Legal deposit

Thanks to the laws on legal deposit copies, the National Library can collect almost everything that is published in Sweden. This enhances research and the right to knowledge for all citizens.

The first legal deposit legislation appeared way back in 1661 and only applied to printed material. It was gradually extended to also include radio and TV broadcasts, music, film and multimedia. We have also been collecting electronic material since 2012.

We save all legal deposit deliveries, without evaluating or sorting. A local advertising flyer, a popular computer game, the works of a Nobel Prize winner. All are equally valid to us.

Types of material and contact details

We are happy to help with questions relating to legal deposit. Below is information about the various material areas.

  • When a daily newspaper is printed in Sweden, the printing companies are responsible for the legal deposit. If it is printed abroad, it is the publisher’s responsibility to deliver the material.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: svedag@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 30 00 (switchboard)

  • It is usually the distributor, publisher or producer who is responsible for ensuring that legal deposit copies of computer games are sent in. When it comes to an imported product with a Swedish association, however, it is the Swedish distributor that is responsible for delivery.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: bevaraspel@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 30 00 (switchboard)

  • Swedish government agencies and municipal authorities must deliver both analogue and electronic publications.

    A party that publishes electronic material for commercial purposes and has a Swedish business address must deliver its web-specific material.

    A party that has automatic protection under the constitution for its electronic publishing must also deliver.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: e-plikt@kb.se

  • A party that publishes film or video in Sweden must submit one copy of its material, if the run produced exceeds five copies.

    It is usually the publisher, film company or producer who is responsible for ensuring that legal deposit copies are sent in.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: film@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 30 00 (switchboard)

  • A party that publishes audio books in Sweden must submit one copy of its material, if the run produced exceeds 50 copies.

    It is usually the publisher/publishing house that is responsible for ensuring that legal deposit copies are sent in. When it comes to imported audio books with a Swedish association, however, it is the Swedish distributor that is responsible for delivery.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: ljudbocker@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 30 00 (switchboard)

  • A party that publishes music and sound recordings in Sweden must submit one copy of its material, if the run produced exceeds 50 copies.

    It is usually the producer or record company that is responsible for ensuring that legal deposit copies are sent in. When it comes to imported recordings with a Swedish association, however, it is the Swedish distributor that is responsible for delivery.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: musik@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 30 00 (switchboard)

  • A party that broadcasts radio in Sweden is obliged to submit its broadcasts and send in legal deposit copies in the form of reference recordings.

    Swedish Radio (SR) must send in all broadcasts on all of its channels. Community radio, commercial radio and live web radio must send in recordings from four selected weeks each year.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: radiotv@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 32 13

  • Swedish companies and organisations that broadcast TV in Sweden are obliged to record their broadcasts and send in legal deposit copies in the form of reference recordings.

    TV that is broadcast via the land network or satellite must be delivered to us in full. For local cable TV broadcasts and live web TV, recordings are delivered from four selected weeks each year.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries?

    E-mail: radiotv@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 32 13

  • Swedish printing works and copying companies must send in printed books, periodicals, posters, association prints, catalogues, reports, daily newspapers and advertising flyers.

    Swedish publishing houses and publishers must send in legal deposit copies when production has taken place abroad, or if the publication consists of a combination of print, audiovisual media or electronic material.

    Contact

    Do you want to find out whether you are a legal deposit supplier, obtain information about addresses or find out more about the procedures for legal deposit deliveries? Feel free to contact us!

    E-mail: plikt@kb.se
    Telephone: 010-709 30 95 (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30–12.00)

Two Swedish acts about legal deposit

  • The Swedish Act (1993:1392) on legal deposit copies of documents applies to printed matter and to radio and TV broadcasts, music, film and multimedia that are intended for distribution to the general public.
  • The Swedish Act (2012:492) on legal deposit copies of electronic material applies to, for example, music recordings, film, web-specific magazine and daily newspaper articles, and e-books and government agency publications.
For general questions please contact:

E-mail: info@kb.se
Telephone: 010-709 30 30
(Monday–Friday 9.00–16.00)

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