Reproduction rights

Authorisation

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

Philaposte / Offers and products department

Immeuble ORSUD

3/5 avenue Gallieni 94257 GENTILLY CEDEX

Or reproduction-timbre.philaposte@laposte.fr

Respect for moral rights

• The stamp must not be altered in any way.
• The postage stamp must not be truncated, modified or hidden by another visual or text.
• The colours must be respected.
• The names of the artists who created the stamp, designer and engraver, must be legible. If this is not the case, the name(s) of the author(s) must be included in the legend.

Conditions of reproduction of the postage stamp

• Each postage stamp must be reproduced in its entirety, including the serration and the service markings (La Poste, French Republic, face value, stamp title).
• The stamp must not be overprinted, except by official cancellations of La Poste.
• The perforations of the stamp must be reproduced but may not be made on the reproduction medium.
• Monochrome: only black is permitted in monochrome publications. Four-colour publications must reproduce the postage stamp in colour.
• Format: it must be increased or decreased by a minimum of plus or minus 25% compared to the original format. If the stamp is reproduced in colour and format, a cancellation bar must appear in one of the corners of the postage stamp.

Mandatory information

• Authorship must be indicated next to the reproduction of the stamp.
• The words "© La Poste" must appear next to the reproduction of the postage stamp - followed by the year of issue of the postage stamp.
• Obligatory mentions (photographic agencies, rights holders, etc.) may be communicated when the reproduction is authorised.
• The mention "Rights reserved" does not exempt you from paying the rights but can prove your good faith in the event of a dispute with a rightful claimant.

Proof

A copy of the publication must be sent to the Musée de La Poste as proof and, if they wish, to the artists who created the postage stamps.

Museum of La Poste

Museum Heritage Department

34 boulevard de Vaugirard

75731 PARIS CEDEX 15

Legal provisions

In accordance with the legislation on intellectual property, the provisions of which are set out in the Intellectual Property Code (CPI), established by law no. 92 597 of 1 July 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 shall be treated as 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 which is enforceable against all.

The author enjoys economic rights (right of reproduction and right of representation) throughout his life. On the death of the author, these rights remain in favour of his successors 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 (draughtsman, graphic artist, engraver, etc.) is the holder of a perpetual, inalienable and imprescriptible moral right. This right is transmissible to the author's heirs. In some cases, the economic rights have been transferred to La Poste under a contract.

Criminal provisions

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

Art 443-2: "The counterfeiting or falsification of postage stamps or other fiduciary postal values, as well as stamps issued by the finance administration, the sale, transport, distribution or use of these counterfeit or falsified stamps or values are punishable by five years' imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros.