Act No. 81 / 1966 Coll.
Law on periodical printing and other mass information
Valid
Effective from 01.01.1967
81
THE LAW
of 25 October 1966
on periodical printing and other bulk information
The National Assembly of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic decided on this law:
Basic provisions
(1) In accordance with the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression, words and press, citizens of the periodical press and other mass information means use them to obtain information and express their views publicly.
(2) Freedom of expression, words and press and the social mission of the periodical press and other mass information means are materially guaranteed by making publishing and press agencies, radio, television, film and other mass information available to citizens and their organisations.
(1) Periodical printing is newspapers, magazines and other periodical printing material, issued at least twice a year under the same name and in a presentation typical of this type of printing. However, periodicals shall not be regarded as collections of laws, official bulletins and printed matter solely for the official, service or operational purposes of public authorities and organisations, scientific and cultural institutions, economic, social and other organisations.
(2) In addition to the periodical press, the mass information media are agency news, news and other publicity parts of radio and television broadcasting and news, as well as audio and image recordings used for regular public information on events, phenomena, facts and views in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic or abroad.
(3) The information is reports, data, facts and opinions published in the periodical press and in other mass media in all forms of publication.
Issue of periodic printing
The periodical press may be issued by Czechoslovak legal persons as well as Czechoslovak citizens who have reached the age of 18. Other legal and natural persons may issue periodical printing only with the consent of the competent authority of the Czech or Slovak government competent according to the publisher's seat.
(1) Authorisations to issue periodical printing shall be subject to registration.
(2) The registration of the central and regional periodical press is carried out by the Ministry of Education and Culture, in Slovakia by a representative of the Slovak National Council for Education and Culture. The regional national committees shall register the other press.
The application for registration of periodic printing shall be submitted at least 30 days before the intended issue and shall contain:
(a) the name of the periodical printing;
(b) its content focus;
(c) the name and address of the publisher, publishing organisation and printing works (reproduction);
(d) place of issue, address of the editor and administration;
(e) the periods during which periodical printing will be based;
(f) the expected average cost, scope, format and price;
(g) the personal data of the editor and evidence of his or her citizenship and competence, if the publisher is an individual, need not be identified by the editor.
(1) The issue of periodical printing may be initiated only after registration. If the application is not required pursuant to Article 6 or if the particulars are incomplete or inaccurate, the registration authority shall immediately notify the registrant, but no later than 3 days after its receipt, of the initiation of the registration procedure following the removal of the defects of the application.
(2) The registration procedure shall begin on the date on which the registration authority has received an application containing the required particulars. The registration authority shall carry out the registration within 15 days of the date on which such application was issued; issue a certificate of registration.
(3) If, within 30 days of the date on which the application was received by the registration authority, the registration certificate or the notification referred to in paragraph 1, the date of registration shall be the day following the expiry of that period; the registration authority shall provide confirmation of this to the person who submitted the application.
(4) The issuer shall notify the authority which made the registration of any change to the information contained in the application. The amendment may be made only after it has been registered by that authority; the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Registration shall cease to be valid and the authorisation to issue periodical printing shall cease,
(a) if the issue of periodical printing does not commence within one year of registration,
(b) if the publication of newspapers is interrupted for a period of more than six months and a magazine or other periodical printed matter for a period of more than one year.
Each issue of periodical printing shall bear the following mandatory particulars:
- the publisher,
- the address of the editor,
- the name of the editor and his representative,
- place, date and issue number,
- the price.
Status of publisher, editor and editor
(1) The periodical printing shall be the responsibility of the publisher, the other mass information means of the relevant organisation, which shall be subject to all other provisions applicable to the publisher.
(2) Under the responsibility of the publisher, the editor-in-chief shall manage the collective information medium. Furthermore, the Editorial Board may participate in the management of a mass information device. The extent of its participation in the management of a mass information device, its responsibility, the method of appointment and the withdrawal of its members shall be determined by the publisher.
(3) If the editor is appointed by the editor, he shall be responsible for the content of the individual issue of the mass information device, in particular for ensuring that the legal interests of society, citizens and organisations are not infringed by the content of the mass information device.
(4) If, for some bulk information, the editor-in-chief of the editor-in-chief, the editor-in-chief or the chairman of the editorial board perform the tasks of the editor-in-chief, they shall be subject to all the provisions applicable to the editor-in-chief.
