Royalties: money you are already entitled to

Every year, VG Wort – the German collecting society for written works – distributes statutory royalties to authors and publishers, for example for photocopying, scanning and the use of works in libraries. This includes scholarly publications in any language and from any publisher worldwide.

In 2026, VG Wort paid authors €1,150 for each eligible scholarly book and €1.90 per standard page for scholarly articles. Publishers received €340 per book and €1.05 per page. Publications from the past three years can still be registered.

Few authors outside Germany know about this – and the process is in German and full of formalities. That is where we come in.

Find more information and answers to our frequently asked questions.

How it works

1. Send us your publication list. We check which of your works qualify and estimate what you can expect – free of charge.

2. Sign your licence agreement with VG Wort. We prepare it for you; you only need to sign it and post it.

3. We register your publications – including those from the past three years – and add new ones every year.

4. VG Wort pays out your royalties. You pay our fee only if VG Wort pays you.

Our services are available to authors and publishers alike. We do not provide legal or tax advice and do not represent you in disputes.

No upfront costs, no annual fees: our fee is a share of the royalties VG Wort distributes to you. If VG Wort pays nothing, you pay nothing.

We know that choosing a partner for your German royalties is first and foremost a matter of trust. That is why Parnassus is a project created and run by academics for academic authors and publishers. The founders of Parnassus are both tenured professors at German universities and will handle your case in an absolutely serious and trustworthy manner.