German Public Lending Right (PLR)

What is German PLR?

We receive public lending right royalties from our German sister society for works published in German books. We distribute this to our members every year through the German PLR.

How it works

1. Complete a German PLR claim.
2. We send the claim information to our German sister society, VG Bildkunst.
3. VG Bildkunst compare our claim information with their lending data and assess if a royalty payment is due.
4. If there is a match, VG Bildkunst pay us a royalty which we will distribute to you.

What you can, and cannot, claim for

Your can claim for:

• work featured in a book published by a German publisher, with a print run of at least 250 copies (or 1,000 copies where the book is wordless picture book).
  
• all types of published artwork, including photography, illustration, caricature, cartoon images, logos, infographics, title design and graphic design. We accept a maximum of 200 artistic works per book.
• German-language publications, and for uses of scientific works for English-language publications, in the following types of books: children’s and youth literature; non-fiction and specialist books; llustrated books, art books, fiction, other books; school books; and scientific books
• books from the year of publication, up to four years thereafter. For example, a book published in 2024 will be eligible up until 2028.

• books published prior to 2020, unless it is a new edition. A new edition is defined as content and/or design that has changed significantly in comparison to the original version.

• reprinted books e.g. where the content and design remain unchanged.
• scientific or non-fiction/specialist books books where you are both the author and illustrator.
• magazines, newspapers or audio books.

Picture libraries cannot claim PLR on your behalf.

What information to include

List past uses of your work in books, providing the following information:

• Name of publisher, year of publication and ISBN (international standard book number).
• Language type – German or other
• Type of book (children’s, non-fiction, art, school or scientific book).
• List separately number of photos on the front cover and inside book.
• Do the same for visual works e.g. illustration, comics and graphics.
• Confirm whether you have designed the book’s overall graphic design and/or the title design.

ISBNs and book titles are necessary for our German sister society to match the book to their data on lending usage within public libraries and to correctly confirm whether a book has been published in Germany.

Making your German PLR claim

If you are new claimant, please list all eligible works in books published between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023.

If you claimed before and have no new works to add, there is no need to complete a new form. We will automatically submit your claim for you.

If you have new works to add since then, between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, please add them to your claim.

Email your completed form to us.

Is it free to register for German PLR?

Yes. As a not for profit organisation, DACS deducts 15% from your German PLR royalties to cover our administrative costs.

The difference between Dutch PLR, UK PLR and Payback

Payback and PLR are two separate schemes, each operating differently with distinct eligibility criteria.

DACS manages Payback for visual artists in the UK. This scheme covers secondary uses of your works, like photocopying, scanning and cable retransmission.

The Public Lending Right remunerates artists and authors for the lending of books that feature their work throughout public libraries in a specific territory.

The UK Public Lending Right scheme is distinct from Dutch and German PLR which are distributed through DACS. UK PLR is administered by The British Library and it relates only to books loaned in public libraries in the United Kingdom.

How to get in touch with us

Email the DACS Payback team or call 0207 780 7580.