WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 
IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
16 February 2012 
 (12-0878) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
 
  
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
LAWS AND REGULATIONS NOTIFIED UNDER 
ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
 
FINLAND 
 
 The present document reproduces the text
 of the Copyright Act 8.7.1961/404, as notified by 
Finland on 10 February 2011 under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
 
 Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété 
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce  
 
  
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET RÉGLEMENTATIONS CONSACRÉES À LA 
PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIÉES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
 
FINLANDE 
  Le présent document contient le texte
1 de la Loi sur le droit d'au teur 8.7.1961/404, notifié par 
la Finlande le 10 février 2011 au titre de l'article 63:2 de l'Accord (voir le document IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
 
 
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad 
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio  
  
 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA PROPIEDAD 
INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD DEL PÁRRAFO 2 
DEL ARTÍCULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
 
FINLANDIA 
  En el presente documento se reproduce el texto
1 de la Ley de Derecho de Autor 8.7.1961/404, 
notificado por Finlandia el 10 de febrero de 2011 en virtud del párrafo 2 del artículo 63 del Acuerdo 
(véase el documento IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
                                                      
 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente. 
   
   IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
    
 
    
 
  
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS 
AND REGULATIONS 
(in English) 
   
Unofficial translations 
 
 
  
COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS 
   
   IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 5 
 
 
  COPYRIGHT ACT 8.7.1961/404 (Unofficial translation)  
 
Amendments up to 30.4.2010/307 included 
 
 
 
CHAPTER 1 
Subject matter and scope  Section 1 
(1) A person who has created a literary or artistic wo rk shall have copyright therein, whether it be a 
fictional or descriptive representation in writin g or speech, a musical or dramatic work, a 
cinematographic work, a photographic work or other work of fine art, a product of architecture, 
artistic handicraft, industrial art, or expr essed in some other manner. (24.3.1995/446) 
(2) Maps and other descriptive drawings or graphi cally or three-dimensionally executed works and 
computer programs shall also be cons idered literary works. (11.1.1991/34) 
 Economic rights  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 2  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Within the limitations imposed hereinafter, copy right shall provide the exclusive right to control a 
work by reproducing it and by making it available to th e public, in the original form or in an altered 
form, in translation or in adaptation, in another literary or artistic form, or  by any other technique. 
(2) The reproduction of a work shall comprise making copies of the work in whole or in part, directly 
or indirectly, temporarily or permanently and by any means or in any form whatsoever. The 
reproduction of a work shall also comprise the transf er of the work on to another device, by which it 
can be reproduced or communicated. 
(3) A work is made available to the public when: 
1. it is communicated to the public by wire or wireless means, including communication in a 
way which enables members of the public to  access the work from a place and at a time 
individually chosen by them; 2. it is publicly performed to an  audience present at a performance; 
3. a copy thereof is offered for sale, rental or lending or it is otherwise distributed to the 
public; or  4. it is publicly displayed without the aid of a technical device. 
(4) A performance and communication to the public shall also comprise performance and 
communication to a comparatively large closed circle for purposes of gain. 
 
Section 3 
(1) When copies of a work are made or when the work is made available to the public in whole or in 
part, the name of the author shall be st ated in a manner required by proper usage. 
(2) A work may not be altered in a manner which is  prejudicial to the author's literary or artistic 
reputation, or to his individuality; nor may it be made  available to the public in  such a form or context 
as to prejudice the author in the manner stated. 
(3) The right conferred to the author by this section may be waived by him with binding effect only in 
regard of use limited in character and extent.  
Section 4 
(1) A person who translates or adapts a work or conve rts it into some other literary or artistic form 
shall have copyright in the work in the new form, but shall not have the right to control it in a manner which infringes the copyright in the original work. (2) If a person, in free connection with a work, has created a new and independent work, his copyright 
shall not be subject to the right in the original work. IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 6  
 
   
Section 5 
A person who, by combining works or parts of work s, creates a literary or artistic work of compilation 
shall have copyright therein, but his right shall be without prejudice to the rights in the individual works. 
 
Section 6 
If a work has two or more authors whose contri butions do not constitute independent works, the 
copyright shall belong to the authors jointly. Howeve r, each of them is entitled to bring an action for 
infringement. 
 
Section 7 
(1) The person whose name or generally known pse udonym or pen name is indicated in the usual 
manner on the copies of a work or when the work is made available to the public, shall be deemed to 
be the author, unless otherwise demonstrated. 
(2) If a work is published without the name of the author being indicated in the manner described in 
subsection 1, the editor, if he is named, and otherw ise the publisher, shall represent the author until his 
name is indicated in a new edition of the wo rk or notified to the competent Ministry. 
 
Section 8 
(1) A work shall be considered to have been made p ublic when it has lawfully been made available to 
the public. 
(2) A work shall be regarded as published when co pies thereof have, with th e consent of the author, 
been placed on sale or otherwise distributed to the public. (31.7.1974/648)  Works excluded from protection  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 9  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) There shall be no copyright:  
1. in laws and decrees; 2. in resolutions, stipulations and other doc uments which are published under the Act on the 
Statutes of Finland (188/2000) and the Act on the Regulations of Ministries and other 
Government Authorities (188/2000); 
3. treaties, conventions and other corr esponding documents containing international 
obligations; 4. decisions and statements issued by public authorities or other public bodies; 5. translations of documents referred to in paragraphs 1 −4 made by or commissioned by 
public authorities or other public bodies. 
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply to independent works contained in the documents 
referred to in the subsection.  Other intellectual property rights  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 10  (23.8.1971/669) 
(1) Notwithstanding the registration of a work as a design under other applicable statutes, its author 
may have copyright therein by virtue of this Act. (2) Rights in a photographic picture shall additionall y be governed by the provisions of section 49a. 
Legal protection of rights in layout-designs of in tegrated circuits has been provided separately. 
(24.3.1995/446) 
   IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 7 
 
 
  CHAPTER 2 
Limitations on copyright and provision s concerning extended collective licence  (14.10.2005/821) 
 General provisions  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 11  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The provisions of this Chapter do not limit the rights conferred to the author by section 3 to a 
larger degree than as provided in section 25 e.  (2) If a work is reproduced or made available to the public under the provisions of this Chapter, the author's name and the source must be indicated to  the extent and in a manner required by proper 
usage. The work may not be altered without the author's consent more than necessitated by the 
permitted use. (3) A copy of a work made by virtue of a limita tion on copyright as provided in this Chapter may be, 
for the purpose determined in the limitation, di stributed to the public and used in a public 
performance. 
(4) The provisions of subsection 3 shall correspondingly  apply to use by virtue of extended collective 
licence. (5) A limitation on copyright as provided in this Ch apter does not permit the reproduction of a copy of 
a work which has been made or  made available to the public contrary to section 2 or whose 
technological measures have been circumvented in vi olation of section 50a(1). The provisions of this 
subsection shall not, however, pertain to the use of works under sections 11a, 16, 16a −16c or 22 or 
under section 25d(2) or (5). 
 Temporary reproduction  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 11a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The provisions of section 2 in regard to the ri ght to make copies of a work shall not apply to 
temporary reproduction: 
1. which is transient or incidental; 2. which is an integral and essential part of a technological process; 3. the sole purpose of which is to enable a tran smission of a work in a network between third 
parties by an intermediary or a lawful use of a work; and  
4. which has no independent economic significance.  
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not a pply to a computer program or to a database. 
 Reproduction for private use  (24.3.1995/446) 
 
Section 12  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) Anyone may make single copies for his private use of a work that has been made public. The 
copies thus made may not be used for other purposes. (2) It is also permitted to have copies made by a third party for the private use of the party ordering 
the copies. (3) The provisions of subsection 2 shall not apply to the reproduction of musical works, 
cinematographic works, utility articles or sculptures, or the reproduction of any other work of art by 
artistic means. (4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a computer-readable computer program, to the 
making of a computer-readable copy of a compute r-readable database, or to the construction of a 
work of architecture. (3.4.1998/250) 
 IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 8  
 
  Photocopying  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 13  (14.10.2005/821) 
A published work may be reproduced by photocopyi ng or by corresponding means by virtue of 
extended collective licence as provided in section 26. 
 
Use for internal communication  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 13a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A piece of writing published in a printed or  by corresponding means reproduced newspaper or 
periodical, and an illustration accompanying the text , may be reproduced by virtue of extended 
collective licence, as provided in section 26, for use in  the internal communication of an authority, a 
business enterprise and an organisation, and the copi es thus made may be used for communication to 
the public for said purpose by means other than transmitting on radio or television. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to reproduction by photocopying or by corresponding means. 
(2) A work included in a current affairs or news programme transmitted on radio or television may be 
reproduced in single copies for use within a short period of time after the reproduction for internal 
information by an authority and a business enterpri se, as well as by another person and organisation. 
(3) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not a pply to a work whose author has prohibited the 
reproduction or communication of the work. 
 
Use of works for educational activities and scientific research  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 14  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A work made public may, by virtue of extende d collective licence, as provided in section 26, be 
reproduced for use in educational activities or in sci entific research and be used in this purpose for 
communication to the public by means other than tr ansmitting on radio or television. The provisions 
of this subsection shall not apply to reproductio n by photocopying or by corresponding means. 
(2) In educational activities, a work made public , performed by a teacher or a student, may be 
reproduced by direct recording of sound or image for temporary use in educational activities. A copy thus made may not be used for other purposes. (3) Parts of a literary work that has been made pub lic or, when the work is not extensive, the whole 
work, may be incorporated into a test constituting pa rt of the matriculation examination or into any 
other corresponding test. (4) The provisions of subsection 1 concerning works other than transmitted on radio or television shall 
not apply to a work whose author has prohibited the reproduction or communication of the work.  
Reproduction in certain institutions  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 15  (24.3.1995/446) 
In hospitals, senior citizens' homes, prisons and other similar institutions, copies of works made 
public, included in radio and television transmissions , may be made by audio and video recording for 
temporary use in the institution within  a short period from the recording. 
 
Reproduction in archives, libraries and museums  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 16  (14.10.2005/821) 
An archive, and a library or a mu seum open to the public, to be de termined in a Government Decree, 
may, unless the purpose is to produce direct or indirect financial gain, make copies of a work in its 
own collections: 
1. for the purpose of preserving material  and safeguarding its preservation; 
2. for the purpose of technically restoring and repairing material;  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 9 
 
 
  3. for the purpose of administering and organising collections and for other internal purposes 
required by the maintenance of the collection;  4. for the purpose of supplementing a deficient item or completing a work published in several parts if the n ecessary complement is not available through commercial distribution or 
communication. 
 
Reproduction of works for the public an d communication of works to the public  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 16a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) An archive, and a library open to the public, to  be determined in a G overnment Decree, may, 
unless the purpose is to produce direct or indirect financial gain: 
1. make copies of a work in its collections wh ich is susceptible to damage by photocopying or 
by corresponding means and make them available to the public through lending if the work is 
not available through commercial distribution or communication; 2. where seen appropriate, make copies by photocopying or by corresponding means of 
individual articles in literary or artistic works of compilation, newspapers or periodicals and 
of short passages in other published works in its collections to be handed over to the 
borrowers for their private use in lieu of  the volumes and booklets wherein they are 
contained. 
(2) An archive, and a library or a museum open to  the public, to be determined in a Government 
Decree, may, unless the purpose is to produce direct or indirect financial gain, communicate a work 
made public that it has in its collections, to a memb er of the public for purposes of research or private 
study on a device reserved for communication to th e public on the premises of the institution. This 
shall be subject to the provision that the comm unication can take place without prejudice to the 
purchasing, licensing and other terms governing the u se of the work and that the digital reproduction 
of the work other than reproduction required for use re ferred to in this subsection is prevented, and 
provided that the further communication of the work is prevented. 
 Use of works in libraries p reserving cultural material  (28.12.2007/1436) 
 Section 16b  (28.12.2007/1436) 
(1) A library entitled to a legal deposit of a copy  of a work under the Act on Deposit and Preservation 
of Cultural Material (1433/2007)  may: 
1. use the copy it has in its collections in th e manner referred to in sections 16 and 16a and 
subject to the terms laid down in these sections; 2. communicate a work made public that it has in  its collections to a member of the public for 
purposes of research or private study on a device reserved for communication to the public, if 
the digital reproduction of the work other than reproduction required for use referred to in this 
paragraph is prevented and if the further co mmunication of the work is prevented, on the 
premises of a library in whose collections th e material is deposited under the Act on Deposit 
and Preservation of Cultural Material, and in th e Library of Parliament and in the National 
Audiovisual Archive;  3. make copies of works made available to the public in information networks for inclusion in 
its collections; 
4. make a copy for inclusion in its collections of a published work which it needs to acquire as 
part of the library collection but which is not available through commercial distribution or 
communication. 
(2) The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 4 of sub section 1, shall also apply to libraries in whose 
collections the library referred to in subsection 1 deposits the material under the Act on Deposit and 
Preservation of Cultural Material.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 10  
 
  Use of works in the National Audiovisual Archive  (28.12.2007/1436) 
 Section 16c  (28.12.2007/1436)  
(1) The National Audiovisual Archive may: 
1. use a work in its collections in the manner referred to in sections 16 and 16a and subject to 
the terms laid down in these sections;  
2. communicate a work in its collections to a member of the public for purposes of research or 
private study by means of a device reserved for communication to the public on devices located on the premises of a library referred to in section 16b, in the Library of Parliament, 
and in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of Tampere, 
if the digital reproduction of the work othe r than reproduction required for the use is 
prevented and if the further communication of the work is prevented; 3. make copies of works made available to th e public by transmission on radio or television 
for inclusion in its collections. 
(2) The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection 1 shall not apply to a cinematographic work 
deposited by a foreign producer. 
(3) A work in the collections of the National Audiovisual Archive, with the exception of a 
cinematographic work deposited by a foreign pro ducer, may be used for purposes of research and 
higher education in cinematography. (4) The provisions of subsections 1 −3 shall also apply to material subject to legal deposit, stored in 
storage facilities approved in accordance with the Act on Deposit and Preservation of Cultural 
Material. 
 
