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Music arrangers and arrangers or translators of lyrics set to music can become members of GEMA. A condition for the administration of copyrights of arrangers is that their arrangements are personal intellectual creations and that the permission of the rights owner of the original work has been obtained in case this original work is copyright protected. Membership of GEMA is related to the individual. A band therefore cannot become a member, but rather each member of the band composing music or writing lyrics can make their own application for membership. Performing artists, who are not simultaneously composers, arrangers or lyricists, cannot become members of GEMA, because they are not creatively active as authors. The society for them is the collecting society for neighbouring rights (GVL, www.gvl.de). Anyone who works exclusively as a producer or audio carrier manufacturer cannot become a member of GEMA as a publisher.
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It should also be borne in mind that members have to pay when they organise the public exploitation of their own works themselves. As the members have assigned their exploitation rights to GEMA, they are responsible for obtaining the licence from GEMA for the exploitation of their own works, when they themselves act as music users for example by organising concerts or producing audio carriers.
Forms of membership
GEMA differentiates between affiliated, extraordinary and full members. Initially, new members acquire affiliated membership. Affiliated members can apply for extraordinary membership if specific conditions are met. Full membership can be obtained after five years of extraordinary membership and as soon as a specific minimum revenue has been reached.
Successors in title
Copyright extends for 70 years beyond the death of the author. This means that after the death of a GEMA author, the Deed of Assignment can be continued with the successor(s) in title to the copyrights. Proof of inheritance is needed, which must be submitted to the Membership Department. If there are several successors in title, they must nominate a joint authorised representative, who will exercise their rights vis--vis GEMA. The royalty payments are nevertheless made separately to the individual successors in title.
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Contact
GEMA Generaldirektion Mnchen Abteilung Mitglieder Rosenheimer Strae 11 81667 Mnchen Tel.: +49 89 48003-642 Fax: +49 89 48003-240 eMail: mg@gema.de
For applicants and members living in Berlin GEMA Generaldirektion Berlin Mitgliederbro Berlin Bayreuther Strae 37 10787 Berlin Tel.: +49 30 21245-919 Fax: +49 30 21245-920 eMail: mgb@gema.de
www.gema.de
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20/03/2012