SIAE Tightens Rules on Art Reproduction in Journalism

The Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE) is enforcing stricter interpretations of copyright exceptions for reproducing artworks in journalistic contexts. Under Articles 65 and 70 of Law 633/1941, reproductions for news, criticism, or educational purposes are permitted without consent, but SIAE's 2023 Compendium imposes fees and prior authorization requirements. For online use, fees range from €30 for one image to €4,133 for 20,000–30,000 images, with a 100% surcharge for homepage placement and 12% per social media share. Print fees vary by print run and format, from €31 to €348.80. Authorization takes 15–30 days. SIAE's Stefania Caponetti stated that news articles typically need few images, while longer pieces may require fees. A recent Lucca court case (No. 616/2023) involving art magazine AW ArtMag ruled that the defendant did not violate copyright as they were not the actual user and gained no profit, but the reasoning was unclear. The guidelines risk discouraging image use in journalism, potentially harming artists' visibility.