TECHNETIA
Private copying levy (rémunération pour copie privée)
What is it?
The French private copying levy (articles L311-1 et seq. of the Code de la propriété intellectuelle, formerly known as the « SORECOP » levy) compensates authors, performers, producers and publishers for the copies of works that private individuals are legally allowed to make for their own use on recording media. It is collected by Copie France from manufacturers and importers when the media are placed on the French market, and passed on in the selling price. A quarter of the proceeds funds cultural initiatives.
Which products carry it?
USB flash drives, memory cards, external hard drives and SSDs (and desktop NAS units sold with drives), smartphones, tablets, portable media players, TV recorders and blank CD/DVD. Computers, internal drives, RAM modules and diskless NAS enclosures are not subject to the levy (tariff in force on 1 January 2026).
How TECHNETIA informs you
As required by article L311-4-1 of the Code, the amount specific to each medium is shown on the product page under the price (« incl. private copying levy »), in the cart summary and on the invoice, line by line, together with a reference to this notice. The amount is already included in the displayed price — nothing is added at checkout.
Current tariff (Copie France, applicable from 1 January 2026)
| Medium | Capacity | New (net) | Refurbished (net) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB flash drives, memory cards | ≤ 8 GB / 16 / 32 / 64 / 128 / 256 / > 256 GB | €1.00 / 1.50 / 2.00 / 2.80 / 3.40 / 4.00 / 4.60 | same |
| Smartphones | ≤ 8 GB / 16 / 32 / 64 / > 64 GB | €4.00 / 8.00 / 10.00 / 12.00 / 14.00 | €2.40 / 4.80 / 6.00 / 7.20 / 8.40 |
| Tablets (iOS, Android, Windows) | ≤ 16 GB / 32 / 64 / > 64 GB | €8.00 / 10.00 / 12.00 / 14.00 | €5.20 / 6.50 / 7.80 / 9.10 |
| External HDD/SSD, desktop NAS sold with drives | < 5 TB / 5–10 TB / ≥ 10 TB | €6.00 / 10.00 / 15.00 | same |
Amounts are net of VAT; consumers pay VAT (20 %) on top, e.g. €14.00 net = €16.80 incl. VAT. Full tariff on copiefrance.fr.
Professional buyers: exemption or refund
Companies and organisations covered by article L311-8 (in particular those buying media for a professional use that excludes private copying) can either sign an exemption agreement with Copie France or claim a refund of the levy paid, on presentation of the TECHNETIA invoice showing the amount and the supporting documents requested. Both procedures are handled online by Copie France; TECHNETIA cannot deduct the levy itself. Media exported from France may also qualify for a refund from Copie France.
Official explanatory notice
The notice provided for by the ministerial order of 24 January 2014 can be read and downloaded on the French Ministry of Culture website: Commission pour la rémunération de la copie privée.