Tourist accommodation: legal controversy around a tax claimed by Sacem

In the south-west of Hérault, Thierry Tablesowner of three gites, was surprised to receive an invoice from Sacem in early July. “If you provide a means of dissemination, you must subscribe to our special annual tourist accommodation package”, was it written in the mail. A new tax, targeted on tourist accommodation, whose owner has decided not to pay on the advice of his lawyer.

“The law allows Sacem to collect funds when a musical work is broadcast. The simple fact of providing its customers with a television, a radio or anything else does not mean that there will be a broadcast.argues Maître Didier Okpo, tax lawyer. At Sacem, another case law is underlined. “It has been established by the European judge that the voluntary provision of the means of communication of works gives rise to copyright”, advances Stéphane Vasseur, director of the regional network of Sacem. A controversy that should probably end up on the table of a judge.