The licence is acquired annually by the state on behalf of educational institutions. The also acquires a similar licence from the broadcasting companies and film producers. 

Use of TV and radio programme recordings in libraries and institutions 

Our licence allows the use of recordings of TV and radio programmes produced by Yleisradio, Finland’s national public broadcasting company, in libraries and various institutions. We grant the licence on behalf of AV authors. Libraries and institutions also negotiate on the use of recordings with Yleisradio. 

Illustration licence for libraries

If the illustration or cover of a book appears on the video in a main role or is more prominently displayed, its use in the video usually requires permission from the copyright holder. You can easily obtain this illustration licence from Kopiosto on behalf of illustrators. Kopiosto’s license covers both domestic and foreign illustrators.

Use of old newspaper and magazine materials 

Our licence allows newspaper and magazine publishers and the National Library of Finland, for instance, to digitise and publish old material online. The extensive scope of our licence includes such authors and copyright holders as journalists, photographers, illustrators, graphic designers and translators. We have also licensed the Elektra online collection of Finnish scientific articles as well as the use of old newspapers and magazines at the National Library of Finland’s Digi service. 

Use of works in cultural heritage institutions

Cultural heritage institutions. i.e. libraries, archives and museums, can acquire permission from us to digitise and provide works included in their collections online. We serve as the licence-granting for magazine materials, photographs, ephemera, sheet music and visual and photographic works in literary works.

We distribute the remunerations collected from licensing fees to the authors and publishers in the creative industry. 

Remunerations for radio and TV programmes are primarily distributed as individual remunerations to the authors and performers of the programmes, such as directors, screenwriters and actors. 

Remunerations for the use of books, newspapers, magazines and works published online are distributed to our member organisations that forward them to authors and publishers in the form of various grants and awards, for instance. 

The copyright remunerations we collect are used to fund several awards in the creative industry, such as the Critics’ Spurs, Warelius Award, Topelius Prize, Mikael Agricola Award, Science Journalist Award, Rudolf  Koivu Prize and Finlandia Prize. 

In 2023, our revenue from remunerations totalled 51.2 million euros, 2.0% less than in the previous year. The most significant factors behind the drop were the decrease in the users of online recording services and the copying activities within municipalities and wellbeing services counties.

Most of our revenue came from the use of audiovisual and the copying and use of publications. In addition to these, the revenue includes the compensation for private copying and public lending remunerations, as well as the Ministry of Education and Culture’s creative culture grants to AVEK. As an entirely new revenue item, the AVEK earnings include external funding from the Kehittämö programme with the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

The operating expenses in 2023 totalled 5.3 million euros, which was at a level corresponding to the previous year.

Remuneration funds will be invested in accordance with the investment policy approved by Kopiosto’s Board of Directors for the period between their collection and distribution. In 2023, the profit/loss of the investment and funding operations stood at 1.7 million euros, whereas the profit/loss of the previous year was exceptionally 0.6 million euros in the negative.

In 2023, the total amount of revenue transferred to copyright holders was 47.5 million euros, 2.9% more than in the previous year.

We survey the use of publications in educational institutions, businesses and public administration. In addition, we study how audiovisual works are used in homes and educational institutions. 

We utilise this research data in pricing and distributing remunerations, as well as designing new licence models and planning for the future. We continuously develop our research methods, as the studied environment changes at a quick pace. 

Research

We work to secure the position of creative authors, defend copyrights and promote a positive attitude towards copyright. 

We visit approximately one hundred educational institutions every year to talk about copyrights and copyright licences. We influence legislation by issuing statements and meeting with decision-makers. We develop the industry in cooperation with other organisations and highlight the significance of copyrights and the creative industry in our communications. 

Openly

We are interested and present 

We share information 

We are easy to approach 

Boldly

We advocate our issues boldly 

We recognise opportunities 

We explore ideas and experiment 

We take a stand 

Together

We listen and ask questions 

We respect different perspectives 

We find solutions together 

We build trust through cooperation 

Promoting creative work 

Strategy 2023–2030

Values

We promote creative work openly, boldly and together.

Mission

Kopiosto adapts to the changes in the creative industries and facilitates the extensive and legal use of works in cooperation with copyright holders.

Vision 2030

With our contribution, the importance of creative content will increase. Copyright holders will receive the remunerations for the use of their works. The users of works have more flexible possibilities than today to utilize creative works while respecting copyright.

Strategic focus areas

1. New revenue streams

Our goal is to ensure that creative professionals and the publishers of creative work will continue to receive the remunerations they deserve for the use of their works in the future, too.

In the changing circumstances, we are actively looking for new potential revenue streams when some of the traditional revenue streams have become threatened due to cuts in the public economy, changes in consumer habits as well as technological development. We will also continue working to safeguard the current sources of revenue.

2. Improving the lobbying

We influence matters boldly and increasingly more visibly to secure the position of creative professionals and publishers, defend copyrights and promote a positive attitude towards copyright. Our lobbying is based on a systematic approach, interaction and building cooperation together with our interest groups. We are a copyright expert that always provides support for political decision-makers and public officials.

3. Renewal

We move with the times. We increase our capabilities by means such as knowledge-based management and building new kinds of partnerships. We use data in more diverse ways than before for e.g. defining remunerations, reporting, and strengthening representation by improving the reliability and legitimacy of the copyright system. We develop the expertise of our personnel and ensure that they meet the needs resulting from the changing operating environment.

The foundation of our activities

1. Services for the users of works

• • We have the ability and skills needed to solve different usage needs in a way that is safe and legally secure. Our licences are clear and easy to acquire.
  • We are a desired partner for agreements and cooperation.
  • We innovatively develop new licensing activities.
  • We create electronic solutions for users.

2. Services for copyright holders

• • We strengthen trust through continuous interaction.
  • We distribute remunerations to copyright holders quickly and cost-efficiently.
  • We manage and protect the copyright authorisations we are given.
  • We develop digital solutions for copyright holders.​

3. Promoting and defending copyright

• • We network and influence actively.
  • Our communication about copyright is systematic, proactive and positive.
  • We work to secure the autonomy of copyright holders.​

4. Effective and open administration

• • We have a clear and efficient administrative model.
  • We handle and solve conflicts of interest in an open manner.
  • Copyright holders understand and accept what we do and why, and how we operate.
  • Our personnel cooperate and develop their expertise.

We are members of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) and Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA).

Reciprocal agreements

We have made reciprocal agreements with other collective management organisations concerning rights management and distribution of remunerations. These agreements enable us to grant licences for the use of foreign publications and audiovisual works in Finland. Accordingly, we are also able to distribute remunerations to Finnish rightsholders for the use of their works abroad.

We have reciprocal agreements with the following collective management organisations:

Audiovisual rights

Reprographic rights

The Promotion Center for Audiovisual Culture, AVEK operates as a part of Kopiosto. It promotes audiovisual culture with copyright remunerations by supporting the works, productions, and projects of audiovisual industry professionals. The majority of the funds come from private copying levies financed from the General State Budget.

AVEK supports the production of documentary and short films, short animations and media art, international promotion of the Finnish audiovisual industry, further education of professionals in the audiovisual field, and industry events and festivals.

For the development of cultural content and entrepreneurship, AVEK awards DigiDemo, CreaDemo/CreMa and StepDemo grants from the Creative Culture funds allocated by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

AVEK has a board of directors, an education section, and creative culture expert groups (DigiDemo, CreaDemo, and CreMa) appointed by the Kopiosto board of directors.

Visit AVEK’s website