Reproduction rights

Legal provisions

In accordance with intellectual property legislation, the provisions of which are set out in the Code de la Propriété Intellectuelle (CPI), established by law no. 92 597 of July 1, 1992, artists, designers and engravers, have copyright over the works reproduced on the postage stamp or created specifically for the issue of a postage stamp.

Postage stamps are assimilated to artistic works.

In application of the provisions of article L 111-1 of the CPI, the author enjoys, by the sole fact of his creation, an exclusive property right enforceable against all.

The author enjoys economic rights (right of reproduction and right of representation) for life. On the death of the author, these rights subsist for the benefit of his heirs for the current calendar year and the following 70 years.

In addition, under the terms of article L 121.1 of the CPI, the author (draftsman, graphic artist, engraver...) is the holder of a perpetual, inalienable and imprescriptible moral right. This right is transmissible to the author's heirs. In some cases, economic rights have been assigned to La Poste under a contract.

Penal provisions

Articles 443 et seq. of the new Penal Code govern counterfeiting of postage stamps as fiduciary value. The reproduction of postage stamps is therefore subject to certain rules designed to avoid any confusion with the original postage stamp and its fraudulent use.

Art 443-2: "Shall be punished by five years' imprisonment and a fine of 75.000 euros fine the counterfeiting or falsification of postage stamps or other postal fiduciary values, as well as stamps issued by the finance administration, the sale, transport, distribution or use of these counterfeit or falsified stamps or values."

Authorization

Postage stamps may not be reproduced without the prior authorization of La Poste and the artists who created the stamp (designers, engravers, photographers...). The request must be addressed to:

Philaposte / Service Offres et produits

111 Boulevard de Brune,

75618, Paris Cedex 14

Ou

reproduction-timbre.philaposte@laposte.fr

Respect for moral rights

The stamp must not be altered in any way.

The stamp must not be truncated, modified or hidden by another visual, or text.

Colors must be imperatively respected.

The names of the artists who created the stamp, designer and engraver, appearing in the stamp must be legible. If this is not the case, the name(s) of the author(s) must be included in the legend.

Conditions for reproduction of the postage stamp

Each postage stamp must be reproduced in its entirety, serration, service mentions (La Poste, French Republic, face value, stamp title) included.

The stamp must not be overprinted, except by official La Poste cancellations.

The perforations of the postage stamp must be reproduced, but in no case may they be concretely made on the reproduction medium.

Monochrome: only black is allowed in monochrome publications. Four-color publications must reproduce the postage stamp in color.

Format: this must be increased or decreased by a minimum of plus or minus 25% compared with the original format. If the stamp is reproduced in color and format, a cancellation bar must appear at one of the corners of the postage stamp.

Mandatory notations

Author's notations must appear next to the stamp reproduction.

The words "© La Poste" must appear next to the reproduction of the postage stamp - followed by the year of issue of the postage stamp.

Mandatory mentions (photographic agencies, rights holders.A copy of the publication should be sent to the Musée de La Poste as proof and, if they so wish, to the artists who created the postage stamps.

Musée de La Poste

Direction du Patrimoine du Musée

34 boulevard de Vaugirard

75731 PARIS CEDEX 15

Legal provisions

In accordance with intellectual property legislation, the provisions of which are set out in the Code de la Propriété Intellectuelle (CPI), established by law no. 92 597 of July 1, 1992, artists, designers and engravers have copyright over the works reproduced on the postage stamp or created specially for the issue of a postage stamp.

Postage stamps are assimilated to artistic works.

In application of the provisions of article L 111-1 of the CPI, the author enjoys, by the sole fact of his creation, an exclusive property right enforceable against all.

The author enjoys economic rights (right of reproduction and right of representation) for life. On the death of the author, these rights remain in favor of his heirs for the current calendar year and the following 70 years.

In addition, under the terms of article L 121.1 of the CPI, the author (draftsman, graphic artist, engraver...) is the holder of a perpetual, inalienable and imprescriptible moral right. This right is transmissible to the author's heirs. In some cases, economic rights have been assigned to La Poste under a contract.

Penal provisions

Articles 443 et seq. of the new Penal Code govern counterfeiting of postage stamps as fiduciary value. The reproduction of postage stamps is therefore subject to certain rules designed to avoid any confusion with the original postage stamp and its fraudulent use.

Art 443-2: "Shall be punished by five years' imprisonment and a fine of 75.000 euros fine the counterfeiting or falsification of postage stamps or other postal fiduciary values, as well as stamps issued by the finance administration, the sale, transport, distribution or use of these counterfeit or falsified stamps or values."