(5) Without prejudice to the responsibility of the authors of the information resulting from the rules in force.
The editor-in-chief or editor may be the one who is civil and competent to do so.
The editor-in-chief and other editors shall, in the performance of their activities, enjoy protection under the applicable rules against all forms of pressure to obstruct their activities.
Synergies between state bodies and organisations
(1) State bodies and organisations, scientific and cultural institutions and economic organisations are required to provide the editors and other editors with the necessary information, within the scope of their mandate, for truthful, timely and versatile information to the public or for access to such information.
(2) State bodies and organisations, scientific and cultural institutions and economic organisations shall refuse to provide information or access thereto, provided that:
(a) a fact forming the subject of state, economic or professional secrecy;
(b) a fact the disclosure of which would prove to be detrimental to the interests of the State or of the company; or
(c) a fact the publication of which is contrary to the principles of protection of citizens' rights.
(1) State bodies and organisations, scientific and cultural institutions and economic organisations are required to take an opinion within one month on important social proposals, recommendations and initiatives and on serious social criticism which have been published in the periodical press or in other collective information medium and which have been explicitly pointed out by the editor.
(2) The editor is obliged to publish the opinion of the public authority, institution or organisation in an appropriate form and in an appropriate manner, by mutual agreement in the periodical press, in one of the earliest forthcoming editions, in radio and television on one of the closest similar broadcasts, as a rule within one month.
(3) The editor shall also publish, in the manner referred to in paragraph 2, the opinion of the social organisation on an important social proposal, recommendation or initiative or on serious social criticism which has been published in the periodical press or in another collective information medium, in particular those which have been specifically brought to the attention of the social organisation by the editor.
(1) State bodies and publishers work closely together on matters relating to the fundamental issues of the periodical press and other mass information resources with the Czechoslovak Union of Journalists, Slovakia, with the Slovak Union of Journalists. In particular, they are required to seek their opinion on fundamental issues relating to the development of periodical press and other mass information, their technical and economic security and on fundamental issues relating to the position of editors.
(2) By cooperating with each other, state bodies and publishers create the conditions for the successful performance of the journalistic work of editors, thus helping the Union of Journalists to carry out its mission according to its statutes.
Protection against abuse of freedom of expression, words and press
(1) Citizens who benefit from the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression, words and press enjoy full protection under the applicable rules.
(2) The disclosure of information that threatens the legally protected interests of society or citizens is an abuse of freedom of expression, speech and press.
(3) The protection of society and citizens against abuse of freedom of expression, words and press is the responsibility of the publisher, editor, editor and author to the extent that the regulations in force apply. Under these rules, the publisher's obligation to make good damage caused to organisations or citizens is also assessed by means of periodical press or other mass information.
The editor-in-chief or his authorised representative (paragraphs 4 and 5 of Section 10) shall be responsible for the non-disclosure of information contained in the collective information medium which constitutes a matter of state, economic or professional secrecy. The government is obliged to provide information to the editors of the periodical press and other mass information about which facts constitute the subject of state, economic and professional secrecy.
Correction of false data
(1) Where false or false information has been published in a mass information medium, or where it concerns the honour of a citizen or the reputation of an organisation, a scientific or cultural institution, or which relates to the activities of a public authority, a citizen, an organisation, an institution or a public authority may, within two months of publication at the latest, request the editor to publish the correction in writing and propose its wording.
(2
(3) If there is no reason to reject the correction under the previous paragraph, the editor shall publish the correction. In doing so, it shall ensure that the text of the correction and the manner in which it is published are agreed in advance with the applicant for the correction; If no agreement is reached, the court shall decide in accordance with Paragraph 20. The editor-in-chief shall publish the correction within eight days of the submission of the request for correction, in a magazine or in other periodical printed matter in the nearest number prepared after the application and in the same place and in the same letters as the information to which the correction relates has been published.
(4) The correction of the data published on the radio or on television shall be published at the same time as the corrected data was published. The correction of the data published in the Agency's intelligence shall be published in those newspapers which have published the corrected data and which shall be designated by the applicant for the correction on the expense of the relevant reporting agency. The correction of the data published in the reporting film or in the audio or visual record shall be published in one of the newspapers designated by the applicant for the correction on the cost of the relevant film or production organisation. The editor of the newspaper designated by the applicant for the correction is obliged to publish the correction.
