Buying a fresh smartphone, tablet or external disk, fewer people realize that there is an additional, silent fee hidden in the price. Talk about Reprographic fee, which quietly feeds the budgets of collective rights management organisations. Although its intent is excellent, many Poles pay it unnecessarily. Most importantly, consumer awareness grows in 2025, and government gives a clear basis for recovering this money. If you usage electronic equipment for professional purposes, you can apply for a refund and recover from respective twelve to even respective 100 zlotys. It's completely legal and simpler than it might seem. We explain how to do this step by step.
What is simply a reprographic fee and why do you pay it?
Reprographic fee, frequently referred to as "a charge on clean media", is simply a form of compensation for creators – musicians, filmmakers or writers – for possible copying of their works for private use. According to Copyright and Related Rights Act, manufacturers and importers of electronic equipment shall be obliged to pay this fee, which shall then be included in the final price of the product. This means that all consumer, erstwhile buying a device, adds his brick to a fund for artists.
The amount of this fee varies and is usually from 1% to 3% of the net value of the device. Although it may seem tiny on a single product, it generates immense sums of money per country. The fee shall cover virtually all devices capable of storing and reproducing data. The most crucial of these are:
- Smartphones and tablets
- Desktops and laptops
- External hard drives (HDD and SSD)
- USB flash drives and memory cards
- DVD/Blu-ray recorders and clean discs
The problem is that this strategy assumes that each buyer will usage the equipment for private copying of tracks. However, the reality is different and the law provides for situations where the charge is not due.
Who can claim a refund? Key condition
The right to recover the reprographic fee is granted to anyone who can prove that the purchased equipment is not utilized to copy tracks for individual use. This is simply a key criterion that opens the way for the return of money primarily to 2 groups. The first and largest are entrepreneurs – both large corporations and single-person business. A business phone, worker laptop or company paper archiving disk are classical examples of professional usage that exclude private copying.
The second group is individuals who usage equipment only for professional purposes. It may be a photographer archiving his own photographs on disks, a software developer storing origin codes, or a scientist collecting investigation data. In each case, the device is not utilized to make copies of films or music for its own use, so the fundamental presumption of a reprographic charge is not met. If you can show that the intent of the acquisition was closely related to your professional activity, you have the right to apply for a refund.
How do I get my money back step by step in 2025?
The procedure for reimbursement of the reprographic fee is clearly defined, although it requires any initiative. By 2025 this process is already much more standardized than a fewer years ago. Here's what you request to do:
Step 1: Prepare the proof of purchase. The basis is simply a VAT invoice or receipt. For entrepreneurs, the invoice is simply a natural document. Natural persons should take care of a individual proof of acquisition that will facilitate identification.
Step 2: Make a message about the usage of equipment. You must prepare a letter in which you clearly declare that the purchased device will only be utilized for professional purposes and will not be utilized to copy works for private use. It is worth giving your details, the number of the acquisition proof and the exact marking of the equipment.
Step 3: Contact the vendor. The first recipient of your application should be the store where you made the purchase. The seller, as a marketplace operator, is frequently obliged to mediate the return process. Send him an invoice scan and a statement.
Step 4: Send the application to collecting societies (OZZ). If the seller refuses to aid or is incapable to process the application, you can contact the organization straight who charges for the kind of equipment. In Poland these are among others. Association of Authors ZAiKS, SFP-ZAPA is KOPIPOL. They frequently have dedicated forms or contact information on their websites.
How much money can you get back? Real examples
The amounts that can be recovered depend straight on the value of the equipment purchased. Although individual sums may seem small, with larger purchases or by year they become significant. Consider any applicable examples:
- High-end smartphone: Net price approx. 5000 PLN. Reprographic fee (let's presume 1.5%) is 75 PLN.
- Laptop to work: Net price approx. 7000 PLN. possible return is even 105 zł.
- External 2TB SSD: Net price approx. 600 PLN. There's about 9 zł.
Now imagine a tiny company that buys 5 fresh smartphones and 5 laptops for its employees within a year. The full amount of the reprographic charge that can be recovered is (5 x 75 zł) + (5 x 105 zł) = 375 zł + 525 zł = 900 zł. It's real money that, alternatively of going to OZZ, can stay in the company's budget. So it is worth taking a minute to analyse your purchases and submit a request.
In conclusion, the reprographic fee is simply a legal mechanics but does not apply to all. If you are an entrepreneur or usage electronics only for professional purposes, you have the right to recover your money. In 2025, with increasing awareness of consumer rights, it is worth taking advantage of this possibility.
Continued here:
Hidden charge in your smartphone. You can get even a fewer 100 dollars back!
