Finland has implemented the Use of public speeches and public lectures (Art. 5.3(f) InfoSoc) exception in ยง25c of the Copyright Act. The national exception closely resembles the EU exception.

Implementation summary:

This exception allows for the reproduction and communication to the public of oral or written statements made in a public representational body, before an authority or at a public consultation on a matter of public interest may be. It also allows for the reproduction and communication to the public of statements and written or similar works presented as evidence in a case or in a matter as long as they are used in the reporting of the case or matter and only to the extent necessary for the purposes of such reporting. Publishing of compilations of these statements is expressly excluded from the scope of the exception.

Implementation details:

Beneficiaries:

  • any user

Purposes:

  • public interest (for oral or written statements made in a public representational body, before an authority or at a public consultation)
  • reporting of the case or the matter (for works presented as evidence in a case or in a matter)

Usage:

  • reproduction
  • communication to the public

Subject Matter:

  • oral or written statements (made in a public representational body, before an authority or at a public consultation on a matter of public interest)
  • statement and a written or similar work (presented as evidence in a case or in a matter)

Compensation:

  • no compensation required

Attribution:

  • the author's name and the source must be, as a general rule, stated to the extent and in the manner required by proper usage

Other Conditions:

  • use of oral or written statements made in a public representational body, before an authority or at a public consultation must be related to a matter of public interest
  • use of statements and written or similar works presented as evidence in a case or in a matter must be limited to the extent necessary for the purposes of reporting
  • publishing of compilations of statements is expressly excluded from the scope of the exception

Introduced/last updated: 01 January 2006

Remarks: The exception does not apply to neigbouring rights.

Art. 11(2) requires that when a work is used publicly under an exception, the author's name and the source must be, as a general rule, stated to the extent and in the manner required by proper usage. It also requires that the work must not be altered more than necessary for the intended use."