(1) If the editor refuses to publish the correction, if he does not publish the correction at all, if he does not publish it in the manner set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 19, or if the correction is not satisfactory, he shall decide, on a proposal from the citizen (organisation, institution, state body), on the obligation to publish the correction by the district court. The application shall be submitted within 15 days of the expiry of the time limit set for the publication of the correction. Civil Code applies to proceedings. The Court of First Instance also commits the successor to the editor.
(2) The provisions of the Civil Code on the Protection of Individuals remain without prejudice.
Expansion of periodical printing
Publishers decide how to expand the periodical press.
Foreign Press and Agencies
(1) The exchange of information between the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and other countries is free. The exchange of information serves the understanding and friendship between nations and their mutual recognition and is carried out by importing and exporting the periodical press and the activities of intelligence agencies and information facilities.
(2) The exchange of information must not be used to threaten the honor and rights of Czechoslovak citizens and their socialist coexistence or to threaten the interests of the socialist state and society or to develop international peaceful cooperation.
The import and distribution of foreign periodical printing printed or reproduced abroad, the extension of foreign periodical printing printed or reproduced in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic by or on behalf of a foreign publisher, as well as the dissemination of intelligence of foreign intelligence agencies (other similar foreign mass information), are prohibited if their content promotes violence and war, fascist or Nazi ideology, racial discrimination or otherwise contradicts humanity or attacks against the integrity of the Republic and the foundations of its constitutional establishment or violates international agreements.
(1) Foreign intelligence agencies (other similar foreign mass information) may only operate in the territory of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic if their personnel and permanent foreign intelligence agents are accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(2) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state bodies provide the personnel of foreign intelligence agencies (similar foreign mass information) and permanent foreign rapporteurs with the assistance needed to carry out their activities properly. However, if an accredited worker or rapporteur infringes the legally protected interests of a company or an international agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may revoke the accreditation.
On the basis of international agreements and conventions, other States and international organisations may establish in the territory of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic a foreign information facility to inform the Czechoslovak public about events and life in the relevant foreign state or the activities of an international organisation. The scope and forms of information activities in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic shall be determined by an agreement or convention.
Foreign intelligence agencies (similar foreign mass information) and foreign information facilities shall not be located in diplomatic and consular missions buildings and their personnel shall not be personnel of such missions.
Final provisions
The rights and duties of the editor under this law are exercised by the individual issuing the periodical press if he has not appointed another person as editor (§ 10 (2)).
Penal Act No. 140 / 1961 Coll., as amended by Act No. 56 / 1965 Coll., is supplemented by the following:
Press negligence
The editor of the periodical press or other mass information medium, or his authorised representative, who, in the performance of his duties, negligently causes a criminal offence to be committed in the content of the periodical press or other mass information medium, shall be punished, unless more severely punishable, by a custodial sentence of up to six months or by a corrective measure or by a financial penalty or by a prohibition of action. ';
Publishers of periodical printing which have been authorised to issue it under the existing regulations shall be required to submit an application for registration under this Act by 30 June 1967. If they do not submit an application, their authorisation shall expire on that date.
They shall be deleted:
1. Act No. 184 / 1950 Coll., on the Issue of Magistrates and on the Union of Czechoslovak Journalists, as amended by Act No. 44 / 1958 Coll.,
2. Decree No 696 / 1948 of the Ú. l., on paper management in the publication of magazines,
3. Decree No 1144 / 1948 of the Ú. l., which embodies detailed directives on the submission of applications for licence to print magazines,
4. Decree No 1465 / 1948 of the Ú. l., on the establishment of the Economic Headquarters of Magazine Publishers at the Ministry of Information,
5th Order No. 39 / 1951 Ú. l. (No. 58 / 1951 Ú. v.), which is issued by the press regulations, as amended by Decree No. 191 / 1951 Ú. l. (No. 232 / 1951 Ú. v.), No. 3 / 1960 Coll. and No. 45 / 1963 Coll.
This Act shall take effect on 1 January 1967.
Novotný v. r.
Laštovka v. r.
Lenárt v. r.
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Regulation Information
| Citation | Act No. 81 / 1966 Coll., on Periodic Printing and on Other Mass Information Means |
|---|---|
| Regulation Type | - |
| Author | - |
| Collection | Code of Laws |
| Date of Promulgation | 08.11.1966 |
|---|---|
| Effective from | 01.01.1967 |
| Effective until | - |
| Status | Valid |
The regulation text is for informational purposes only.
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