OSA- Ochranný svaz autorský pro práva k dílům hudebním, z. s., is a professional association of composers, lyricists and musical publishers that follows up the activities of Ochranné sdružení spisovatelů, skladatelů a nakladatelů hudebních děl, zapsané společenstvo s ručením omezeným, which was established in 1919 by Karel Hašler, Rudolf Piskáček, Arnošt Hermann, Josef Šváb, František Šmíd, Eduard Joudal, Emil Štolc, Otakar Hanuš, and Karel Barvicius. One of the first directors was a son of the composer Antonín Dvořák.
OSA is also one of the founding members of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers CISAC (in 1926) and Bureau International des sociétés gérant les droits des enregistrements et de reproduction mécanique BIEM (in 1929).
The mission of OSA is the management of economic copyrights of composers, lyricists, the heirs of copyrights and publishers by law or based on an agreement, however, not interprets (singers) of these compositions. For the purpose of as much wide as possible territorial and repertoire coverage, Ochranný svaz autorský concluded contracts with sister societies worldwide, by which it offers a unique opportunity to authors to be paid automatically for music played in most of the territories of the world. At present, OSA manages rights for the territory of the Czech Republic based on a contracting relationship directly with the rights holder or with its foreign sister society and offers repertoire of five million rights holders from various parts of the world, including more than 12 000 domestic rights holders. The rights of foreign rights holders are managed by OSA by means of reciprocal agreements concluded with 100 authors’ societies worldwide.
Owing to wide international background and almost one hundred years long tradition in enforcing copyrights inland as well as abroad, we try to make such conditions for authors so that they have peace and time for their own production. At the same time, we offer simple and easy access to music of authors from all over the world and across all music styles for the users of musical works. Consequently, OSA creates by its activities an imaginary bridge between authors and the users of their production.
Subject of activity
The collective management of ownership copyrights to musical pieces with or without lyrics and to other copyrighted works within the meaning of the Copyright Act and disclosure of these works to the public and related activities on the basis of an authorization granted by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic or on the basis of a commission granted to OSA by other collective management organization, all of these are the main subjects of business of OSA. OSA further performs agency activities on the basis of an issued trade licence. Within the agency, it also grants licences on the basis of an individual commission from individual rights holders.
History
Shortening the name to OSA, z.s.
![2021](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/18_image_2021.1690884517.jpeg)
Monthly accounting of royalties introduced
![2019](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/15-image-2019.jpg)
Launch of an e-shop for the purchase of licences for reproduced music
![2018](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/16-image-2018.jpg)
OSA as a single collection point for all collective administrators in the Czech Republic
![2010](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/12-image-2010.jpg)
Quarterly royalty statements introduced
![2010](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/17-image-2010-2.jpg)
Creation of a grant programme to support music creation
![2009](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/11-image-2009.jpg)
Cooperation with YouTube signed
![2006](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/10-image-2006.jpg)
OSA Annual Awards
![1990](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/13-image-1990.jpg)
The authors themselves take over the management of the OSA
On the initiative of the OSA's Civic Workers' Forum, a working assembly of represented authors met on 13 January 1990 and expressed confidence in the newly elected OSA committee. The administration of the OSA was thus fully returned to the authors.
![1956](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/9-image-1956.jpg)
Renewed collaboration with CISAC and BIEM
![1946](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/8-image-1946.jpg)
Rebuilding the OSA after the Second World War
The OSA initiates a number of new principles and ideas which are gradually incorporated into the CISAC principles and become internationally recognised. On the last day of 1946, the OSA informs the Statistical Office that it has 293 members, 55 employees and a house with 28 rooms, 20 of which it uses and 8 of which it rents.
![1942](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/7-image-1942.jpg)
OSA during the Protectorate
The liquidation lasted three years - at least on paper and in reports to the Reich Protector. In reality, the OSA continued to exist. Its board of directors met in secret, as did most of its members. After the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945, it was enough to remove the notation "in liquidation" from the relevant registers and the OSA's activities continued.
![1933](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/5-image-1928.jpg)
OSA's new headquarters
![1929](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/6-image-1929.jpg)
Co-founder of BIEM
![1926](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/4-image-1926.jpg)
Adoption of the Copyright Act, co-founding of CISAC
In the same year, the OSA became one of the founding members of CISAC - the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers.
![1924](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/3-image-1924.jpg)
Cooperation with other countries
![1922](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/2-image-1922.jpg)
Evolution
![1921](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/14-image-1921.jpg)
Adoption of the Berne Convention
![1919](/ir/c114xc114/storage/Milestone_Milestone/1-2000/1-image-1919.jpg)