Use of visual artworks in scientific publications now regulated by extended collective licensing
As part of the second national plan for open science, the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE) approached ADAGP, SAIF and SCAM to implement an extended collective licensing scheme for the use of copyrighted images in openly accessible, non-profit scientific publications.
This new legal tool, recognised in French law since 2021 but used for decades in Scandinavian countries, allows an accredited collective management organisation (CMO), such as ADAGP or SAIF, to request that the Ministry of Culture “extend” a contract authorising the exploitation of its members’ works to all authors in the same field.
The contract was signed on 27 November 2025 between MESRE, ADAGP, SAIF and SCAM. The Ministry of Culture issued an extension order on 19 January 2026, in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 139-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code.
Non-CMO member authors whose copyrighted images are published online in openly accessible scientific works are invited to come forward to receive the royalties they are entitled to.
Authors and rights holders who do not wish to be included in the scope of the licensing may, at any time, inform CMOs of their objection, which will be taken account within 3 months.
This is the first extended collective licensing scheme to be implemented in France.
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CIAGP, the international network of authors' societies, in London in 2024
