Information for Heirs

SOZA Membership - Heirs

SOZA protects the economic rights in managed musical works for as long as these rights exist. Pursuant to the Copyright Act, economic rights in a work are established at the moment the work is created and last for 70 years after the author's death. The Copyright Act further provides that economic rights in works are transferable by inheritance.

After the author's death, the heirs (legal successors of the author) become holders of the copyright in the musical works created by the author.

The heirs to the author's economic rights in musical works can become SOZA members. First, it is necessary to complete an application for SOZA membership. An heir willing to become a SOZA member must meet the following conditions:

• Submit a valid certificate of heirship to SOZA, proving that they have inherited copyright in the protected works;
• Enter into a Representation Agreement with SOZA; and
• Pay an administrative fee of €15 (including VAT) to the SOZA bank account to cover the cost of processing the membership application.

After the membership application is received, SOZA shall send a draft of the Representation Agreement to the membership candidate, together with an invoice for the administrative fee. The Supervisory Board shall decide on accepting the membership candidate within 90 days of receiving the application. SOZA membership begins on the day the Representation Agreement is signed by both SOZA and the membership candidate.