Use of works in archives, libraries and museums  by virtue of extended collective licence 
(14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 16d  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) An archive, and a library or a museum open to  the public, to be determined in a Government 
Decree, may, by virtue of extended collective licence, as provided in section 26: 
1. make a copy of a work in its collections in  cases other than those referred to in sections 16 
and 16a−16c; 
2. communicate a work in its collections to th e public in cases other than those referred to in 
sections 16a −16c. 
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not a pply to a work whose author has prohibited the 
reproduction or communication of the work.  
Further provisions concerning the use of  works in archives, libraries and museums  
(14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 16e  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) In cases referred to in sections 16, 16a and 16d, provisions may be issued by Government Decree 
regarding the archives and the libraries and museums  open to the public which are authorised under 
these sections to use works, or who may apply th e provisions on extended collective license, if  
1. the activities or mission of the ins titution has been enacted by an Act; 
2. the institution has been assigned a specific archival, preservation or service function in 
legislation; 3. the activities of the institution serve scientific research to a significant degree; or  4. the institution is owned by the State. 
(2) Further provisions may be enacted by G overnment Decree concerning reproduction under 
section 16 and sections 16a −16c and the use of the copies thus made. 
(3) Further provisions may be enacted by Gove rnment Decree concerning the communication of a 
work to a member of the public under sections 16a −16c. 
  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 11 
 
 
  Making works available to persons with disabilities  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 17  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Copies of a published literary work, a published mu sical work or a published work of fine art may 
be made by means other than recording sound or moving images for use by people with visual 
impairments and others who, owing to a disability or illness, cannot use the works in the ordinary 
manner. The copies thus made may be used for co mmunication to persons referred to above by means 
other than transmission on radio or television. (2) A Government Decree shall be issued concer ning the institutions entitled to make copies of a 
published literary work by sound recording for use by visually impaired pe rsons and others who, 
owing to a disability or illness, cannot use the works in the ordinary manner, to be lent, sold or used in 
communication by means other than radio or television transmission. (3) A Government Decree shall be issued concer ning the institutions entitled to make copies of a 
published work in sign language for the deaf and persons with auditory im pairments who cannot use 
the works in the ordinary manner, to be lent, sold or used in communication by means other than radio 
or television transmission.  
(4) The author shall have a right to remuneration for the making of copies fo r sale under s ubsections 2 
and 3 or the communication of a work to a disab led or other person so that the person will 
permanently have a copy of the work. (5) The provisions of subsections 1 −4 shall not apply to reproduction or communication for 
commercial purposes. 
(6) The prerequisite in regard of an institution referre d to in subsections 2 and 3 is that the institution, 
to be determined by Decree, does not seek comme rcial or economic gain, that the mission of the 
institution includes services to persons with disabiliti es and that the institution has the financial and 
operational facilities to pursue such activity. Furt her provisions may be enacted by Government 
Decree concerning the technical properties and la belling of the copies of works made and works 
communicated to the public under subsections 2 and 3. 
 Literary or artistic works of compilation used in education  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 18  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Minor parts of literary or musical works or, if not extensive, the entire work may be incorporated 
into a literary or artistic work of compilation consis ting of works by several authors which is printed 
or produced by corresponding means and intended for u se in education, after five years have elapsed 
from the year of publication. A work of art made public may be reproduced in pictorial form in connection with the text. The provisions of this subs ection shall not apply to a work created for use in 
education. 
(2) The author shall have a right to remunerati on for incorporation referred to in subsection 1. 
 Distribution of copies of a work  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 19  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) When a copy of a work  has been sold or otherwise permanentl y transferred with the consent of the 
author within the European Economic Area, the copy may be further distributed. (14.10.2005/821) 
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply to  making a copy of a work available to the public 
by rental or by a comparable legal transaction. However, a product of architecture, artistic handicraft or industrial art may be rented to the public.  (3) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply to making a copy of a cinematographic work or of 
computer-readable computer program av ailable to the public by lending.  
(4) The author shall have a right to remuneration for the lending of copies of a work to the public, 
with the exception of products of architecture, ar tistic handicraft and industr ial art. Remuneration may 
be claimed only for lending which has taken place w ithin the last three calendar years. However, the 
right to remuneration shall not subsist if the le nding takes place in a library serving research or IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 12  
 
  educational activities. The right referred to in this subsection shall be governed by the provisions of 
section 41. (22.12.2006/1228) (5) A copy of a work which has, with the consent of the author, b een sold or otherwise permanently 
transferred outside the European Economic Ar ea may in accordance with the provisions of 
subsection 1, under the conditions laid down in subsection 3, be: 
1. made available to the public by lending;  
2. sold or otherwise permanently transferred if the copy to be transferred is one acquired by a 
private individual for private use; 3. sold or otherwise permanently transferred if the copy to be transferred is one acquired by 
an archive, or by a library or a museum open to the public, for its own collections. 
(14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 19a  (22.12.2006/1228) 
 (1) The remuneration for the lending in a public li brary referred to in section 19(4) shall be paid 
through an organisation which has been approved by  the Ministry of Education and which represents 
a large number of authors whose works are lent in a public library.  (2) The Ministry of Education shall approve the or ganisation on application for a fixed period, for a 
maximum of five years. The organisation to be ap proved shall be financially sound and capable of 
managing matters in accordance with the approval de cision. The organisation shall annually submit an 
account to the Ministry of Education of the actions it has carried out pursuant to the approval 
decision. The organisation, or organisations, where the representation of the authors can be achieved 
only through the approval of several organisations , must represent a substantial proportion of the 
authors of works of different fields whose works are lent from the public libraries. The approval 
decision may also lay down terms guiding the prac tical operation of the organisation in general. 
(3) The decision of the Ministry of Education sha ll be complied with, notwithstanding an appeal 
pending, until the matter has been  resolved by means of a valid decision. The approval may be 
reversed if the organisation commits serious or esse ntial breaches or dereliction of duty in breach of 
the approval decision and its terms and if notices to comply or warnings issued to the organisation 
have not led to the rectification of  the shortcomings in its operation. 
 Display of a copy of a work  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 20  (14.10.2005/821) 
When a copy of a work has, with the consent of  the author, been sold or otherwise permanently 
transferred, the copy may be used  for public display of the work. 
 
Public performance  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 21  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A published work may be publicly performed in  connection with divine  services and education. 
(2) A published work may also be publicly perform ed at an event in whic h the performance of works 
is not the main feature and for which no admission fe e is charged and which otherwise is not arranged 
for the purpose of gain. 
(3) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 shall not apply to dramatic or cinematographic works. The 
public performance of a cinematographic work for purposes of research and higher education on 
cinematography is governed by section 16c.  
Quotation  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 22  (24.3.1995/446) 
A work made public may be quoted, in accordance w ith proper usage to the extent necessary for the 
purpose.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 13 
 
 
   
An article on a current topic  (24.3.1995/446) 
 
Section 23 
(1) Articles in newspapers and periodicals on current  religious, political, or economic topics may be 
included in other newspapers and periodical s, unless reproduction is expressly prohibited. 
(24.3.1995/446) (2) The author's name and the source must always be indicated. (14.10.2005/821)  Concert  programmes  (24.3.1995/446) 
 
Section 24  (14.10.2005/821) 
When a musical work is performed with text, the text may be made available to the audience in a 
concert programme or a corresponding leaflet produced by printing, photocopying or by corresponding means.  
 
Use of works of art  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 25 
(1) Works of art made public may be reproduced in  pictorial form in material connection with the 
text: 
1. in a critical or scientific presentation; and 
2. in a newspaper or a periodical when reporting on a current event, provided that the work has not been created in order to be reproduced in a newspaper or a periodical. (24.3.1995/446) 
(2) When a copy of a work of art has, with th e consent of the author, been sold or otherwise 
permanently transferred, the work of  art may be incorporated into a photograph, a film, or a television 
programme if the reproduction is of a subordinate nature in th e photograph, film or programme. 
(14.10.2005/821)   
Use of works of art in catalogues and in info rmation and pictorial representation of a building 
(14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 25a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A work of art which is included in a collection or displayed or offered for sale, may be reproduced 
in pictorial form for the purpose of disseminating information about the exhibition or sale or for a catalogue produced by printing, photocopying or by other corresponding means. (2) A work of art which is included in a collection,  displayed or offered for sale may be reproduced by 
the maintainer of the collection, the exhibitor or th e vendor by virtue of extended collective licence, as 
provided in section 26, in cases other than those refe rred to in subsection 1, and the copies thus made 
may be used for communication to the public by mean s other than transmission on radio or television. 
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a work of art whose author has prohibited the reproduction or communication of the work. (3) A work of art may be reproduced in pictorial form in cases other than  those referred to in 
subsections 1 and 2 if the work is permanently pla ced at, or in the immediate vicinity of, a public 
place. If the work of art is the leading motive of the picture, the picture may not be used for the 
purpose of gain. A picture having a material connecti on to the text may, however, be included in a 
newspaper or a periodical. (4) A building may be freely reproduced in pictorial form. 
 IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 14  
 
  Presentation of a current event  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 25b  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) When a current event is presented in a radio or te levision broadcast or as a film, a work visible or 
audible in the current event may be included in  the presentation to the extent necessary for the 
informational purpose. 
(2) When short extracts from a television transmi ssion are used in accordance with section 48(5) for 
the purpose of news reports on events of high interest to the public, a work included in the transmission may be incorporated into the news report. (30.4.2010/307)  
Use of public statements  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 25c  (24.3.1995/446) 
Oral or written statements made in a public represe ntational body, before an authority or at a public 
consultation on a matter of public interest may be reproduced or communicated to the public without 
the author's consent. However, a statement and a written or similar work presented as evidence in a 
case or in a matter may be reproduced or communica ted to the public only in the reporting of the case 
or matter and only to the extent necessary for the pu rposes of such reporting. The author shall have 
the exclusive right to publish a compilation of his statements.  Public documents and administration of justice  (24.3.1995/446) 
 
Section 25d  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) Copyright shall not limit the statutory right to obtain information from a public document. (2) A work may be used when the administration of justice or public security so requires.  
(3) A work used pursuant to subsections 1 and 2 above may be quoted in accordance with section 22.  
(4) Works referred to in section 9(2) of this Act ma y be reproduced or communicated to the public in 
connection with a document referred to in subsection 1 of said section and used separately from the 
document for the administrative or other purpose to  which the document relates. (14.10.2005/821) 
(5) Anyone who communicates a work to the public by radio or television transmission or by other means may make a copy or have a copy made or retain a copy of the transmitted or communicated 
work for the purpose of discharging a statutory duty to record or store. (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Altering of buildings and utilitarian articles  (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 25e  (24.3.1995/446) 
Buildings and utilitarian articles may be altered by the owner without the consent of the author, if 
required by technical or practical reasons. 
 Original radio and television transmissions  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 25f  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A broadcasting organisation may transmit a work  under extended collective licence, as provided in 
Section 26. The provisions of this subsection sh all not, however, apply to a dramatic work, a 
cinematographic work and any other work if the au thor has prohibited the transmission of the work. 
(2) If a broadcasting organisation is entitled to transm it a work, it may make a copy of the work for 
use in its own broadcasts for a maximum of four times during one year. (3) For using a work more often or over a longer pe riod than provided in subsection 2, a broadcasting 
organisation may make a copy or have a copy made  of the work by virtue of extended collective 
licence, as provided in section 26. (4) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply to the retransmission of a work in a radio or television transmission simultaneously with th e original transmission without altering the 
transmission.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 15 
 
 
  (5) The provisions of subsection 1 shall apply to ra dio or television transmissions by satellite only if 
the satellite transmission is simultaneous with a terrestrial transmission by the same broadcasting 
organisation.  A new transmission of a television programme stored in archives  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 25g  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A broadcasting organisation may transmit anew wo rk made public by virtue  of extended collective 
licence, as provided in section 26, if the work is included in a television programme produced by the 
broadcasting organisation and transmitted  before the first of January 1985. 
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not a pply to a work whose author has prohibited the 
transmission.  Retransmission of a radio or television transmission  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 25h  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) A work included in a radio or television tran smission may be retransmitted without altering the 
transmission by virtue of extended collective licen ce, as provided in section 26, for reception by the 
public simultaneously with the original transmission. (14.10.2005/821) (2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply to cable retransmission of a work included in a 
transmission originating in another State belongi ng to the European Economic Area, provided its 
author has assigned the right to its cable retran smission to the broadcasting organisation whose 
transmission the retransmission concerns.  (3) The authorisations concerning the cable retran smission of works included in a transmission 
referred to in subsection 2 above, shall be granted simultaneously.  
(4) The provisions of subsection 1 shall be applicable  to a radio and television transmission by wire 
only if the transmission originates in another St ate belonging to the European Economic Area.  
 
