Polish literary organizations are appealing to lawmakers for increased author compensation and market protections as a new book market law nears finalization.
Creators Appeal to Parliament: Author Earnings Below Tram Fare
Five organizations representing authors, translators, and illustrators have jointly appealed to the Sejm’s Culture Committee regarding insufficient author earnings and the future of the book market protection law.
Legislative Race to Protect the Book Market
The legislative process surrounding the book market protection law is entering a decisive phase. Agata Diduszko-Zyglewska, advisor to the Minister of Culture, informed the Culture Committee that the ministry has received the final draft and sent it for inter-ministerial consultation, with full details expected to be made public within a month.
Rare Unity Among Creative Organizations
A joint letter signed by the Union of Literary Authors, the Association of Polish Writers, the Association of Literary Translators, the Polish Literary Union, and the Association of Polish Illustrators and Graphic Designers was submitted to the Committee, demonstrating uncommon unity within the literary community.
Three Pillars of the Book Market Protection Law Deemed Insufficient
According to literary figures, the three pillars of the proposed law are inadequate.
Addressing Long-Standing Market Problems
The draft law aims to address longstanding issues in the book market, such as distributors demanding discounts of up to 75% from publishers and the prevalence of early discounting, which disadvantages small bookstores competing with large chains.
Support for a Unified Book Price
Joanna Gierak-Onoszko, president of the Union of Literary Authors, supports the idea of a unified book price, noting its success in other countries. She believes it promotes quality-based competition and allows books to remain on shelves longer.
Creators Seek Broader Support Beyond Publishers
Creative organizations agree that the ministry’s three pillars are insufficient, emphasizing the need for direct support for authors. Gierak-Onoszko stresses that protecting the book market must include supporting those who drive literature.
The Profession of Writer: An Income Below a Tram Ticket
The literary community’s central demand concerns author royalties. A 2025 report commissioned by the Book Institute revealed that approximately 90% of surveyed authors earn less than the minimum monthly wage.
Royalties Fail to Cover Basic Expenses
Gierak-Onoszko stated that an author may receive only 2–3 złoty from the sale of a 50 złoty book, an amount insufficient to cover even a single tram fare.
Demands for Minimum Royalties
The organizations are urging the inclusion of a statutory minimum royalty of at least 10% of the cover price for writers, 5% for illustrators, and 3% for translators, applying to all formats including e-books and audiobooks. For translations based on volume, the minimum rate per publisher’s sheet should not be less than one-sixth of the minimum monthly wage.
Previous Proposals for Royalty Linkage
The Union of Literary Authors previously proposed linking royalties to the unified book price, setting them at 12–16% of that amount depending on the initial print run.
Demands for Market Transparency and AI Protection
The creative community welcomes the planned mandatory sales reporting, which they believe will improve transparency and ensure fair royalty calculations. They also highlight the need to protect literary works from unauthorized use in training AI models.
Concerns Over AI Exploitation and Piracy
Organizations point to the mass use of literary works to train AI models without author consent or compensation. They call for effective enforcement of copyright and clear regulations regarding the use of texts in technological processes, including a system for remuneration.
Call for a Polish Literary Fund
The most ambitious proposal is the establishment of a Polish Literary Fund, modeled after the Polish Film Institute, to provide systemic support for literature, potentially operated by the Book Institute.
Funding Model for the Proposed Fund
Funding for the fund could come from a mandatory distribution fee of 1.5% of book distribution value, reactivation of the Creative Promotion Fund, and budgetary grants.
Systemic Support Needed Beyond the New Law
Gierak-Onoszko emphasizes that the new book market protection law is only the first step and that literature requires systemic support comparable to that provided to the film industry by the PISF.
Timeline for the Book Market Protection Law
The organizations reminded the Committee of the deteriorating bookstore network and the need for municipalities to offer preferential rents to small bookstores, as well as the outdated list of devices subject to the levy on blank media. They also called for a significant increase in library lending fees.
Mixed Reactions to the Draft Law
Former Minister of Culture Piotr Gliński acknowledged the correct direction of the changes but stated that a detailed assessment of the draft law was difficult without specifics. The Publishers’ Association has also expressed significant reservations, emphasizing the need to protect the entire market and maintain readership levels.
Key Pillars of the Draft Law
The draft law includes a unified book price for 12 months, a distribution discount limit of 45%, and mandatory quarterly sales reporting to the Central Statistical Office.
Minimum Royalty Demands
Organizations propose a minimum of 10% of the cover price for writers, 5% for illustrators, and 3% for translators, across all formats. For translations based on volume, the minimum rate per publisher’s sheet is one-sixth of the minimum monthly wage.
Author Earnings from a 50 złoty Book
According to the Union of Literary Authors, an author may receive only 2–3 złoty from the sale of a 50 złoty book, insufficient for a tram ticket.
Findings of the 2025 Report on Author Conditions
The report, commissioned by the Book Institute, showed that the income from creative work of approximately 90% of respondents did not exceed the minimum monthly wage.
The Polish Literary Fund: Purpose and Funding
The Polish Literary Fund would be a systemic patron of literature, modeled after the Polish Film Institute, potentially operated by the Book Institute. Funding would come from a 1.5% distribution fee, reactivation of the Creative Promotion Fund, and budgetary grants.
