AKKA/LAA Explains Why Roja Puķe Had to Pay Royalties for a Charity Event

The Copyright and Communication Consulting Agency / Latvian Authors' Association (AKKA/LAA), which manages the economic rights of music authors in Latvia, has publicly explained why culinary blogger and charity organiser Rojs Puķe had to pay 71 euros for music played at a charity event. The explanation followed Puķe's public protest over the payment.

What happened

On 12 September, Puķe organised a charity grill brunch involving entrepreneurs, volunteers and supporters who worked without pay. The event raised 7,505 euros for the POGA children's rehabilitation centre. A request to exempt the charity association from the licence fee was rejected. Puķe announced that his future charity events will be held without music, stressing that the issue was about attitudes toward people who try to help others.

AKKA/LAA's arguments

The organisation says everyone has the right to decide whether, to whom and how much to donate, and that this applies to authors too. Its task is to issue permissions and collect remuneration on authors' behalf, so it cannot redirect that money to charity without their consent. It compares this to an intermediary renting out an owner's property, who cannot donate a month's rent without the owner's approval. It also notes that charity events still incur costs such as premises, electricity or banking services, and regards royalties as one of these costs.

As for the amount, the 71 euros was calculated from the number of attendees, not from the sum raised.

How music can be used for free

AKKA/LAA names two options: choosing repertoire no longer protected by copyright, or agreeing in advance with authors on use under a non-commercial licence. In such cases no invoices are issued, but the decision remains with the author. "AKKA/LAA cannot make such decisions on behalf of either Elton John or Raimonds Pauls," the organisation stresses.

It cites the Laima charity house, Latvian public media's “Dod pieci!” marathon, events by the association “Cerību spārni” and the concert “Sapnis par zirgu” as positive examples of cooperation.