Division 58: Publishing activities

Section J, Publishing, broadcasting, and content production and distribution activities. 6 subcategories with ISTAT's explanatory notes and the ATECO 2022 codes they come from.

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  1. 58Publishing activities

    This division includes the publishing of books, brochures, leaflets, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, atlases, maps and charts; the publishing of newspapers, journals and periodicals; the publishing of directory and mailing lists and other publishing (including software publishing).

    Publishing includes the acquisition of copyrights to content (information products) and making this content available to the general public by engaging in (or arranging for) the reproduction and distribution of this content in various forms. Publishers may license rights to others to distribute their content, or they may publish and distribute content they create or own. All the feasible forms of publishing (in print, digital, analogue, or any other form) and self-publishing activities are included in this division, except publishing of motion pictures and music.

    This division covers the streaming of content (for example, software and books), by content publishers.

    Excludes

    • printing, see 18.118.1
    • mass reproduction of recorded media, see 18.2018.20
    • production of motion pictures, videos and movies, publishing of music and production of original (sound) master recordings, see division 5959
    • obtaining rights from publishers to broadcast and distribute content, see division 6060
    • computer programming activities, see division 6262
    • influencer marketing, see division 7373
  2. 58.1Publishing of books, newspapers and other publishing activities, except software publishing
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This group includes activities of publishing books, newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, directories, compilations, mailing lists and other works (for example, catalogues, photographs, calendars, greeting cards, postcards, forms, posters, reproductions of works of art). These works are characterised by the intellectual creativity required in their development and are usually protected by copyright. All the feasible forms of publishing (in print, digital, analogue, or any other form) are included.

  3. 58.11Publishing of books
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This class includes activities of publishing books, dictionaries, atlases and other similar works.

    Excludes

    • production of globes, see 32.9932.99
    • publishing of advertising material, see 58.1958.19
    • publishing of music and sheet music books, see 59.2059.20
    • jointly publishing and distributing podcasts, see 59.2059.20
    • audiobook streaming activities not associated with its publishing, see 60.1060.10
    • activities of independent authors, see 90.1190.11

    Implementation rule

    • All the feasible forms of publishing (in print, digital, analogue, or any other form) are included.
  4. 58.11.0Publishing of books
  5. 58.11.00Publishing of books
    From ATECO 2022: 58.11.00 Edizione di libri (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • publishing of books, brochures and similar publications
    • publishing of dictionaries and encyclopaedias
    • publishing of atlases, maps and charts
    • publishing of e-books and audiobooks
    • publishing of comic books and graphic novels
    • activities of individual writers, publishing their own produced content
  6. 58.12Publishing of newspapers
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This class includes activities of publishing newspapers, including advertising newspapers.

    Excludes

    • production of television or video news programmes, see 59.1159.11
    • news agency activities, see 60.3160.31
    • activities of photojournalists, not self-publishing their own created content, see 74.2074.20
    • activities of journalists whose content is published by a third party, see 90.1190.11

    Implementation rule

    • Newspapers (including advertising newspapers) should be under editorial responsibility and control, appearing or being regularly updated at least four times a week, being composed mainly of literary works of a journalistic nature related to news, and having the purpose to inform the general public. If the product is published in both printed and electronic format, the frequency of publication will be assessed on the basis of the frequency of publication of the printed version.
    • All the feasible forms of publishing (in print, digital, analogue, or any other form) are included.
  7. 58.12.0Publishing of newspapers
  8. 58.12.00Publishing of newspapers
    From ATECO 2022: 58.13.00 Edizione di quotidiani (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • publishing of newspapers
    • activities of journalists self-publishing their own created content in newspapers

    Also includes

    • publishing of advertising newspapers
  9. 58.13Publishing of journals and periodicals
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This class includes activities of publishing journals and periodicals.

    Excludes

    • production of television or video news programmes, see 59.1159.11
    • content distribution via blogs, see 60.3960.39
    • activities of photojournalists, not self-publishing their own created content, see 74.2074.20
    • activities of journalists whose content is published by a third party, see 90.1190.11

