Copyright Protection Organization

The Copyright Protection Organization (Czech: Ochranná organizace autorská – Sdružení autorů děl výtvarného umění, architektury a obrazové složky audiovizuálních děl, z.s., commonly abbreviated OOA-S) is a Czech non-profit association of authors and heirs that carries out collective management of copyright. It represents visual artists, architects and authors of the image component of audiovisual works, as well as their heirs, in cases where individual exercise of rights is practically impossible. Its registered office is at Národní 973/41, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic. OOA-S operates as a collecting society. It holds an exclusive authorization from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic to exercise collective management of copyright for authors in the visual arts and architectural fields. The authorization was granted on 9 July 1997 (file no. 5534/97) and on 5 August 2009 (file no. 2797/2009), the latter entering into legal force on 13 August 2009. Collective management means indirect representation of rights holders: OOA-S negotiates blanket licensing agreements with users of works in its own name and on behalf of rights holders, collects remuneration for such use, and is responsible for its fair distribution to the represented parties. The organization is a member of the international organizations IFRRO (International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations) and EVA (European Visual Artists). Membership in OOA-S is open to any author of visual works or their heirs on the basis of a representation agreement, and membership is free of charge. The organization is a non-profit entity (občanské sdružení, now spolek) and describes itself as representing artists and heirs in collective management of rights that they mostly cannot manage themselves. OOA-S maintains a public profile through its website, which provides information for authors and users, documents, news, and details of exhibitions and events. It also runs a gallery and participates in cultural events. In 2017 the organization moved to its current address at Národní 973/41 in Prague 1. The website notes that from 2020, reports (ohlášky) must be submitted to OOA-S by 30 April of the current year. The organization also publishes materials for its general assembly, such as the 2023 assembly documents. In 2025, the website reported the death of Vladimír Groh, a porcelain artist and chairman of the supervisory board of OOA-S, and announced an exhibition of his works in Modrodomě in Dubí in October 2025. As a collective management organization, OOA-S is part of the Czech copyright infrastructure, alongside other collecting societies. Its role is to ensure that authors in fields where individual licensing is impractical receive remuneration for uses such as reproduction of works, including levies on blank media and recording devices, and to distribute those royalties fairly. The organization's activities are governed by the Czech Copyright Act and overseen by the Ministry of Culture.

The Copyright Protection Organization (OOA-S) was established as a Czech association of authors of visual works and their heirs to provide collective management of copyright in fields where individual enforcement is impractical. Its legal foundation as a collecting society rests on authorizations from the Czech Ministry of Culture. The first authorization was granted on 9 July 1997 under file number 5534/97, covering the field of visual arts. A second authorization was issued on 5 August 2009 under file number 2797/2009, entering into legal force on 13 August 2009, extending the scope to the field of architecture. These authorizations give OOA-S exclusive competence to represent authors in these fields for collective management purposes. OOA-S operates as a non-profit association (občanské sdružení, later spolek). Its core activity is indirect representation: it negotiates blanket licensing agreements with users of protected works in its own name but on behalf of rights holders, collects remuneration, and distributes it fairly among the represented authors and heirs. This model is particularly important for visual artists and architects, whose works are often reproduced in ways that make individual licensing impossible, such as in publications, broadcasts, or through blank media levies. The organization is a member of international umbrella bodies: IFRRO (International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations) and EVA (European Visual Artists). These memberships connect OOA-S to global and European networks of collective management organizations, facilitating reciprocal representation agreements and cross-border rights management. Over the years, OOA-S has maintained a public presence through its website, which serves as a hub for authors, users, and the public. It provides documents, news, and information about exhibitions and events. The organization also runs a gallery and participates in cultural activities. On 1 May 2017, OOA-S moved its registered office to Národní 973/41, 110 00 Prague 1, where it remains. The website notes that from 2020, reports (ohlášky) must be submitted by 30 April of the current year, reflecting administrative procedures for rights holders. In 2025, the organization mourned the loss of Vladimír Groh, a porcelain artist and chairman of its supervisory board, who died on 4 July 2025. An exhibition of his works was held in October 2025 in Dubí. OOA-S continues to fulfill its statutory role as a collective management organization under the supervision of the Czech Ministry of Culture, ensuring that authors in the visual arts and architecture receive remuneration for uses of their works.

• Ministry of Culture grants OOA-S exclusive authorization for collective management in visual arts (file no. 5534/97).

• Ministry of Culture grants OOA-S authorization for collective management in architecture (file no. 2797/2009), effective 13 August 2009.

• OOA-S moves to new headquarters at Národní 973/41, Prague 1.

• New rule: reports (ohlášky) must be submitted to OOA-S by 30 April of the current year.

• General Assembly 2023 documents made available on the OOA-S website.

• Death of Vladimír Groh, porcelain artist and chairman of the supervisory board of OOA-S.

• Exhibition of works by Vladimír Groh in Modrodomě, Dubí, from 2 to 16 October 2025.

Non-profit Czech collecting society exclusively authorized by the Ministry of Culture for collective management in visual arts and architecture.

• Collective management of copyright for visual arts

  Representation of visual artists and heirs in collective management of rights, including licensing and distribution of remuneration.

• Collective management of copyright for architecture

  Representation of architects and heirs in collective management of rights.

• Collective management of rights for the image component of audiovisual works

  Representation of authors of the image component of audiovisual works.

• Blank media levy collection and distribution

  Collection of remuneration from levies on blank media and recording devices, and distribution to rights holders.

1. 1OOA-S official websiteooas.cz
2. 2Ochranná organizace autorská – Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org
3. 3Copyright Protection Organization – Wikidatawikidata.org