Retransmission of programmes based on the must carry obligation to transmit programmes 
(14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 25i  (14.10.2005/821) 
A telecommunications enterprise providing a network service in a cable television network which is 
primarily used to transmit television and radi o programmes and which a significant number of the 
end-users of the network use as their primary m eans of receiving television and radio programmes 
may retransmit by wire for reception by the public a wo rk included in the television or radio broadcast 
referred to in section 134 of the Communications Market Act (393/2003) simultaneously with the 
original transmission without altering the transmission. 
 Special provisions concerning  computer programs and databases  (3.4.1998/250) 
 Section 25j  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) Whoever has legally acquired a computer progr am may make such copies of the program and 
make such alterations to the program as are neces sary for the use of the program for the intended 
purpose. This shall also apply to the correction of errors.  (2) Whoever has a right to use a computer program  may make a back-up copy of the program, if 
necessary for the use of the program.  (3) Whoever has a right to use a computer progra m shall be entitled to observe, study or test the 
functioning of the computer program in order to  determine the ideas and principles which underlie 
any element of the program if he does so while pe rforming the acts of loading, displaying, running, 
transmitting or storing the program.  (4) Whoever has a right to use a database may make copies of it and perform all other acts necessary for accessing the database and for normal  use of its contents. (3.4.1998/250) IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 16  
 
  (5) Any contractual provision limiting use in accordance with subsections 2 −4 shall be without effect. 
(3.4.1998/250)  Section 25k  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) The reproduction of the code of a program and the translation of its form shall be permissible if 
these acts are indispensable for obtaining information by means of which the interoperability of an 
independently created computer program with othe r programs can be achieved and that the following 
conditions are met: 
1. these acts are performed by the licensee or by another person having the right to use a copy of the program or, on their behalf, by a person authorised to do so; 
2. the information necessary for achieving inter operability has not previously been readily 
available to the persons refe rred to in paragraph 1; and 
3. these acts are confined to the parts of the original program which are necessary for 
achieving interoperability. 
(2) The information obtained under the provisions of subsection 1 shall not, by virtue of these 
provisions: 
1. be used for purposes other than to achieve th e interoperability of th e independently created 
computer program; 2. be given to others, unless necessary for the interoperability of the independently created 
computer program; or 3. be used for the development, production or marketing of a computer program substantially 
similar in its expression, or for an y other act which infringes copyright. 
(3) Any contractual provision limiting the use of a co mputer program in accordance with this section 
shall be without effect.  Extended collective licence  (24.3.1995/446) 
 
Section 26  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The provisions of this Act re garding extended collective licences shall apply when the use of a 
work has been agreed u pon between the user and the organisation which is approved by the Ministry 
of Education and which represents, in a given field,  numerous authors of works used in Finland. A 
licensee authorised by virtue of extended collec tive licence may, under terms determined in the 
licence, use a work in the same field who se author the organisation does not represent. 
(2) The Ministry of Education shall approve the or ganisation on application for a fixed period, for a 
maximum of five years. The organisation to be approved must have the fi nancial and operational 
prerequisites and capacity to manage the affair s in accordance with th e approval decision. The 
organisation shall annually submit an account to th e Ministry of Education of the measures it has 
taken pursuant to the approval decision. The organi sation, or organisations, where the representation 
of the authors can be achieved only through the approval of several organisations, must represent a substantial proportion of the authors of works of di fferent fields whose works are used under a given 
provision on extended collective licence. When several organisations are approved to grant licence for 
a given use of works, the terms of the approval deci sions shall ensure, where needed, that the licences 
are granted simultaneously and on compatible terms.  The approval decision may also lay down terms 
guiding practical licensing in general for the organisation. 
(3) The decision of the Ministry of Education sha ll be complied with, notwithstanding an appeal 
pending until the matter has been resolved by me ans of a valid decision. The approval may be 
reversed if the organisation commits serious or subs tantial offences or dereliction of duty in breach of 
the approval decision and its terms and if notices to comply or warnings issued to the organisation 
have not led to the rectification of  the shortcomings in its operation. 
(4) Possible stipulations by the organisation referred to in subsection 1 concerning the distribution of 
remunerations for the reproduction, communication or transmission of works among the authors it 
represents or the use of the remunerations for th e authors' common purposes shall also apply to 
authors whom the organisation does not represent.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 17 
 
 
  (5) If the stipulations of the organisation referred to in subsection 3 do not provide the right to 
individual remuneration for the authors represented by  the organisation, an author not represented by 
the organisation shall, however, have the right to claim an individual remuneration. The remuneration 
shall be paid by the organisation re ferred to in subsection 1. The right  to individual remuneration shall 
expire if a claim concerning it has not verifiably b een presented within three years from the end of the 
calendar year during which the reproduction, communi cation or transmission of the work took place. 
  
CHAPTER 2a 
Compensation for the reproductio n of a work for private use  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 26a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Whenever an audio or video tape, or any ot her device on which sound or image can be recorded 
and which to a substantial extent is used for the repr oduction of a work for private use, is produced or 
imported into the country for distribution to the public, the manufacturer or the importer shall pay a 
levy, determined on the basis of the playing time or th e recording capacity of the device, to be used as 
direct compensation to the authors of said works a nd as indirect compensation to the authors for their 
common purposes. The compensations shall be paid  out to the authors through an organisation 
representing numerous authors of works in a certain field used in Finland in accordance with a plan 
for the use of the funds annually approved by the Ministry of Education. (2) Whoever offers for resale a device sold by a ma nufacturer or importer referred to in subsection 1 
shall, upon the request of the organisation referred to  in section 26b, prove that the levy on the device 
has been paid. If the levy has not been paid, th e reseller shall pay the levy. The reseller shall, 
however, be entitled to request the levy he has pa id from the manufacturer or the importer primarily 
responsible for the levy, or from another reseller from whom the device has been obtained for resale 
and who is secondarily responsible for the levy. 
(3) Provisions shall be issued by a Government Decree, after the Ministry of Transport and 
Communications and the Ministry of Trade and Industry have given their opinions on the matter, to determine the devices subject to the levy referred to in subsection 1 and the amount of the levy. 
Before the issuing of the Government Decree, the Ministry of Education shall negotiate with the 
organisations representing the ma nufacturers and importers, as we ll as with the organisations 
representing the authors referred to in subsection 1, and the consumer authorities. The amount of the 
levy shall be settled at a level which can be cons idered a fair compensation for the reproduction of a 
work for private use. A maximum shall be dete rmined for a levy per device, which may not be 
exceeded. The determination of the levy shall be in formed by existing survey  data on the prevalence 
of reproduction for private use and by the extent to which technological measures preventing reproduction for private use have been used to prot ect works made available to the public. Account 
shall also be taken of the extent to which each ty pe of device can be used for reproduction of works 
protected by technological measures and of unprotected works. (31.10.2008/663)  Section 26b  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The levy shall be paid to the organisation,  representing numerous authors of works used in 
Finland, which has been approved for this task by the Ministry of Education for a fixed period, for a 
maximum of five years. Only one organisati on at a time may be approved for the task. The 
organisation must have the financ ial and operational prerequisites a nd capacity to manage the affairs 
in accordance with the approval decision. The orga nisation shall annually submit an account of the 
measures it has taken pursuant to the approval decisi on. The decision of the Ministry of Education 
shall be complied with, notwithstanding an appeal pending until the matter has been resolved by 
means of a valid decision. The approval shall be subject to the commitment of the organisation to 
using a part of the proceeds, to be annually agreed by the Ministry of Education and the organisation, 
as indirect compensation to the authors for their common purposes in accordance with a plan for the 
use of the funds annually approved by the Ministry of Education. (2) The administrative costs shall be  deducted from the levy proceeds. IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 18  
 
   
Section 26c  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The Ministry of Education may issue more detail ed orders regarding the management of the levies 
to the organisation. The Ministry shall supervise that  the levy is administered in accordance with the 
orders and that the plan for the use of the funds is  adhered to. The Ministry of Education shall have 
the right to obtain from the organisation any information necessary for the purposes of the 
supervision. (2) The Ministry of Education may withdraw its a pproval of an organisation if the organisation does 
not comply with the orders issued to it, or with th e plan for the use of the funds, or does not provide 
the information required for the supervision, and if  the organisation commits serious or substantial 
offences or dereliction of duty in breach of the a pproval decision and its terms, and if notices to 
comply or warnings issued to the organisation have not led to the rectification of the shortcomings in 
its operation.  
Section 26d 
(1) The organisation shall have the right, notwith standing the secrecy provisions of the Customs Act 
[(573/78)], to obtain from a customs authority any information about individual import consignments, 
necessary for the purposes of collection. (8.6.1984/442) (2) The manufacturer or importer of a device and, when so separately requested by the organisation, 
the reseller referred to in section 26a(2) shall provi de the organisation with any information necessary 
for the purposes of collection about the devices manufactured, imported or offered for sale by him. 
(16.12.1994/1254) 
(3) Whoever has received information under subsecti ons 1, 2, 5 or 6 regarding the business activities 
of another may not use it illegally or reveal it to others. (16.12.1994/1254) (4) A customs authority may deliver a device to the importer only if the importer demonstrates that he has paid the levy to the organisation or has pledge d to the organisation a security accepted by it for the 
payment of the levy. The organisation may consent, for a fixed period or until further notice, to the 
delivering of a device before the payment of the levy  or the pledging of a security, if there is a well 
founded reason to assume that the importer will duly make the payment. The organisation may cancel 
the consent if the importer neglects to make the pa yment or provide the information referred to in 
subsection 2. (11.1.1991/34) (5) A regional state administrative agency  may, upon application by the organisation, oblige the 
manufacturer, importer, or reseller referred to in sec tion 26a(2) to fulfil the obligation referred to in 
subsection 2, on pain of fine. The imposition of a conditional fine and the ordering of its payment 
shall otherwise be governed by the provisions of  the Act on the Conditional Imposition of a Fine 
(1113/90). (22.12.2009/1442) (6) The regional state administrative agency shall have the right to conduct an inspection for the 
purpose of supervising compliance with the paymen t obligation referred to in section 26a(1). The 
manufacturer, importer or reseller of a device, referr ed to in section 26a(2) shall admit the person 
conducting the inspection to any business and stor age premises, land areas and vehicles in his 
possession and, when requested, present his bookk eeping, business correspondence, data processing 
records and any other documents which may have relevance to supervisi on. The person conducting 
the inspection shall have the right to make copi es of the documents to be inspected. The person 
conducting the inspection shall have the right to u se a person appointed by the collecting organisation 
as an expert. The regional state administrative agency  shall have the right to provide the organisation 
with any information necessary for the pu rposes of collection. (22.12.2009/1442) 
(7) The police shall have the duty, where necessary, to  provide official assistance  to the regional state 
administrative agency  in the execution of du ties assigned to the state provincial office under 
subsection 6. (22.12.2009/1442) 
 Section 26e  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The user or exporter of a device shall be entitled to obtain from the organisation a refund corresponding to the levy paid, for devices:  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 19 
 
 
  1. which are exported; 
2. which are used for professional reproduction or  for the reproduction of material protected 
under this Act for educational or scientific research purposes; 3. which are used for the production of audio or  video recordings intended for persons with 
disability; 
4. which are used as data processing memory or storage devices in professional activity. 
(2) Unless such repayment has verifi ably been requested within three months from the end of the year 
during which the right to the refund came about, this right shall expire. (3) The collecting organisation may authorise th e user entitled to a refund under subsection 1(2 −4) to 
purchase from a manufacturer, an importer or a reseller referred to in section 26a, or to import for his 
own use, as provided in said subsection, a device refe rred to in section 26a(1) without paying the levy. 
 Section 26f  (8.6.1984/442) 
Whenever it can be demonstrated that the user or  the exporter would, under section 26e(1), be entitled 
to be refunded for all the devices included in a given batch manufactured or imported, or for a 
considerable proportion thereof, the levy may be left uncollected in respect to it. 
 Section 26g  (repealed by 14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 26h  (14.10.2005/821) 
More detailed provisions regarding the implementation of sections 26a −26f shall be issued by 
Government Decree. 
  
CHAPTER 2 b 
Resale remuneration  (24.3.1995/446) 
 
Section 26i  (5.5.2006/345) 
(1) The author of a work of fine art has the ri ght to receive a remuneration for all acts of resale 
involving an art market professional as a seller, a buy er, or an intermediary. However, the right does 
not extend to acts of resale by a private person to a museum open to the public. (2) The remuneration for the resale of a work of fine art shall be: 
a) 5 per cent for the portion of the sale price up to EUR 50 000; 
b) 3 per cent for the portion of the sale price exceeding EUR 50 000 but not exceeding EUR 200 000; c) 1 per cent for the portion of the sale price exceeding EUR 200 000 but not exceeding EUR 350 000; 
d) 0,5 per cent for the portion of the sale price exceeding EUR 350 000 but not exceeding 
EUR 500 000; and e) 0,25 per cent for the portion of the sale price exceeding EUR 500 000. 
(3) The resale remuneration shall be calculated from th e net sale price of the work of fine art, not 
including value added tax. Resale remuneration sha ll not be collected for a sale price up to EUR 255, 
not including value added tax. The total amount of remuneration calculated in accordance with 
subsection 2 may not exceed EUR 12 500. 
(4) The right to receive a remuneration for the sale of a work of fine art shall come into effect when 
the author or his successor in title h as sold or otherwise permanently transferred a work of fine art or 
copies of a work made in limited numbers by the artist himself or under his authority. 
(5) The resale right does not extend to the resale of products of architecture. 
(6) The resale right shall subsist for the term of co pyright protection. The right is personal, and it 
cannot be transferred to a third party or waived. Ho wever, what is provided in section 41(1) shall be 
applied to the right. If there are no successors in title  surviving the author, the remunerations shall be 
used for the common purposes of authors.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 20  
 
  Section 26j  (5.5.2006/345) 
(1) The resale remuneration shall be collected a nd distributed by an organisation representing the 
authors of the works sold, approved for this function by the Ministry of Education for a fixed period, for a maximum of five years. Only one organisati on at a time can be approved for the function. The 
approved organisation must have th e financial and operational prerequisites and capacity to manage 
the affairs in accordance w ith the approval decision.  The organisation must give an annual report to 
the Ministry of Education on the measures taken pursuant to the decision of approval. (2) The decision of the Ministry of Education sha ll be complied with, notwithstanding an appeal 
pending until the matter has been resolved by me ans of a valid decision. The approval may be 
reversed if the organisation commits serious or subs tantial offences or dereliction of duty in breach of 
the approval decision and its terms and if notices to comply or warnings issued to the organisation 
have not led to the rectification of  the shortcomings in its operation. 
(3) The Ministry of Education may issue to the organisation more detaile d orders regarding the 
collection of the remuneration and the distribution to the authors. The Ministry of Education shall have the right to obtain from the organisati on any information necessary for the purposes of 
supervision. 
 Section 26k  (5.5.2006/345) 
(1) The payment of the remuneration is the responsib ility of the seller and the intermediary referred to 
in Section 26i(1). The buyer is re sponsible for the payment of the remuneration if the act of resale 
involves no other art market professionals besides the buyer. 
(2) The seller, the intermediary, and the buyer are ob liged to submit to the organisation referred to in 
section 26j an annual account of the sales of works. The seller, the intermediary, and the buyer are 
obliged, at the request of the organisation, to s ubmit to the organisation any information necessary for 
the verification of the correctness of the payments for the year of the payments and for the preceding 
three calendar years. 
 
