Media Registration in Ukraine

In Ukraine, the creation and operation of mass media (media outlets) are regulated by a number of legislative acts. Therefore, one must approach the creation of a specific media outlet very carefully and consult specialists; then state registration of the media will not be a cause for concern for the founder.

The term “mass media” here refers specifically to a printed publication characterized by its periodicity, unchanging title, and the publication of one or more issues per year.

Legislation allows printing publications in any field not prohibited by law; however, when issuing a document confirming the right to publish a particular media outlet, different amounts of fee are paid – from 14 to 100 non-taxable minimums of citizens’ incomes. All publications intended for free distribution and aimed at charity are exempt from paying the registration fee.

Only registered mass media outlets have the right to be published. The person who registered the printed publication has the status of its founder, the others – co-founders.

As a result of registration, a Certificate of Media Registration is issued, which confirms the right of a magazine or newspaper to be published on a legal basis. Even if you need to publish only a single printed edition – a newspaper with the minimal circulation of 1 copy – registration of the newspaper is still mandatory.

If you are interested in how to register a magazine, let’s consider it in more detail.

In addition to the application, the authority may request documents for media registration that confirm civil legal capacity and capacity to act – the founder’s passport, a power of attorney, the charter or an agreement between co-founders.

It all depends on where the media will be distributed:

• if the publication is distributed throughout the territory of Ukraine or in two or more regions – to the State Registration Service;
• if the media is issued in a single locality – to the structural subdivision of the Main Department of Justice performing the functions of Ukrgospereestr.

The registration authority accepts the application and reviews it within a month, after which it makes one of the following decisions:

• register;
• refuse registration;
• suspend consideration of the application.

Registration of mass media occurs only after payment of the registration fee, within a month from the receipt of the registration notice from the authorized body.

Our specialists handle registration matters at a professional level, therefore they thoroughly know the procedure for media registration. We will prepare the founding documents for you, collect the necessary information and go through all instances of state bodies without delay. The procedure for registering printed media is carried out by us independently, so it will take you minimal time. The cost of legal services is negotiated individually in each specific case (it all depends on which service you want to receive; for example, re-registration of media is a slightly simpler procedure compared to creating a new media outlet).

Documents and the procedure for registering mass media have their nuances, so it is important not only to collect them in the required quantity but also to correctly prepare and submit them to the appropriate authority. And it is better to entrust this matter to professionals.

Legislation:

Law of Ukraine “On Printed Mass Media (The Press) in Ukraine” dated 16.11.1992 No. 2782-XII;

Order of the Ministry of Justice “On approval of the Regulation on state registration of printed mass media in Ukraine […]” dated 21.02.2006 No. 12/5;

Law of Ukraine “On state registration of legal entities and individual entrepreneurs” dated 15.05.2003 No.755-IV.