The collecting society (VG) Wort is basically the best friend of authors because it reliably transfers money every year. Until a few years ago, the same applied to publishers – but in 2016 the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that there was no legal basis for the distributions to publishers. The transfers were stopped, funds had to be refunded, small publishers saw their existence threatened. The gap has now been closed again. After an EU copyright reform and a change in the law in 2021, publishers are back in the game.
VG Wort: money went to the wrong address – media