Section 26l  (22.12.2009/1442) 
(1) A regional state administrative agency may, upon application by the organisation, oblige the seller 
to fulfil the obligation referred to in section 26k(2)  on pain of fine. The imposition of a conditional 
fine and the ordering of its payment shall otherwi se be governed by the provisions of the Act on the 
Conditional Imposition of a Fine. 
(2) The regional state administrative agency shall have the right to conduct an inspection for the 
purpose of supervising compliance with the obligat ion to provide information and submit an account 
referred to in section 26k(2). For the purpose of th e inspection, the seller shall admit the person 
conducting the inspection to any business premises  in the possession of the seller and, when so 
requested, present his bookkeeping, his business co rrespondence and any documents concerning the 
sales subject to the payment of remuneration, as well as any other documents which may have 
relevance to the supervision. The person conducting the inspection shall have the right to make copies 
of the documents inspected. The person conducting th e inspection shall have the right to use a person 
appointed by the collecting organisation as an expe rt. The regional state administrative agency shall 
have the right to provide the organisation w ith any information n ecessary for the purposes of 
collection. 
(3) The police shall have the duty, where necessary, to  provide official assistance  to the regional state 
administrative agency in the execu tion of duties assigned to the regional state administrative agency 
under subsection 2.  (4) Whoever has received information under secti on 26k(2) or the present section regarding the 
business activities of another may not use it illegally or reveal it to others. 
 
Section 26m  (Repealed by Act 345/2006) 
  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 21 
 
 
  CHAPTER 3 
Transfer of copyright 
 
General provisions governing transfer of copyright 
 
Section 27 
(1) Copyright may be transferred entirely or par tially, subject to the limitations of section 3. 
(2) The transfer of a copy shall not include the tr ansfer of copyright. In the case of a commissioned 
portrait, the author may not, however, exercise his right without the consent of the person who commissioned it or, after his death, the surviving spouse and heirs. 
(3) Provisions concerning the transfer of copyri ght in certain cases are issued in sections 30 −40 and 
40b. The said provisions shall, however, apply only where not otherwise agreed. (7.5.1993/418)  
Section 28 
Unless otherwise agreed, the person to whom a copyri ght has been transferred may not alter the work 
or transfer the copyright to others. When copyright  is held by a business, it may be transferred  in 
conjunction with the business or a part thereof; how ever, the transferor shall remain liable for the 
fulfilment of the agreement.  Section 29  (17.12.1982/960) 
The adjustment of an unreasonable condition in an  agreement on a transfer of copyright shall be 
governed by the provisions of the Contracts Act (228/29). 
 Right to remuneration for rental of a copy of a film or a sound recording  (31.10.1997/967) 
 Section 29a  (31.10.1997/967) 
An author who has transferred to the producer of a film or a sound recording the right to distribute a 
sound recording or a film by rental shall be entitled to  receive an equitable remuneration for the rental 
from the producer. The author may not waive his right to remuneration.  
Contract on public performance 
 
Section 30 
(1) Where the right to perform a work publicly has b een transferred, the transfer shall be valid for a 
period of three years and shall not provide exclusive right. If a duration longer than three years and an 
exclusive right have been agreed upon, the author  may nevertheless perform the work himself or 
transfer the performance right to others if the right  has not been exercised during the period of three 
years. 
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply to cinematographic works.  
Publishing contract 
 
Section 31 
(1) By a publishing contract the author transfers to the publisher the right to reproduce a literary or 
artistic work by printing or a simila r process and the right to publish it. 
(2) The manuscript or other copy from which the wo rk is to be reproduced shall remain the property 
of the author.  Section 32 
(1) The publisher shall have the right to publish an edition, which may not exceed 2000 copies in the 
case of a literary work, 1000 copies in the case of  a musical work, and 200 copies in the case of a 
work of art. (2) An edition means the number of copies which the publisher produces at one time. IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 22  
 
   
Section 33 
The publisher shall publish the work within a reasonabl e time, take care of its distribution in the usual 
manner, and follow up the publishing to the extent  determined by marketing conditions and other 
circumstances. In case of default, the author may rescind the contract and keep the remuneration 
received; the author shall also be entitled to compensation for any damage not covered by the 
remuneration.  
Section 34 
If a work has not been published within two years or , if it is a musical work, within four years from 
the date on which the author submitted a complete manuscript or other copy for reproduction, the 
author may rescind the contract and keep the remuneration received, even if there is no dereliction on the part of the publisher. The same shall apply wh en the copies of the work  are sold out and the 
publisher, although he has the right to publish a new edition, fails to use the said right within one year 
from the date on which the author requested a reprint. 
 
Section 35 
(1) The publisher shall provide the author with a certification from the printer, or whoever else 
reproduces the work, concerning the number of copies produced. (2) If, during a fiscal year, sale or rental has ta ken place for which the author is entitled to be 
remunerated, the publisher shall render account to him  within nine months from the end of the year 
concerning the sales or rentals during the year and the number of copies in stock at the end of the 
year. The author shall moreover have the right to obtain information, at his own request, about the 
number of copies in stock at the end of a year even after the end of the accounting term.  
Section 36 
If the production of a new edition is commenced later than one year after the publication of the 
previous edition, the author shall be given an opportunity before the production to make such 
alterations in the work as can be made without un reasonable cost and without changing the character 
of the work.  
Section 37 
(1) The author may not publish the work again in the form and manner determined in the contract, 
until the edition or editions which the publisher h as the right to publish have been sold out. 
(2) A literary work may nevertheless be incorporated by the author in an edition of his collected or 
selected works after fifteen years from the year dur ing which the publishing of the work commenced. 
 Section 38 
The provisions concerning publishing contracts sha ll not apply to contributions to newspapers and 
periodicals. Sections 33 and 34 shall not apply to co ntributions to other literary or artistic work of 
compilation.  
Film contracts 
 
Section 39 
(1) A transfer of the right to make a film on the b asis of a literary or artistic work shall comprise the 
right to make the work available to  the public by showing the film in cinemas, on television or by any 
other means, and the right to provide the film w ith subtitles and to dub the film in another language. 
(31.7.1974/648) 
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not, however, apply to musical works.   IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 23 
 
 
  Section 40 
(1) When the right to use a literary or musical work for a film intended for public showing is 
transferred, the transferee shall produce the film  and make it available to the public within a 
reasonable time. If this is neglected, the author may rescind the contract and keep any remuneration received; the author shall also be entitled to compensation for any damage not covered by the 
remuneration. 
(2) If the film has not been produced within five years from the time at which the author fulfilled his 
obligations, the author may rescind the contract and keep any remuneration received, even if there is 
no dereliction on the part of the transferee.  
Computer programs and databases  (3.4.1998/250) 
 Section 40a  (Repealed by Act 418/1993) 
 Section 40b  (11.1.1991/34) 
(1) If a computer program and a work directly associ ated with it has been created in the scope of 
duties in an employment relation, the copyright in  the computer program and the work shall pass to 
the employer. The same shall correspondingly apply to a computer program and a work directly associated therewith, created within the scope of a civil service post. 
(2) The provisions of subsection 1 above shall not appl y to a computer program, or to a work directly 
associated therewith, created by an author indepe ndently engaged in teaching or research in an 
institution of higher education, with the exception of institutions of military e ducation. (7.5.1993/418) 
(3) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 above shall correspondingly apply to a database which is 
created in the scope of duties in private and public employment relation. (3.4.1998/250)  A portrait made by photographic means  (24.3.1995/446) 
 
Section 40c  (24.3.1995/446) 
A person commissioning a photographic portrait shall, even if the photographer has retained the right in the work, have the right to authorise the inclusi on of the portrait in a newspaper, a periodical or a 
biographical writing, unless the photographer has separ ately retained for himself the right to prohibit 
this. 
 
Transfer of copyright upon the author's death and the foreclosure of copyright 
 
Section 41 
(1) After the author's death, copyright shall be gove rned by provisions pertaining to marital right to 
property, inheritance and will. 
(2) The author may give directions in his will for th e exercise of copyright, with binding effect also on 
the surviving spouse and direct descendants, adopt ed children and their descendants, or authorise 
someone else to give such directions.  
Section 42 
Copyright shall not be subject to foreclosure as long as the copyright remains with the author or with 
a person to whom the copyright has been transferred by  virtue of marital right to property, inheritance 
or will. The same shall apply to manuscripts and wo rks of art which have not been exhibited, offered 
for sale, or otherwise authorised for being made public.  
 IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 24  
 
  CHAPTER 4 
Term of Copyright 
 
Section 43  (22.12.1995/1654) 
Copyright shall subsist until seventy years have elapsed  from the year of the author's death or, in the 
case of a work referred to in section 6, from the year  of death of the last surviving author. Copyright 
in a cinematographic work shall subsist until seventy years have elapsed from the year of the death of 
the last of the following to survive: the principal di rector, the author of the screenplay, the author of 
the dialogue and the composer of music specifically  created for use in the cinematographic work. 
 
Section 44  (22.12.1995/1654) 
(1) The copyright in a work made public without mention of the author's name or generally known 
pseudonym or pen name shall subsis t until the end of the seventieth year after the year in which it was 
made public. If the work is published in parts, the dur ation of copyright shall be calculated separately 
for each part. 
(2) If the identity of the author is disclosed dur ing the period referred to in subsection 1, the 
provisions of section 43 shall apply. (3) The copyright in a work not made public, whos e author is unknown, shall subsist until seventy 
years have elapsed from the year in which the work was created. 
 Section 44a  (22.12.1995/1654) 
Anyone who for the first time publishes or makes public  a previously unpublished work or a work not 
made public, which has been protected under Finnish  law and the protection of which has expired, 
shall obtain a right in the work as provided in secti on 2 of this Act. The right shall subsist until 
twenty-five years have elapsed from the year in  which the work was published or made public. 
 
 
CHAPTER 5 
Rights related to copyright  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Performing artist  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 45  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Without the performing artist's consent, a performan ce of a literary or artistic work or folklore 
shall not: 
1. be recorded on a device by means of which the performance can be reproduced;  
2. be made available to the public on radio or television or by direct communication. 
(2) A performance referred to in subsection 1 wh ich has been recorded on a device referred to in 
section 46 shall not, without the performing artist's con sent, until 50 years have elapsed from the year 
in which the performance took place: 
1. be transferred on to a device by means of which it can be reproduced; 2. be performed publicly to an audience present at the performance; 
3. be communicated to the public by wire or by wireless means, including communication of 
the recorded performance to the public in a manner which enables members of the public to 
access the work from a place and at a time individually chosen by them; 
4. be distributed to the public. 
(3) A performance referred to in subsection 1 wh ich has been recorded on a device referred to in 
section 46a shall not, without the performing artist's consent, until 50 years have elapsed from the 
year in which the performance took place: 
1. be transferred to a device by means of which it can be reproduced; 2. be communicated to the public in a manner which enables members of the public to access 
the work from a place and at a time individually chosen by them; 3. be distributed to the public.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 25 
 
 
  (4) If the recording of the performance is published or made public before 50 years have elapsed from 
the year of performance, the protection conferred by subsections 2 and 3 shall subsist until 50 years 
have elapsed from the year during which the record ed performance was published or made public for 
the first time.  (5) The procedure which under subsections 1 −4 requires the performing artist's consent shall be 
correspondingly governed by the provisions of section 2(2 −4), sections 3, 6 −9, 11 and 11a, 
section 12(1 −3), section 13a(2), section 14(1, 3 and 4), sections 15, 16 and 16a −16e, section 17(2, 3 
and 5), section 19(1, 2 and 5), sections 21, 22 and 25b −25d, section 25f(2 and 3), sections 25h, 25i, 
26, 26a−26f and 26h, section 27(1 −2), and sections 28, 29, 29a, 41 and 42. 
 
