Many vacation rental owners are wondering about a mysterious letter from Sacem.
The Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers claims copyrights.
And it's not a scam.
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This system concerns renters
of “furnished tourist accommodation, bed and breakfasts, lodges
” and hotels, who provide their customers with a television, radio or CD player.
The Sacem specifies on its site that the owners must subscribe to an annual flat rate of 198.01 euros excluding taxes, in order to distribute works in the rooms and the common areas, “
without any restriction
”.
This price applies to "
any person declaring their broadcasts in advance
", thus benefiting from a 20% reduction.
Owners must pay an annual fee of 198.01 euros to distribute works “without any restrictions”.
Sacem screenshot
Some people find themselves in the misunderstanding, having to pay the television license fee in addition to Sacem.
Neela, a former guesthouse owner in Metz, remembers a visit to the organization six years ago: “
One morning, I saw a man arrive at my house, drawing a Sacem card.
At the time, I didn't even know what this company was.
He wanted to check if I had a television or a radio in my establishment.
»
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”
Neela wonders because she only has one television, hers, in the common living room.
"
I called Sacem to be sure it wasn't a scam and I paid just under two hundred euros
," she says.
The former owner also indicates that after the closure of her establishment, letters from Sacem continued to arrive in her mailbox, having to call the company back to report the cessation of its activities.
According to her, the payment of these rights by individuals "
is not at all understandable
" and "
should not even exist
".
Fine of up to 300,000 euros
For the most recalcitrant owners, Sacem sends a “
legal compliance
” reminder , specifying the case law of the Court of Cassation.
In the event of refusal, the penalty incurred entails a fine of up to 300,000 euros.
"
Our approach is legal, it responds to a mission of general interest enshrined in the Code of Intellectual Property
", mentions to the
Parisian
Jean Félix Choukroun, director of customer service at Sacem.
According to him, it is neither a tax nor a royalty.
“
In the case of a seasonal rental, this represents 105 to 110 days of rental on average per year, it comes down to 2 euros per day, it is still reasonable.
“, he delays.
Jean Félix Choukroun warns that the 150 agents of Sacem "
are authorized to enter homes legally between two rentals to verify the existence of a television or a radio
".
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As for hoteliers, they are delighted with this measure: “
We pay this contribution, why would Airbnb or other rental companies not pay it?
Anything that goes in the direction of restoring the balance between us is good
”, underlines to the
Parisian
Patrice Haultcoeur, secretary general of the Union of trades and industries of the hotel industry (Umih) of Hauts-de-France.
For those who no longer wish to pay the rights to Sacem, they are encouraged to withdraw their posts and swear to it, which “
no one will come to check
”, assures certain Internet users on social networks.