From 7th-11th April 2025 the 46th SCCR meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva took place. On that occasion the Coordinator of PLR International, Arjen Polman, commented on the presented revised Scoping Study on Public Lending Right, prepared by Sabine Richly, Lawyer for Media Right. PLRI had constantly supported the proposal for a WIPO Scoping PLR Study by the Republics of Sierra Leone, Panama, and Malawi.
The revised scoping study by Sabine Richly (Digital Media Law) for the WIPO SCCR 46 includes feedback by Member States and peer reviews by independent experts, on the comparative analysis of PLR systems in function, and those with provisions across different countries.
PLR International was honoured to provide perspectives and insights from developed schemes and monitorings on countries with provision for lending.
From the executive summary
This (revised) scoping study provides a factual, comparative analysis of PLR systems across different countries, with the aim to uncover similarities, differences, and practices within these global systems.
The objective of the study is to provided information, it has no intention to set new international norms.
The study discusses the adaptability of Public Lending Right (in the following: PLR) systems to diverse national cultural goals and economic contexts, as evidenced by the 35 systems currently in operation (“active systems”) and a number of systems in development worldwide. While libraries lend books all over the world, this study examines the systems where rightsholders are compensated for that lending. Most of these systems, reflect how PLR can align with a spectrum of policy objectives and national circumstances. The study suggests that establishment of a robust PLR system requires the close cooperation and collaborative efforts among government, library, and right holder representatives to achieve meaningful compensation without straining library budgets.
About the content
The study covers the three legal forms of PLR regulation in the 35 active PLR systems, as well as Libraries and Materials covered by PLR. The revised study looks into Eligible recipients of PLR and its restrictions per country. The overview on funding for PLR systems including different systems (flat fee – number of library loans – number of library card holders – value of acquisitions – stock count – page count method – payment exemptions) includes also an insight on Sums paid per capita (per inhabitant) in average and in median value.
The revised study looks into Governance (e.g. by CMOs, by government bodies or by authors’ representative organizations), and presents Distribution criteria.
Further Key insights from the analysis of PLR systems globally include State Funding Mechanism, Objective Assessment Criteria, Periodic Payment Adjustments, Periodic adjustments of payments, Public Library Coverage of materials and the varieties of Eligible recipients in PLR systems.
The tables included in the study are designed to provide information about key factors for the purpose of comparison. In the interest of making various PLR systems comparable, certain estimations and ratings have been employed.
The country reports provide a basis for further exploration of primary sources for comprehensive insights into each PLR system.
PLR International reminds on WIPO Member States: “Without authors works and investment by their publishing partners, libraries would not be able to fulfil their societal mandates; however, ensuring appropriate remuneration without compromising library budgets is key. In any society, cultural diversity through a rich offering of creative and informative works reflecting nation culture and traditions is key. In this ecosystem, it is paramount that public libraries receive appropriate funding – and that authors and further rightsholders receive a fair remuneration, to ensure the sustainability of library collections.”
To the revised study and updated annex:
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- TO THE REVISED STUDY
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/copyright/en/sccr_45/sccr_45_7_rev.pdf - STUDY in several international languages
https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=629405 - REVISED and UPDATED ANNEX:
REPORTS OF COUNTRIES OPERATING AN ACTIVE PLR SYSTEM (doc)
https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=642391
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/copyright/en/sccr_45/sccr_45_7_rev_annex_i.pdf
- TO THE REVISED STUDY
- Annex II: Countries with Provisions for Lending (without an active PLR system).
In English:
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/copyright/en/sccr_45/sccr_45_7_rev_annex_ii.pdf - In Spanish:
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/copyright/es/sccr_45/sccr_45_7_rev_annex_ii.pdf
To the full comment by PLR International on the revised Study:
https://plrinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Intervention-at-WIPO-SCCR46.pdf