Producer of a sound recording  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 46  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A phonograph record or any other device on which sound has been recorded shall not, without the consent of the producer, until 50 years have elapsed  from the year during which the recording took 
place: 
1. be transferred on to a device by means of which it can be reproduced; 2. be performed publicly to an audience present at the performance; 
3. be communicated to the public by wire or by wireless means, including communication of the recorded material to the public in a manne r which enables members of the public to access 
the work from a place and at a time individually chosen by them; 
4. be distributed to the public. 
(2) If the recording is published before 50 years have elapsed from the year of recording, the 
protection conferred by subsection 1 shall subsist until 50 years have elapsed from the year during 
which the recording was published for the first time . If the recording is not published but is legally 
made available to the public by means other than th e distribution of copies of the recording before 50 
years has elapsed from the year of  recording, the protection shall subsist until 50 years have elapsed 
from the year during which the recording was made av ailable to the public in said manner for the first 
time. (3) The procedure which under subsections 1 −2 requires the producer's consent shall be 
correspondingly governed by the provisions of section 2(2 −4), sections 6 −9, section 11(2 −5), 
section 11a, section 12(1 −3), section 13a(2), section 14(1, 3 and 4), sections 15, 16 and 16a −16e, 
section 19(1, 2 and 5), sections 21, 22, 25b a nd 25d, section 25f(2 and 3), sections 26, 26a −26f and 
26h, section 27(1 −2), and section 29. 
(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a device referred to in section 46a. 
 Producer of a video recording  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 46a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A film or any other device on which moving im ages have been recorded shall not, without the 
producer's consent, until 50 years have elapsed fro m the year during which the recording took place: 
1. be transferred on to a device by means of which it can be reproduced; 2. be distributed to the public; 
3. be communicated to the public by wire or  by wireless means in a manner which enables 
members of the public to access the work from a place and at a time individually chosen by 
them. 
(2) If the recording is published or made public before 50 years have elapsed from the year of 
recording, the protection conferred by subsection 1 shall subsist until 50 years have elapsed from the 
year during which the recording was published or made public for the first time.  
(3) The procedure which under subsections 1 −2 requires the producer's consent shall be 
correspondingly governed by the provisions of section 2(2 −3), sections 6 −9, section 11(2 −5), 
section 11a, section 12(1 −3), section 13a(2), section 14(1, 3 and 4), sections 15, 16 and 16a −16e, IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 26  
 
  section 19(1, 2 and 5), sections 22, 25b and 25d, section 25f(2 −3), sections 26, 26a −26f and 26h, 
section 27(1 −2), and section 29. 
 Use of an audio recording and a music recording containing images  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 47  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of  section 45(2 and 4) and section 46(1 −2), a performance referred 
to in section 45, which has been recorded on a devi ce referred to in section 46, and a device referred 
to in said section, which has been published for commercial purposes and the copies of which have 
been distributed or which has been communicated to the public, may be used: 
1. directly or indirectly in a public performance; 
2. in original communication to the public in  a manner other than one enabling members of 
the public to access the recorded performance or material at a place and time chosen by them; 
3. for simultaneous and unaltered retransmis sion of a radio or television broadcast for 
reception by the public. 
(2) A remuneration shall be paid to the producer  and the performing artist whose performance is 
recorded on a device used in a performance, communication or retransmission referred to in 
subsection 1. No remuneration shall, however, be pa id for retransmission referred to in section 25i. 
(3) If a music recording containing images, wh ich has been published for commercial purposes and 
copies of which have been distributed or which h as been communicated to th e public is used in a 
manner referred to in paragraph 1 or 2 of subsection 1 during the pe riod determined in section 46a(2), 
the performing artist whose performance of a composition is recorded on the device shall have a right 
to remuneration for the use of  the recorded performance. 
(4) Cases referred to in subsections 1 −3 above shall be correspondingly go verned by the provisions of 
sections 21, 22, and 25b, section 27(1 −2) and section 29 and additionally, in regard of a performing 
artist, by the provisions of section 11(2) and sections 28, 41 and 42. 
(5) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 shall not apply to a device referred to in section 46a. 
 Remuneration for use  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 47a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The remuneration for the use of a phonograph record under paragraphs 1 −2 of section 47(1) shall 
be paid through an organisation which has been approved by the Ministry of Education and which 
represents numerous performing artis ts and sound recording producers whose performances recorded 
on a device and whose recordings are used in Finland. (2) The remuneration for retransmission under section 47(1)(3) shall be paid through the organisation 
referred to in section 26(1). 
(3) The remuneration for the use of a music record ing containing images under section 47(3) shall be 
paid through an organisation which has been a pproved by the Ministry of Education and which 
represents numerous performing artists whose performan ces recorded on a device are used in Finland. 
(4) The right to remuneration of a performing artist or a producer shall expire if a claim concerning it 
has not verifiably been presented to the organisati on within three years from the end of the calendar 
year during which the performance recorded  on a device and the device were used. 
(5) The Ministry of Education shall approve the or ganisation referred to in subsections 1 and 3 on 
application for a fixed period, for a maximum of fi ve years. Only one organisation representing the 
rightholders at a time may be approved for each task. The organisation to be approved shall be 
financially sound and be capable of managing matte rs in accordance with the approval decision. The 
organisation shall annually submit an account to th e Ministry of Education of the measures it has 
taken pursuant to the approval decision. The decision of the Ministry of Education shall be complied 
with, notwithstanding an appeal pending until the matter has been resolved by means of a valid 
decision. The approval may be reversed if the orga nisation commits serious or substantial offences or 
dereliction of duty in breach of the approval deci sion and its terms and if notices to comply or  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 27 
 
 
  warnings issued to the organisation have not led to the rectification of the shortcomings in its 
operation. (6) If the user of the device does not pay the remune ration referred to in subsections 1 or 3, the 
amount of which he has agreed upon with the pe rforming artists and, in cases referred to in 
section 47(1), also with the producers, or the amount  of which has been determined in a procedure 
referred to in section 54, a court of justice may rule, when a claim is made by a party concerned, that 
the use may continue only with the consent of the performing artists or the producers until the 
remuneration has been paid.  Radio and television organisation  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 48  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) A radio or television transmission shall not, w ithout the consent of the transmitting organisation, 
be retransmitted or recorded on a device by means of which it can be reproduced or communicated to 
the public. Nor shall a television broadcast, without the consent of the transmitting organisation, be 
made audible or visible to the public on premises  to which the public has admission in return for 
payment. (2) A recorded transmi ssion shall not, without the consent of the transmitting organisation, until 50 
years have elapsed from the year of transmission: 
1. be transferred on to a device by means of which it can be reproduced or communicated to the public; 
2. be transmitted anew; 
3. be distributed to the public; 4. be communicated to the public by wire or wireless means in a manner which enables 
members of the public to access the work from a place and at a time individually chosen by 
them. 
(3) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 sha ll correspondingly apply to any other programme-
conveying signal besides radio or television transmissions. (4) Cases referred to in subsections 1 −2 above shall be correspondingly governed by the 
provisions of section 2(2 −3), sections 6 −8, section 11(2 −5), section 11a, section 12(1 −2), 
section 13a(2), section 14(1, 3, and 4), sections 15, 16 and 16a −16e, section 19(1), sections 21, 22, 
25b and 25d, section 25f(2 −3), section 26, section 27(1 −2) and section 29. In addition the 
retransmission of a broadcast by cable shall be correspondingly governed by the provisions of 
section 25h(1) and section 25i, unless the broadcast or iginates in another country in the European 
Economic Area, in which case the provisions to be applied are section 25h(3), instead of the above. 
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions in subsections 1–4, a transmitting organisation established in a 
country belonging to the European Economic Area may use, for the purpose of news reports on an 
event of high interest to the public after the event has come to an end, short extracts for its general 
news programmes from a television transmission whic h has been transmitted on an exclusive basis by 
another transmitting organisation. The extract may also be used after the news programme in on-
demand communication to the public. The source must be indicated unless impossible for reasons of practicality. (30.4.2010/307)  
Producer of a catalogue and a database  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 49 
(1) A person who has made 
1. a catalogue, a table, a program or any other product in which a large number of information 
items are compiled, or 
2. a database the obtaining, verification or presentation of which has required substantial 
investment, 
shall have the exclusive right to control the whole or, in qualitative or quantita tive terms, a substantial 
part thereof, by making copies of it and by making it available to the public. (14.10.2005/821) IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 28  
 
  (2) The right conferred by subsection 1 above shall subsist until 15 years have elapsed from the year 
in which the product was completed or, if the produc t was made available to the public before the end 
of that time, until 15 years have elapsed from the y ear in which the product was made available to the 
public for the first time. (3.4.1998/250) (3) A product referred to in subsection 1 above sh all be correspondingly governed by the provisions 
of section 2(2 −4), sections 7 −9, section 11(2 −5), section 12(1, 2 and 4) , sections 13 and 13a, 
section 14(1, 3 and 4), sections 15, 16, 16a −16e, 17 and 18, section 19(1, 2 and 5), sections 22, 
25b−25d and 25f −25i, section 25j(4 −5), sections 26 and 27 −29. If the product or a part thereof is 
subject to copyright, that right may be invoked. (14.10.2005/821) (4) Any contractual provision under which the make r of the product that has been made public, 
referred to above in subsection 1, prevents the la wful user from using insubstantial parts of its 
contents, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, for any purpose whatso ever, or restricts such a use, 
shall be without effect. (3.4.1998/250)  Photographer  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 49a 
(1) A photographer shall have the exclusive right to co ntrol a photographic picture, be it in an original 
form or in an altered form: 
1. by making copies thereof; 2. by making it available to the public. (14.10.2005/821) 
(2) The right to a photographic picture shall be in force until 50 years have elapsed from the end of 
the year during which the photographic picture was made. (24.3.1995/446) (3) Photographs referred to in this section shall be correspondingly governed by the provisions of 
section 2(2 −4), section 3(1 −2), sections 7 −9, 11 and 11a, section 12(1 −2), sections 13 and 13a, 
section 14(1, 3 and 4), sections 15, 16 and 16a −16e, section 17(1), section 18, section 19(1, 2 and 5), 
sections 20, 22 and 25, section 25a(1 −2), and sections 25b, 25d, 25f −25i, 26, 26a −26f, 26h, 27 −29, 
39, 40, 40c, 41 and 42. If a photographic picture is subject to copyright, copyright may be invoked. (14.10.2005/821)  Press reports  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 50 
A press report which is supplied by a foreign press agen cy or by a correspondent abroad by virtue of a 
contract, may not be made available to the public by  the medium of a newspaper or radio without the 
consent of its recipient, until twelve hours ha ve elapsed from its making public in Finland. 
 
 
CHAPTER 5a  (14.10.2005/821) 
Technological measures and electronic rights management information  
 
Prohibition to circumvent a technological measure 
 Section 50a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) An effective technological measure protecting a work protected under this Act, which has been 
installed as protection for the work by the author or  some other person with the author's permission in 
making the work available to the public, shall not be circumvented.  (2) An effective technological measure  means technology, a device or a component which, in the 
normal course of its operation, is desi gned to prevent or restrict acts in respect of the work without the 
author's or other rightholder's authorisation a nd by means of which the protection objective is 
achieved.  
(3) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply if the technological measure is circumvented in course of research or education relating to encrypto logy or if a person who has lawfully obtained the  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 29 
 
 
  work circumvents the technological measure in order to  be able to listen to or view the work. A work 
in which the technological measure has been circ umvented for the purposes of listening or viewing 
shall not be reproduced. (4) The provisions of subsections 1 −3 shall not apply to a technological measure protecting a 
computer program. 
 
Prohibition to produce and distribute devices for circumventing technological measures 
 
Section 50b  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Devices, products or components enabling or facilitating the circumvention of an effective 
technological measure shall not be manufactured or  imported for distribution to the public; brought 
onto the territory of Finland for the purpose of exportation to a third country; distributed to the public; sold; rented; advertised for sale or rental; or held in possession for commercial purposes. Nor shall 
services enabling or facilitating the circumvention of  an effective technological measure be offered. 
(2) Devices, products or components or services referred to in subsection 1 are those  
1. which are promoted, advertised or market ed for the purpose of circumventing effective 
technological measures; 2. whose purpose or use other than circumve ntion has only limited commercial significance; 
or 3. which are primarily designed, produced, adapted or performed for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the circumvention of effec tive technological measures protecting works 
protected under this Act. 
(3) The provisions of subsection 1 shall not apply to a technological measure protecting a computer 
program.  
Use of works protected by technological measures 
 
Section 50c  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Anyone who is lawfully in possession of or h as legal access to a work protected by an effective 
technological measure and who, pursuant to section 14(3), sections 15, 16, 16a −16c or 17, 
section 25d(2) or section 25f(2) is entitled to use the wo rk must be able to use the work to the extent 
necessary to avail himself of the limitations of  copyright laid down in said provisions.  
(2) The author shall offer the user  referred to in subsection 1 the means to use the work in accordance 
with the provisions referred to in the subsection, if the user lacks the means to  use the work owing to 
the technological measures. If the author does not offe r the means referred to above or if the use of the 
work is not made possible by voluntary measures, such as agreements between the authors and users 
of the works or other arrangements, the matter sha ll be resolved by an arbitration procedure referred 
to in section 54. 
(3) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 above sha ll not apply to a work communicated to the public 
on agreed terms so that members of the public  may access the work from a place and at a time 
individually chosen by them. (4) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 concerning the author shall also apply to a person who with 
the author's consent makes the work available to the public. 
(5) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 shall not apply to a computer program. 
 