    Implementation rule

    • The publishing of a periodically or regularly updated collection of information should be under editorial responsibility and control, composed mainly of literary works of a journalistic nature, and having the purpose to inform the general public. Periodicals and other journals, appear less than four times a week. If the product is published in both printed and electronic format, the frequency of publication will be assessed on the basis of the frequency of publication of the printed version.
    • All the feasible forms of publishing (in print, digital, analogue, or any other form) are included.
  10. 58.13.0Publishing of journals and periodicals
  11. 58.13.00Publishing of journals and periodicals
    From ATECO 2022: 58.14.00 Edizione di riviste e periodici (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • publishing of journals and other periodicals
    • publishing of radio and television schedules
    • activities of journalists self-publishing their own created content in journals and periodicals
  12. 58.19Other publishing activities, except software publishing
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • retail sale of software on physical media, see 47.4047.40
    • publishing of advertising newspapers, see 58.1258.12
    • publishing of software, see 58.258.2
    • production of video content, see 59.1159.11
    • production of audio-visual content, see 59.1159.11
    • operation of content distribution (sharing) platforms, including blogs and wiki sites, social network sites and online gaming / video game sites not associated with publishing of the content, see 60.3960.39
    • application hosting, see 63.1063.10
    • operation of web search portals, see 63.9163.91
    • compiling of information or directories on a fee or contract basis, see 63.9263.92
  13. 58.19.0Other publishing activities, except software publishing
  14. 58.19.00Other publishing activities, except software publishing
    From ATECO 2022: 58.12.01 Pubblicazione di elenchi (in part) · 58.12.02 Pubblicazione di mailing list (in part) · 58.19.00 Altre attività editoriali (in part)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • publishing in any format, including print, digital or on the internet, e.g.:
      • directories and mailing lists
      • compilations (e.g. case law, pharmaceutical compendia)
      • catalogues
      • photographs, engravings and postcards
      • calendars
      • greeting cards
      • forms
      • posters
      • reproductions of works of art
      • non-bound leaflets and advertising material
      • statistics and other information
      • financial markets analysis
      • datasets/databases without associated data processing services
    • edition/publishing of games, board games

    Also includes

    • activities of content creators, including digital content creators, publishing non-video contents
  15. 58.2Software publishing
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    This group includes the publishing of software (for example, operating systems, business and financial technologies software and applications, video games). Development and continuous updating of self-published video games and software are included here.

    This group also includes intermediation service activities for software publishing and operation of marketplaces for software downloads.

  16. 58.21Publishing of video games
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • reproduction of video game software, see 18.2018.20
    • retail sale of non-customised video game software on physical media, see 47.4047.40
    • operation of video game streaming sites for viewing only, see 60.2060.20
    • operation of online gaming / video game sites, not associated with publishing, see 60.3960.39
    • development of video game software, on behalf of others, see 62.1062.10
    • application hosting, see 63.1063.10
    • operation of gambling sites, see 92.0092.00
  17. 58.21.0Publishing of video games
  18. 58.21.00Publishing of video games
    From ATECO 2022: 47.99.10 Commercio al dettaglio di prodotti vari, mediante l'intervento di un dimostratore o di un incaricato alla vendita (porta a porta) (in part) · 58.21.00 Edizione di giochi per computer (in part) · 61.90.99 Altre attività connesse alle telecomunicazioni n.c.a. (in part) · 62.09.09 Altre attività dei servizi connessi alle tecnologie dell'informatica n.c.a. (in part) · 63.12.00 Portali web (in part) · 63.99.00 Altre attività dei servizi di informazione n.c.a. (in part)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • publishing of video games for all platforms and all devices
    • provision of online game in-game and in-app purchases by the publisher, for all users, including subscribers

    Also includes

    • intermediation service activities for video game software publishing
  19. 58.29Other software publishing
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • reproduction of software, see 18.2018.20
    • retail sale of non-customised software on physical media, see 47.4047.40
    • publishing of video games, see 58.2158.21
    • online provision of software, not associated with publishing, see 60.3960.39
    • operation of online gaming / video game sites, not associated with publishing, see 60.3960.39
    • development of software, not associated with publishing, see 62.1062.10
    • translation or adaptation of non-customised software for a particular market on a fee or contract basis, see 62.1062.10
    • application hosting, see 63.1063.10
    • use of published software for the provision of financial and insurance activities, see section LL
  20. 58.29.0Other software publishing
  21. 58.29.00Other software publishing
    From ATECO 2022: 47.99.10 Commercio al dettaglio di prodotti vari, mediante l'intervento di un dimostratore o di un incaricato alla vendita (porta a porta) (in part) · 58.29.00 Edizione di altri software a pacchetto (esclusi giochi per computer) (in part) · 61.90.99 Altre attività connesse alle telecomunicazioni n.c.a. (in part) · 62.09.09 Altre attività dei servizi connessi alle tecnologie dell'informatica n.c.a. (in part) · 63.12.00 Portali web (in part) · 63.99.00 Altre attività dei servizi di informazione n.c.a. (in part)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • publishing of other software, including:
      • operating systems
      • business and other applications (e.g. distributed ledger technology (DLT), financial technologies software)
      • cybersecurity software
      • modelling software
    • publishing of instant messaging or satellite geolocation applications

    Also includes

    • intermediation service activities for software publishing and software downloads

Source and disclaimer

The code you find here has no legal value, like the one from ISTAT's own navigator. You can use it as a reference when you register or change a VAT number with the Business Register or the Italian Revenue Agency. If in doubt, ask your accountant. ISTAT's official ATECO navigator.

Data: ISTAT, ATECO 2025 classification, CC BY 4.0 licence. We reorganised the files for search without changing the text of codes and notes, except for the capitalisation of section titles. CC BY 4.0

ISTAT files used

ATECO documentation on istat.it