The Swiss Copyright Act regulates the protection of intellectual property in the field of literature and art. It protects works such as books, music, films, works of art and software from unauthorized use and distribution. The law grants authors the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute and publicly perform their works. It also determines how long the protection is valid for a work, usually 70 years after the death of the author. The Copyright Act also contains provisions on the rights of users, such as the right to quote or the right to private copy. Violations of copyright law can lead to legal consequences, such as claims for damages or injunctive relief.
The articles URG
| Art. 1 Subject-Matter |
| Art. 2 CopyrightChapter 1 WorksArt. 2Definition of works |
| Art. 3 Derivative works |
| Art. 4 Collected works |
| Art. 5 Works excluded from protection |
| Art. 6 AuthorArt. 6Definition |
| Art. 7 Joint authorship |
| Art. 8 Presumption of authorship |
| Art. 9 Scope of CopyrightSection 1 Relationship of the Author to his Work |
| Art. 10 Use of the work |
| Art. 11 Integrity of the work |
| Art. 12 Relationship between Authorship and Ownership of Copies of the WorkArt. 12Principle of exhaustion |
| Art. 13 Rental of copies of works |
| Art. 13a Making available of audio-visual works |
| Art. 14 Author’s right of access and exhibition |
| Art. 15 Protection against destruction |
| Art. 16 Assignment of Rights; Debt EnforcementArt. 16Assignment of rights |
| Art. 17 Rights to computer programs |
| Art. 18 Debt enforcement |
| Art. 19 Exceptions to CopyrightArt. 19Private use |
| Art. 20 Remuneration for private use |
| Art. 21 Decoding of computer programs |
| Art. 22 Dissemination of broadcast works |
| Art. 22a Use of broadcasting organisations’ archived works |
| Art. 22b Use of orphan works |
| Art. 22c Making available broadcast musical works |
| Art. 23 Compulsory licence for the manufacture of phonograms |
| Art. 24 Archive and backup copies |
| Art. 24a Temporary copies |
| Art. 24b Copies for broadcasting purposes |
| Art. 24c Use of works by persons with disabilities |
| Art. 24d Use of works for the purposes of scientific research |
| Art. 24e Inventories |
| Art. 25 Quotations |
| Art. 26 Museum, exhibition and auction catalogues |
| Art. 27 Works on premises open to the public |
| Art. 28 Reporting current events |
| Art. 29 Term of ProtectionArt. 29In general |
| Art. 30 Joint authorship |
| Art. 31 Unknown authorship |
| Art. 32 Calculation |
| Art. 33 Related RightsArt. 33Rights of performers |
| Art. 33a Moral rights of performers |
| Art. 34 Collective performance |
| Art. 35 Right to remuneration for the use of phonograms and audio-visual fixations |
| Art. 35a Making available of performances in audio-visual works |
| Art. 36 Rights of phonogram and audio-visual fixation producers |
| Art. 37 Rights of broadcasting organisations |
| Art. 38 Assignment of rights, enforcement, and exceptions and limitations to protection |
| Art. 39 Term of protection |
| Art. 39a Protection of Technological Measures and Rights Management InformationArt. 39aProtection of technological measures |
| Art. 39b Monitoring office for technological measures |
| Art. 39c Protection of rights management information |
| Art. 39d Obligation of Providers of Internet Hosting Services which store Information entered by Users |
| Art. 40 Collective Rights Management OrganisationsChapter 1 Areas Subject to Federal Supervision |
| Art. 41 AuthorisationArt. 41Principle |
| Art. 42 Requirements |
| Art. 43 Term; publication |
| Art. 43a Extended Collective Licences |
| Art. 44 Obligations of the Collective Rights Management OrganisationsArt. 44Obligation to administer rights |
| Art. 45 Principles of the conduct of business |
| Art. 46 Tariffs |
| Art. 47 Joint tariff |
| Art. 48 Principles of distribution |
| Art. 49 Distribution of the proceeds |
| Art. 50 Obligation to provide information and render account |
| Art. 51 Obligation to Provide Information to Collective Rights Management Organisations |
| Art. 52 Supervision of the Collective Rights Management OrganisationsSection 1 Supervision of the Conduct of Business |
| Art. 53 Extent of supervision |
| Art. 54 Measures in cases of failure to comply with obligations |
| Art. 55 Supervision of TariffsArt. 55Federal Arbitration Commission for the Exploitation of Copyrights and Related Rights |
| Art. 56 Composition of the Arbitration Commission |
| Art. 57 Quorum for taking decisions |
| Art. 58 Administrative supervision |
| Art. 59 Approval of the tariffs |
| Art. 60 Principle of equitableness |
| Art. 61 Legal ProtectionChapter 1 Protection under Civil LawArt. 61Action for declaratory judgment |
| Art. 62 Actions for performance |
| Art. 63 Forfeiture in civil proceedings |
| Art. 64 |
| Art. 65 Preliminary measures |
| Art. 66 Publication of the judgment |
| Art. 66a Notification of judgments |
| Art. 67 Criminal ProvisionsArt. 67Copyright infringement |
| Art. 68 Omission of source |
| Art. 69 Infringement of related rights |
| Art. 69a Offences relating to technical protection measures and to rights- management information |
| Art. 70 Unauthorised assertion of rights |
| Art. 71 Offences in business activities |
| Art. 72 Forfeiture in criminal proceedings |
| Art. 73 Prosecution |
| Art. 74 Appeals to the Federal Administrative Court |
| Art. 75 Notification of suspicious goods |
| Art. 76 Application for assistance |
| Art. 77 Withholding of goods |
| Art. 77a Samples |
| Art. 77b Safeguarding manufacturing and trade secrets |
| Art. 77c Application for destruction of the goods |
| Art. 77d Consent |
| Art. 77e Evidence |
| Art. 77f Damages |
| Art. 77g Costs |
| Art. 77h Accountability statement and damages |
| Art. 77i Processing of Personal Data for the purpose of Filing a Criminal Complaint or Reporting a Criminal Offence |
| Art. 78 Final ProvisionsChapter 1 Implementation and Repeal of Current Legislation |
| Art. 79 Repeal of federal legislation |
| Art. 80 Transitional ProvisionsArt. 80Subject-matter already protected |
| Art. 81 Existing contracts |
| Art. 81a Licensees’ right of action |
| Art. 82 Authorisation for the exploitation of copyright |
| Art. 83 Tariffs |
| Art. 84 Referendum and Commencement |
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