Electronic rights management information 
 
Section 50d  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Electronic rights management information containe d in a copy of a work protected under this Act 
or indicated in the communication of the work to the public, which identify the work, the author or 
some other rightholder or which provide informati on about the terms governing the use of the work, 
shall not be removed or altered. IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 30  
 
  (2) A copy of a work protected under this Act shall not be distributed to the public or imported for 
distribution to the public or the work shall not be communicated to the public in a form in which the 
electronic management information has been remove d from the work or have been altered without 
authorisation. (3) The rights management information referred to in  this section are information which the author or 
a person on his behalf or with his authorisation has installed in the work. 
 
Application to the rights related to  copyright referred to in Chapter 5 
 
Section 50e  (14.10.2005/821) 
The provisions of sections 50a −50d concerning the work and the author shall correspondingly apply 
to the protected subject matter referred to in the pr ovisions of Chapter 5 and to the holders of rights 
therein.   CHAPTER 6 Special provisions 
 
Section 51 
A literary or artistic work may not be made avai lable to the public under such a title, pseudonym or 
pen name that the work or its author may easily be confused with a work previously made public or its 
author. 
 
Section 52 
(1) The name or signature of the author may be inscr ibed on a copy of a work of art by another person 
only when so instructed by the author. 
(2) The name or signature of the author shall not be  inscribed on a copy of a work of art in such a 
manner that the copy could be confused with the original work. (3) Whoever makes or distributes to the public a copy of a work of art shall mark the copy in such a 
manner that the copy cannot be confused with the original work. (24.3.1995/446)  Section 52a  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) The author of a work of fine art shall have the right of access to see the wo rk he has transferred, 
unless this causes unreasonable detriment to the owner or holder of the work, and provided this is 
necessary: 
1. for the author's artistic activity; or 2. for the purpose of exercising his economic rights, as defined in section 2. 
(2) The right referred to in paragraph 2 of subsec tion 1 above shall be governed by the provisions of 
section 41.  
Section 53 
(1) If, after the death of the author, a literary or  artistic work is publicly treated in a manner which 
violates cultural interests, the authority to be d esignated by Decree shall have the right to prohibit 
such an action, notwithstanding that the copyright th erein is no longer in force, or that copyright has 
never existed. (2) If the person whom the prohibition concerns is di ssatisfied with the prohibition, he may submit the 
matter to a court of justice for decision.   
Arbitration  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 54  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) In the event of a dispute, the matter shall be  settled by an arbitration procedure whenever the 
question concerns:  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 31 
 
 
  1. remuneration referred to in section 17(4), sec tion 18(2), section 19(4) or section 47(2 or 3); 
2. the granting of an authorisation referred to in section 26 and the terms thereof as provided 
in section 13, if the matter relates to the maki ng of copies for use in educational activities;  
3. the granting of an authorisation referred to  in section 26 and the terms thereof, as provided 
in section 14(1), if the matter relates to the ma king of copies for use in educational activities; 
4. the granting of an authorisation referred to in section 26, and the terms thereof, for 
simultaneous and unaltered retransmission of a radio or television broadcast in accordance 
with section 25h(1); 5. the granting of an authorisation referred to in section 26, and the terms thereof, for simultaneous and unaltered retransmission of a radio or television broadcast by cable in 
accordance with section 25h(2) or section 48(1), if the broadcast originates in a country 
belonging to the European Economic Area; the authorisation may be granted if the 
transmitting organisation, without  a well-founded reason, prohibits cable retransmission or 
sets unreasonable terms thereupon; 6. the settling of a matter between the author and the user in a case referred to in 
section 50c(2). 
(2) Each party shall appoint an arbitrator for the ar bitration, and those thus appointed invite a third 
arbitrator as a chairperson. If one of the parties ha s proposed the use of arbitration to the adversary 
and appointed an arbitrator but the adversary has not appointed an arbitrator within one month of the notification thereof, he shall be considered to ha ve refused the settling of the matter by arbitration. 
(3) The parties concerned may also agree to submit th e matter to arbitrators to be settled in accordance 
with the Arbitration Act (967/1992). 
(4) Any authorisation granted pursuant to the this sect ion shall have the same effect as the granting of 
authorisation referred to in section 26 in accordance  with section 13, section 14(1), section 25h(1 or 2) 
or section 48(1). (5) If a party concerned refuses the arbitration of a ma tter referred to in subsection 1, the matter may, 
upon application by a party concer ned, be submitted to a court of justice for settling. The competent 
court of justice shall be the District Court of He lsinki. If the Court has granted authorisation in a 
matter referred to in paragraphs 2 −4 of said subsection and the decision is appealed, the authorisation 
and its terms shall be in force until the matter has been settled with finality or until a higher court 
rules otherwise in regard of the appeal. 
 
Education for the purpose of gain  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 54a  (19.12.1980/897) 
The provisions of this Act regarding educational activities shall not apply to educational activities 
conducted for purpose of gain. 
 
Remuneration for the use of a sound recordin g and a music recording containing images 
(14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 54b  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) If there is a risk that remuneration referred to in section 47 cannot be paid to the person entitled to 
it, a court of justice may, upon the request of said pe rson, prohibit the user of devices referred to in 
section 46 from using said devices until he posts an acceptable security for the payment of remunerations or until a court of justice orders ot herwise upon the request  of  a party concerned. The 
matter shall be governed, where appropriate, by the provisions of sections 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 14 of 
Chapter 7 of the Code of Judicial Procedure. 
(2) If the remuneration referred to in section 47(2) h as not been agreed upon before the use referred to 
in subsection 1 of said section, the remuneration sha ll fall due after 30 days from the day on which the 
device referred to in section 46 was used in acc ordance with the provisions of section 47(1). 
(14.10.2005/821) IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 32  
 
  (3) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 shall co rrespondingly apply to remuneration referred to in 
section 47(3) and a music recording containing images. (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Copyright Council  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 55  (8.6.1984/442) 
(1) The Government shall appoint a Copyright Coun cil to assist the Ministry of Education in the 
handling of copyright matters and to issue statem ents regarding the application of this Act. 
(2) Further provisions regarding the Copyright C ouncil shall be issued by Government Decree. 
(14.10.2005/821) 
 
 
CHAPTER 7 
Penal Sanctions and Liability 
 Sanctions in the Penal Code  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 56  (14.10.2005/821) 
Penal sanctions for the copyright offence are laid down in section 1 of Chapter 49 of the Penal Code 
(39/1889); for circumvention of a technological measur e in section 3 of the Chapter; for the offence of 
a device for circumventing a technological measure in  section 4 of the Chapter; and for the offence of 
electronic rights management information in section 5 of the Chapter. 
 Copyright violation  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 56a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Anyone who 
1. wilfully or out of gross negligence makes a copy of a work, or makes a work available to 
the public contrary to the provisions of this Act or infringes the provisions of section 3 concerning moral rights, 2. otherwise violates a provision protecting copy right in the present Act or acts contrary to a 
direction issued under section 41(2), or to a provision of section 51 or section 52, or to a 
prohibition referred to in section 53(1) or section 54b(1), or 
3. imports into the country or brings onto the te rritory of Finland for transportation to a third 
country copies of a work which he knows or ha s well founded reason to suspect to have been 
produced outside the country under such circum stances that such production in Finland would 
have been punishable under this Act,  
shall be sentenced to a fine for a copyright violation , unless the act is punishable as a copyright 
offence under section 1 of Chapter 49 of the Penal Code. (2) The making of single copies for private use of a computer-readable computer program or a database which has been published or copies of wh ich have been sold or otherwise permanently 
transferred with the consent of the author, or the making of single copies for private use of a work 
contrary to section 11(5) shall not be consid ered to constitute a copyright violation. 
 
Breach of confidentiality  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 56b  (21.8.1995/1024) 
A violation of confidentiality referred to in sec tion 26d(3) or section 26l(4) shall be punishable under 
section 1 or 2 of Chapter 38 of the Penal Code, unless the act is punishable under section 5 of 
Chapter 40 of the Penal Code or unless a more se vere punishment for the act has been laid down 
elsewhere in the law.   IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 33 
 
 
  Illegal distribution of a device for removing a technological measure protecting a computer 
program  
(14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 56c  (14.10.2005/821) 
Anyone who distributes to the public for the purpose of gain or for such a purpose keeps in his 
possession any device whose sole purpose is unauthorised removal or circumvention of a technological device protecting a computer program shall be sentenced to a fine for unauthorised 
distribution of a device for removing a tec hnological measure protecting a computer program . 
 
Breach of the obligation to provide information  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 56d  (24.3.1995/446) 
Anyone who wilfully or out of gross negligence violates the provision of section 26d(2) or the 
obligation to provide information or to give account , laid down in section 26k(2), shall be sentenced 
to a fine for a violation of the obligation to provide info rmation as provided in the Copyright Act , 
unless a more severe punishment for the act h as been laid down elsewhere in the law. 
 Violation of a technological measure  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 56e  (14.10.2005/821) 
Anyone who wilfully or out of gross negligence infringes  
1. the prohibition to circumvent a technological measure, as provided in section 50a, or  2. the prohibition to produce or distribute devices for circumventing technological measures, as provided in section 50b,  
shall be sentenced, unless the act is punishable as a circumvention of a technological measure under 
section 3 of Chapter 49 of the Penal Code or as a offence of a device for circumventing a measure 
under section 4 of the Chapter, to a fine for a violation of a technological measure .  
 Violation of electronic rights management information  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 56f  (14.10.2005/821) 
Anyone who wilfully or out of gross negligence infri nges the prohibition to remove or alter electronic 
rights management information referred to in section 50d(1) or the prohibition referred to in 
subsection 2 of said section to distribute to the public or import a copy of a work for distribution to the public or communicate a work to the public in  a form in which the electronic management 
information has been removed from the work or a ltered without authorisation, shall be sentenced 
unless the act is punishable as an offence of electronic rights management information under section 5 
of Chapter 49 of the Penal Code, to a fine for a violation of electronic rights management information , 
if the perpetrator knows or has well-founded reason to suspect that his act causes, enables or conceals 
an infringement of the rights conferred by this Act or facilitates the infringement thereof.  Prohibition to infringe  (21.7.2006/679) 
 
Section 56g  (21.7.2006/679) 
If a person infringes the copyright, the Court of Justice may prohibit him to proceed with or repeat the act.   
Compensation and remuneration  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 57  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) Anyone who in violation of this Act or a direction given under section 41(2) uses a work or 
imports a copy of work into the country or brings a copy of work onto the territory of Finland for IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 34  
 
  transportation to a third country shall be obliged to pay a reasonable compensation to the author. The 
illegal reproduction of a work for private use shall be subject to compensation only in the case that the 
maker of the copy has known or should have known th at the material copied has been made available 
to the public in violation of this Act. (2) If the work is used wilfully or out of negligen ce, the infringer shall, in addition to compensation, 
pay damages for any other loss, including mental suffering and other detriment. 
(3) Anyone who, otherwise than by using a work, is  guilty of an act punishable under section 1, 3 or 5 
of Chapter 49 of the Penal Code, or section 56a, para graph 1 of section 56e or se ction 56f of this Act, 
shall be obliged to pay the author damages for any loss, mental suffering or other detriment caused by 
the crime.  
(4) The compensation referred to in subsections 2 and 3 above shall also be governed by the 
provisions of the Tort Liability Act (412/1974).  Forfeiture  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 58  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) If a copy of a work has been produced, imported into the country or brought onto the territory of 
Finland for further transportation to a third country, or  made available to the publ ic or altered contrary 
to this Act or to a direction given under section 41( 2) or to the provision of section 51 or 52 or to a 
prohibition issued under section 53(1), or if a prohi bition referred to in section 50a or 50b has been 
violated, the court may, upon the demand of the in jured party or, in a case referred to in section 50b, 
of a public prosecutor, order, as it deems reasonabl e, that the copy and any composition, printing 
block, mould or other piece of equipment or illega l device for circumventing technological measures 
be destroyed, or that such property be altered in sp ecified ways or be transferred to the injured party 
against a compensation corresponding to the cost of its manufacture, or be rendered unfit for 
unauthorised use. The provisions of this subsecti on shall apply to reproduction for private use only if 
the maker of the copy has known or should have kno wn that the material re produced has been made 
available to the public in violation of this Act. (2) If a copy of a work has been made or distributed c ontrary to this Act, or imported to the country or 
brought onto the territory of Finland in a manner referr ed to in paragraph 3 of section 56a(1), and it is 
ordered to be forfeited to the State under the Summa ry Penal Procedures Act (692/1993), the copy of 
the work may be ordered to be destroyed upon the demand of the injured party. In summary penal 
procedures, a court may also order a device inte nded for circumvention of a technological measure 
referred to in section 50b to be forfeited to the State or destroyed if it has been manufactured, made available to the public, imported into the country for distribution to the public or brought onto the territory of Finland for transportation to a third c ountry contrary to the provisions of section 50b(1). 
(3) The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 shall not apply to a person who has acquired the property or 
some specific right therein in good faith, or to a work of architecture. A building may, however, be 
ordered to be modified as indicated by the sp ecific features of the case and the circumstances. 
 
Section 59 
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 58(1) the c ourt may, upon a request to that effect and if 
deemed reasonable in view of the artistic or economic value of the copies referred to in said 
subsection or other circumstances, permit that the c opy be made available to the public or otherwise 
used for the intended purpose in consideration of specific remuneration to the injured party. 
 Publication of judgment  (21.7.2006/679) 
 
Section 59a  (21.7.2006/679) 
(1) A court of justice may, in a civil matter concerning copyright and upon the request of plaintiff, order a defendant to recompense costs incurred from the dissemination, by using appropriate 
measures, of an information about the non-appeal able judgment in which the defendant has been 
found to infringe copyright. The order shall not be is sued, if the dissemination of the information is  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 35 
 
 
  limited elsewhere in the law. When considering the issuing of the order and the contents of it, a court 
of justice shall take into account the general rele vance of the dissemination to the public, the quality 
and extent of the infringement, the costs wh ich are caused by the dissemination and other 
corresponding matters.  (2) A court of justice shall order a maximum amo unt of the reasonable dissemination costs to be 
recompensed by the defendant. The plaintiff is not  entitled to compensation, if the information about 
the judgment has not been disseminated within the time that a court of justice ordered to be run from a 
passed non-appealable judgment.  
Application of provisions on sanctions and comp ensation to certain rights related to copyright  
(14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 60  (21.7.2006/679) 
The provisions of sections 56a, 56e–56g, 57 −59 and 59a shall correspondingly apply to the rights 
protected under Chapter 5. 
 
Prevention of access to material infringing copyright  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 60a  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) In individual cases, notwithstanding confidentia lity provisions, an author or his representative 
shall be entitled, by the order of the court of justi ce, to obtain contact information from the maintainer 
of a transmitter, server or a similar device or othe r service provider acting as an intermediary about a 
tele-subscriber who, unauthorised by the author, makes material protected by copyright available to the public to a significant extent in terms of the prot ection of the author's rights. The information shall 
be supplied without undue delay. The handling of  the matter concerning the information to be 
supplied shall be governed by the provisions of Ch apter 8 of the Code of Judicial Procedure. 
(2) The author or his representative who has obtaine d contact information referred to in subsection 1 
above shall be governed by the provisions of sectio ns 4, 5, 8, 19, 31, 41 and 42 of the Act on the 
Protection of Privacy in Electronic Communications  (516/2004) pertaining to confidentiality and the 
protection of privacy in communications, the handling of messages and identification data, information security, guidance and supervis ion, coercive measures and sanctions.  
(3) An author or his representative referred to in  this section shall defray the costs incurring from the 
enforcement of an order to supply information a nd recompense the maintain er of the transmitter, 
server or other similar device or other service provi der acting as an intermediary for possible damage. 
 Section 60b  (14.10.2005/821) 
For the purpose of prohibiting continued violation, the author or his representative has the right to 
take legal action against the person who makes the al legedly copyright-infringing material available to 
the public. In allowing the action, the court of jus tice shall at the same time order that the making 
available of the material to the public must cease.  The court of justice may impose a conditional fine 
to reinforce the order.  Section 60c  (21.7.2006/679) 
(1) In trying a case referred to in section 60b, the co urt of justice may, upon the request of the author 
or his representative, order the maintainer of th e transmitter, server or other device or any other 
service provider acting as an intermediary to disconti nue, on pain of fine, the making of the allegedly 
copyright-infringing material available to the public  (injunction to discontinue), unless this can be 
regarded as unreasonable in view of the rights of the person making the material available to the 
public, the intermediary and the author. 
(2) Before legal action referred to in section 60b is taken, the court of justice referred to in said 
section may, upon the request of the author or his re presentative, issue an injunction to discontinue, if 
the conditions mentioned in subsection 1 for its issue are met and if it is apparent that the author's 
rights would otherwise be seriously prejudiced. The c ourt of justice shall reserve an opportunity to be IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 36  
 
  heard both for the person against whom the inj unction is sought and for the person making the 
allegedly copyright-infringing material available to the public. A service of a notice to the person against whom the injunction is sought may be deliver ed by posting it or by using fax or electronic 
mail.  The handling of the matter shall otherwise co me under the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Code 
of Judicial Procedure. 
(3) Upon the request the court may issue an interi m injunction to discontinue referred to subsection 2 
without hearing the alleged infringer, if deemed ne cessary for the urgency of the case. The injunction 
shall remain in force until further notice. After the injunction has been issued, the alleged infringer 
shall be reserved an opportunity to be heard without  delay. After hearing the alleged infringer, the 
court shall decide without delay whether it retains the injunction in force or cancels it. 
(4) An injunction to discontinue issued pursuant to this section shall not prejudice the right of a third 
person to send and receive messages. The injunction to  discontinue shall enter into force when the 
applicant provides the security referred to in [section 16 of Chapter 7 of the Enforcement Act 
(37/1895)]
1 to the execution officer, unless otherwise provided in section 7 of Chapter 7 of the Code 
of Judicial Procedure. The injunction to discontinue  issued by virtue of subsection 2 or 3 of this 
section shall expire, if a legal action has not been  taken within one month from the issuing of the 
injunction. (5) If the legal action referred to in section 60b is dismissed or ruled inadmissible or the case is 
discontinued due to that plaintiff has cancelled his le gal action or failed to appe ar in court of justice, 
the person requesting the injunction to discontinue must recompense the person against whom the injunction is issued, as well as alleged infringer for damage caused by the enforcement of the 
injunction and for the costs incurring in the matter.  The same shall apply when the injunction to 
discontinue is cancelled by virtue of subsection 3 or expires by virtue of subsection 4. The taking of 
legal action for the compensation of damages and costs shall be governed by the provisions of 
section 12 of Chapter 7 of the Code of Judicial Procedure.  
Section 60d  (14.10.2005/821) 
The provisions of sections 60a −60c above shall correspondingly apply to the holder of a right related 
to copyright conferred by Chapter 5 and his representative.  Forum  (14.10.2005/821) 
 Section 61 
The competent court in cases involving radio or tele vision transmissions which violate this Act shall 
be the District Court of Helsinki.  Right to institute criminal proceedings  (14.10.2005/821) 
 
Section 62 
(1) A public prosecutor may not bring criminal act ion in cases other than a copyright violation in 
breach of section 51 or section 52 or a violation of a technological measure referred to in paragraph 2 
of section 56e, unless the injured party has filed for prosecution on the matter. (14.10.2005/821) 
(2) An action for a breach of section 3 or of a direction given under section 41(2) may be brought by 
the surviving spouse, by heirs in the ascending or de scending line or by brothers and sisters, or by a 
person similarly related to the author by adoption.  The lawsuit for a breach of a prohibition mentioned 
in section 53(1) above shall be filed by the authority referred to in said section.   
                                                      
1 Enforcement Code (705/2007), Section 2 of Chapter 8.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 37 
 
 
  CHAPTER 8 
Applicability of the Act 
 
Section 63  (31.7.1974/648) 
(1) The provisions of this Act relating to copyright shall apply: 
1. to works the author of which is a Finnish national or a person having his habitual residence 
in Finland; 2. to works first published in Finland or published in Finland within thirty days of having first 
been published in another country; 3. to a cinematographic work the producer of wh ich has his headquarters or habitual residence 
in Finland; 
4. to works of architecture located in Finland; and 5. to works of art incorporated in a building located in Finland or otherwise fixed to the 
ground in Finland. 
(2) In the application of paragraph 3 of subsecti on 1 above, unless otherwise proved, the producer of 
the cinematographic work shall be deemed to be the person or company whose name is mentioned in 
the usual manner in the cinematographic work. (3) The provisions of Chapter 2b above shall be applie d to the resale of works of fine art taking place 
in Finland. If the author of the work is a nationa l of a state not belonging to the European Economic 
Area and has no habitual residence within the European Economic Area, the provisions of Chapter 2b shall be applied only if the author is a national of a state that reciprocally applies provisions 
concerning a corresponding royalty to the resale taking place in that country. The Commission of the 
European Communities shall publish a list of these count ries. The provisions of Chapter 2b shall be 
applied to those entitled under such author only if they are nationals of a country included in the 
Commission's list. (5.5.2006/345) (4) The provisions of sections 51 −53 above shall apply regardless of who created the work and where 
the work was published. (24.3.1995/446) 
 Section 63a  (22.12.1995/1654) 
The provisions of section 44a shall apply to a pers on who is a national of a State belonging to the 
European Economic Area or has habitual residence in such a State, and to a legal entity having its statutory domicile in a State belonging to the European Economic Area. 
 
Section 64  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) The provisions of section 45 above shall apply if: 
1. the performance takes place in Finland; 2. the performance has been recorded on a device referred to in subsection 2; or 
3. the performance, which has not been recorded on a phonogram, is included in a 
transmission referred to in subsection 6. 
(2) The provisions of section 46 above shall appl y to a device the sound on which has been recorded 
in Finland. (3) The provisions of section 46a above shall a pply to a device the moving images on which have 
been recorded in Finland. 
(4) The provisions of section 47(1) and (2) shall apply to a public performance which takes place 
in Finland, to other original communication to th e public than on-demand communication which takes 
place in Finland, and to retransmission which takes place in Finland, if a device referred to in subsection 2 of this section is used in th e performance, communication or retransmission. 
(14.10.2005/821) 
(5) The provisions of section 47(3) shall a pply to a public performance and to other 
communication to the public than on-demand communication which takes place in Finland if the performance or communication involves a music recording containing images which has been 
distributed or communicated to the public in the commercial market and which contains a 
performance of a musical work recorded in Finland. (14.10.2005/821) IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 38  
 
  (6) The provisions of section 48 above shall apply: 
1. to a radio and television transmission which takes place in Finland; and 2. to a radio and television transmission whic h takes place elsewhere, if the headquarters of 
the transmitting organisation is in Finland. 
(7) The provisions of paragraph 1 of section 49(1)  above shall apply to a product which was first 
published in Finland. The provisions  of paragraph 2 of section 49(1 ) above shall apply to a product 
the maker of which is a national of a State belonging  to the European Economic Area or the maker of 
which habitually resides in such a State. The provisions of paragr aph 2 of section 49(1) above shall 
also apply to a product the maker of which is a co mpany or a firm set up in accordance with the law 
of a State belonging to the European Economic Area and having its statutory domicile, central 
administration or principal place of business in a State belonging to the European Economic Area. If 
such a company or firm only has its statutory domi cile in a State belonging to the European Economic 
Area, the provisions of paragraph 2 of section 49(1)  above shall apply only if its operations have 
actual and continuous links with the economy of a State belonging to the European Economic Area. 
(3.4.1998/250) 
(8) The provisions in paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 of section 63(1) regarding a work shall correspondingly 
apply to a photographic picture referred to in section 49a. (9) The provisions of section 50 above shall appl y to a press report which has been received in 
Finland.  Section 64a  (24.3.1995/446) 
(1) When programme-carrying signals intended fo r reception by the public and carrying a work 
protected under this Act are introduced in Finlan d into an uninterrupted chain of communication 
leading to a satellite and back down towards the earth under the control and responsibility of a 
broadcasting organisation, this satellite communi cation to the public shall be governed by the 
provisions of section 2 on making available to the pub lic and other provisions of this Act on radio and 
television transmissions. 
(2) If the communication to the public by satellite refe rred to in subsection 1 takes place in a State not 
belonging to the European Economic Area where th e level of legal protection does not correspond to 
the level of protection provided by Chapter 2 of the Council Directive (93/83/EEC) on the 
Coordination of Certain Rules Concerning Copyright and Rights Related to Copyright Applicable to 
Satellite Broadcasting and Cable Retransmission, and 
1. the signals are transmitted towards the sat ellite from a transmission station situated in 
Finland, or, 2. in a case in which a transmitting station situated in Finland is not used, a broadcasting organisation established in Finland has commissioned others to carry out the act of communication, 
the communication to the public by satellite shall be  deemed to take place in Finland. The satellite 
communication shall be governed by the provisions of section 2 on making available to the public and other provisions of this Act on radio and television transmissions. 
 Section 64b  (14.10.2005/821) 
(1) The injunctions provided for in sections 50a, 50b and 50d shall apply to a procedure referred 
to in said sections which takes place in Finland. 
(2) The provisions of section 50c shall apply to the use of works in Finland.  
Section 65 
On a condition of reciprocity, the President of the Republic may issue orders for the application of 
this Act in relation to other countries and to works first published by an international organisation and 
to unpublished works which such organisation has a right to publish.   IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 39 
 
 
  Section 66 
Subject to the provisions of sections 67 −71, this Act shall also apply to literary or artistic works 
completed before the Act comes into force.  
Section 67 
Copies of a work made under a previous Act may be freely distributed and displayed. The rental of 
sheet music and the right to provide for a paymen t by decree shall, however, be governed by the 
provisions of section [23].  
Section 68 
Type matter, printing blocks, moulds and othe r devices produced under the previous law for the 
reproduction of a particular work may be used according to their purpose until the end of 1962, 
notwithstanding the provisions of the present Act. The provisions of section 67 shall correspondingly apply to copies produced in the course of such use. 
 Section 69 
Copyright in newspapers, periodicals, and other work s which consist of indepe ndent contributions by 
several contributors and which are published before this Act comes into force shall belong to the 
editor in accordance with section 5, and the term of protection shall be calculated according to 
section 44.  Section 70 
(1) A contract on the transfer of copyright conc luded before the coming into force of the present 
Act shall come under the previous Act, but even such  contracts shall be governed by the provisions of 
section 29. (2) Any privileges and injunctions applicable at the time of the coming into force of the present 
Act shall remain in force. 
 
Section 71 
If, before the coming into force of this Act, an aut hor has transferred a work of art, or has executed a 
drawing on commission, his right to transfer a duplicat e of the same work of art to a third party or to 
make for a third party a work based upon the same dr awing, shall be governed  by the provisions of 
the previous law. The previous law shall also apply to a portrait executed before the coming into force 
of this Act, insofar as concerns the ri ghts of the author in respect thereof. 
 
Section 72 
(1) The provisions of sections 66 −68 shall correspondingly apply to the rights protected under 
Chapter 5. (22.12.1995/1654) 
(2) An agreement referred to in section 45 con cerning recording on a device which has been 
concluded before this Act comes into force sh all correspondingly come under the provision of 
section 70(1).  
Section 73 
This Act shall come into force on September 1, 1961. It abrogates the Act of June 3, 1927 
(No. 174/27) on Copyright in Products of Intellectua l Activity, as well as section 28 of the Decree of 
March 15, 1880 (No. 8/80) Relating to the Rights of Writers and Artists in Respect of the Products of 
Their Labour.  Implementing provisions of Copyright Act amendments: 
 
July 8, 1961 / 404  (Published July 18, 1961) 
 August 23, 1971 / 669  (Published September 6, 1971) IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 40  
 
   
July 31, 1974 / 648  (Published August 8, 1974): 
This Act shall come into force on October 1, 1974.  December 19, 1980 / 897  (Published December 23, 1980): 
This Act shall come into force on December 29, 1980. 
 December 17, 1982 / 960  (Published December 22, 1982): 
This Act shall come into force on January 1, 1983. It shall also be applied to any agreements on the 
transfer of copyright made before the coming into force of the Act.  
 
June 8, 1984 / 442  (Published June 13, 1984): 
This Act shall come into force on June 15, 1984.  July 27, 1984 / 578  (Published August 3, 1984): 
This Act shall come into force on October 1, 1984. 
 January 24, 1986 / 54  (Published January 28, 1986): 
This Act shall come into force on February 1, 1986.  March 13, 1987 / 309  (Published March 20, 1987): 
This Act shall come into force on June 1, 1987. 
 January 11, 1991 / 34  (Published January 16, 1991): 
(1) This Act shall come into force on January 16, 1991. (2) Section 23(2) of this Act shall not be applie d to a computer program created before the coming 
into force of this Act insofar as the lending of the computer program to the public is concerned. In 
other respects, provisions regarding the application of  this Act to a computer program created before 
the coming into force of this Act shall be prescr ibed separately. (419/1993)  (According to the 
Implementing Decree 1395/1993, issued on December 22, 1993, the amendment shall come into force on January 1, 1994). (3) A performance of a literary or artistic work by a performing artist, a device on which sound has 
been recorded, and a radio or television transmissi on which has been recorded or transmitted after 
September 1, 1961 shall be protected as provided in this Act. (4) Whoever has taken steps to use, in the manner defined in sections 45, 46 or 48 of the Copyright 
Act, a performance, phonogram, or radio or televi sion transmission the protection of which has 
expired before the coming into force of this Act sh all, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 3, 
be permitted to use the said performance, phonogram or transmission for two years after the end of 
the calendar year during which this Act came into force. (5) If 15 years have elapsed from the end of the year  during which a production, defined in section 49 
of the Copyright Act and enjoying protection at the time of the coming into force of the present Act, 
was completed, that protection shall lapse at  the time the present Act comes into force. 
 
May 7, 1993 / 418  (Published May 12, 1993): 
(1) This Act shall come into force at a time to be  prescribed by decree. section 23(3) of the Act shall, 
however, come into force on June 1, 1993. (2) This Act shall also be applied to a computer pr ogram created before the coming into force of this 
Act. However, provisions in force at the time of th e coming into force of this Act shall be applied to 
any acts done and any rights acquired befo re the coming into force of this Act. 
(3) Whatever is provided in subsection 2 shall, after the coming into force of this Act, also apply to 
the application of provisions regarding computer programs in the Act (34/91) amending the Copyright 
Act, issued on January 11, 1991, with the excep tion of the provisions regarding the lending of 
computer programs to the public.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 41 
 
 
   
Decree No. 1395, December 22, 1993  (Published December 28, 1993): 
Section 1  The following Acts shall come into force on January 1, 1994: ---  2) Act (418/93), issued on May 7, 1993, amending the Copyright Act; and 
 3) Act (419/93), issued on May 7, 1993, am ending the implementing provision of the Act 
amending the Copyright Act.  December 16, 1994 / 1254  (Published December 22, 1994): 
This Act shall come into force on January 1, 1995. 
 
March 24, 1995 / 446  (Published March 30, 1995): 
(1) This Act shall come into force on May 1, 1995. (2) This Act shall also be applied to any works a nd any protected items, defined in sections 45, 46, 48 
and 49a, which were created, record ed or produced before the coming into force of this Act and which 
continue to be protected. However, the provisions in force at the time of the coming into force of this 
Act shall be applied to any acts done and any rights ac quired before the coming into force of this Act.  
(3) An agreement on filming or sound recording, ma de by a performing artist before the coming into 
force of this Act shall cover the right to distribute copies of the film or phonogram to the public, unless otherwise agreed. (4) An agreement on the inclusion of a phonogram in a film, made by the producer of the phonogram 
before the coming into force of this Act, shall cove r the right to distribute copies of the film to the 
public, unless otherwise agreed. (5) The provisions of sections 25f and 64a of this Act shall be applied as of January 1, 2000 to any 
agreements on satellite broadcasting of works and performances which were made before the coming 
into force of this Act. 
 
April 21, 1995 / 715  (Published April 28, 1995): 
This Act shall come into force on September 1, 1995.  August 21, 1995 / 1024  (Published August 22, 1995): 
(1) This Act shall come into force on September 1, 1995. 
(2) This Act repeals section 56a(1) and section 56b in the Act (715/95), amending the Copyright Act, 
issued on April 21, 1995.  December 22, 1995 / 1654   (Published December 28, 1995): 
(1) This Act shall come into force on January 1, 1996. 
(2) This Act shall also be applied to works creat ed before the coming into force of this Act. 
(3) The provisions in force on the entry into force of this Act shall be applied to any contracts 
concluded and any rights acquired before the coming into force of this Act.  (4) Copies of a work which have been produced before the coming into force of this Act under 
provisions in force on the entry into force of this Act, may further be distributed to the public and publicly exhibited. The provisions of section 19(2–4) and Chapter 2b of this Act shall, however, be 
applied also to copies produced before  the coming into force of this Act. 
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, any person who before the coming into force of this 
Act has commenced to use a work, the term of prot ection of which has expired before the coming into 
force of this Act, by making copies thereof or ma king the work available to the public in a manner 
which has required substantial measures, may pro ceed to complete the co mmenced use to a normal 
extent necessary for the said use by January 1, 2003. Provisions on the completion of commenced use 
above shall also apply to any person who, under si milar circumstances, has taken substantial measures 
to make copies of a work or to make a work avai lable to the public. Copies made by virtue of the 
provisions in this subsection may further be distribut ed to the public and publicly exhibited, subject to 
the provisions of section 19(2–4) and Chapter 2b of this Act. IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 42  
 
  (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, if a work is incorporated in a recording made by a 
transmitting organisation after the expiry of the prot ection and before the coming into force of this 
Act, with a particular view to use in radio or televi sion transmissions, the work  may further be used in 
transmissions until January 1, 2003. This subsection shall also apply to the public performance of a 
work which has been incorporated  in a recording containing film. 
(7) The provisions of subsections 2–6 above shall apply correspondingly to subject matter protected 
pursuant to sections 45, 46, 46a and 48 of this Act. (8) The provisions of subsections 2–6 above shall apply   1. to works originating in a State belonging to the European Economic Area, 
 2. to subject matter referred to in subsection 7 above originating in a State belonging to the 
European Economic Area, in regard  to the protection of which special provisions have been enacted 
in Finland, and  3. to rights in phonograms referred to in Article  14, first, second and fourth paragraphs of the 
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellect ual Property Rights annexed to the Agreement 
Establishing the World Trade Organization, as prescr ibed in paragraph 6 of the aforesaid Article. 
(9) This Act shall apply to works and subject matter other than those referred to in subsection 8 above 
only in so far as they are protected at the tim e of the coming into force of this Act.  
 April 25, 1997 / 365  (Published April 30, 1997): 
This Act shall come into force on May 15, 1997.  
October 31, 1997 / 967  (Published November 5, 1997): 
(1) This Act shall come into force on November 10, 1997. (2) This Act shall also be applied to works created before the coming into force of this Act and which 
continue to be protected. (3) The provisions in force at the time of the coming into force of this Act shall be applied to any acts 
done before the coming into force of this Act. 
(4) The provision of section 29a shall be app lied to agreements made at earliest on 
November 19, 1992. However, the right to rem uneration based on the agreements made before 
July 1, 1994, shall stand only, if the aut hor has presented a claim concerning it before 
January 1, 1997. (5) The provisions of subsections 2–4 shall appl y correspondingly to performing artists and subject 
matter protected pursuant to section 45 of this Act. 
 April 3, 1998 / 250  (Published April 9, 1998): 
(1) This Act shall come into force on April 15, 1998. (2) This Act shall also be applied to works created before the coming into force of this Act, and to 
subject matter protected pursuant to section 49, which has been made before the coming into force of 
this Act. (3) The subject matter protected pursuant to section 49, which has been made after December 31, 1982, shall be pr otected until January 1, 2013. 
(4) The provisions in force at the time of the coming into force of this Act shall be applied to any acts 
done, any rights acquired and any agreements made  before the coming into force of this Act. 
(5) Copies of the subject matter protected pursuant to section 49, which have been made before the 
coming into force of this Act under provisions in force at the time of the coming into force of this Act, 
may further be distributed to the public and pub licly exhibited. However, the provisions of 
section 19(2) of the Copyright Act shall also be app lied in accordance with section 49(3) of this Act to 
the copies of the protected subject matter, which have  been made before the coming into force of this 
Act. 
(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act, any person who, before the coming into force of this 
Act, has commenced to use the subject matter prot ected pursuant to section 49 not protected before 
the coming into force of this Act, by making copies th ereof or by making it available to the public in a 
manner which has required substantial measures, ma y proceed to complete the commenced use to a  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
 Page 43 
 
 
  normal extent necessary for the said use by the end of the year 1999. Provisions of the completion of 
commenced use above shall also apply to any pers on who, under similar circumstances, has taken 
substantial measures to make copies of the protected  subject matter or to make it available to the 
public. Copies made by virtue of the provisions in this subsection may further be distributed to the 
public and publicly exhibited, subject to the provisions  of section 19(2) of this Act in accordance with 
section 49(3) of this Act. 
 October 9, 1998 / 748  (Published October 15, 1998): 
(1) This Act shall come into force on January 1, 1999. (2) Measures to enforce this Act can be ta ken before the coming into force of it. 
 
May 23, 2003 / 398 
(1) This Act shall come into force on July 25, 2003.  
(2) Measures to enforce this Act can be ta ken before the coming into force of it.  
 
October 14, 2005 / 821  (Published October 20, 2005) 
(1) This Act shall come into force on January 1, 2006. Sections 13 and 13a, section 14(1), section 16d, 
section 25a(2), section 25f(3), sections 25g, 25h, 26,  26a, 26b, 26e and 26h shall come into force on 
January 1, 2007. Paragraph 2 of section 16b(1), paragraphs 2 and 3 of section 16c(1), and 
section 16c(3) shall come into force on a date specified by a Government Decree.  (2) This Act shall also be applied to any works and any protected items defined in sections 45, 46, 
46a, 48, 49 and 49a which were created, recorded or produced before the coming into force of this Act 
and which continue to be protected.  (3) Provisions in force at the time of the coming in to force of this Act shall be applied to any 
measures carried out, any rights acquired and any cont racts concluded before the coming into force of 
this Act.  
(4) Section 19(1) of this Act shall be applied to any copies of works and any copies of protected items 
defined in sections 49 or 49a whic h have been sold or otherwise permanently transferred with the 
consent of the author or the rightholder referred to in sections 49 or 49a within the European 
Economic Area after the coming into force of this Act.  (5) Copies of the subject matter protected pursuant to  section 49a of this Act, which have been made 
before the coming into force of this Act and whic h are protected under provisions in force at the time 
of the coming into force of this Act may further be distributed under provisions in force at the time of 
the coming into force of this Act.    May 5, 2006 / 345  (Published May 12, 2006) 
(1) This Act shall come into force on June 1, 2006.  
(2) This Act shall also be applied to the resale of  works which have been produced before the coming 
into force of this Act and which continue to be protected. (3) Provisions in force at the time of the coming into  force of this Act shall be applied to any acts 
done, any rights acquired and any contracts conclude d before the coming into force of this Act.  
 July 21, 2006 / 679  (Published August 4, 2006) 
(1) This Act shall come into force on September 1, 2006.  
(2) Provisions in force at the time of the coming into force of this Act shall be applied  to civil matters 
pending before the coming into force of this Ac t instead of sections 56g and 59a of this Act.  
(3) Sections 60 and 60c shall also be applied to ci vil matters pending before the coming into force of 
this Act. To the extent that section 60 concerns th e application of 56g and 59a, it shall, however, be 
applied according to what is enacted in subsecti on 2 on the application of sections 56g and 59a.  
 
December 22, 2006 / 1228  (Published December 27, 2006) 
(1) This Act shall come into force on January 1, 2007.  IP/N/1/FIN/C/2 
Page 44  
 
  (2) Remuneration for lending in a public library may be exacted only for lending which takes place 
after the coming into force of the Act.   December 28, 2007 / 1436  (Published December 31, 2007)  
This Act shall come into force on January 1, 2008.  
 
October 31, 2008 / 663  (Published November 4, 2008) 
(1) This Act shall come into force on January 1, 2009.  (2) Measures to enforce this Act can be ta ken before the coming into force of it. 
 
December 22, 2009 / 1442  (Published December 31, 2009) 
(1) This Act shall come into force on January 1, 2010.  (2) Measures to enforce this Act can be ta ken before the coming into force of it. 
 April 30, 2010 / 307   (Published April 30, 2010) 
(1) This Act shall come into force on May 1, 2010.  
(2) Measures to enforce this Act can be ta ken before the coming into force of it. 
  
__________