international service
About the service
Societies in Europe, the United States and Canada collect retransmission, education and private copying royalties (also known as blank tape levy) in their territories.
Screenrights members can appoint Screenrights to register their titles with these societies and collect royalties being held on their behalf.
Screenrights is a non-profit society acting for our members. The administration fee for our International Service is currently capped at 11% which is one of the most competitive in international collections.
Does Screenrights collect royalties in all countries?
Screenrights collects royalties in those countries where there are established copyright collection services, or where Screenrights or our partner societies have concluded licensing agreements with local cable and satellite operators. This covers territories in Europe, the United States and Canada. We have also entered agreements with societies in South America and Africa.
Screenrights is always working with our international partners to develop markets in other countries.
How the royalties are calculated
The money that Screenrights collects from other societies is distributed according to the relevant society's distribution policy.
Unlike the Australian and New Zealand Collection Services, the allocations are made by the paying society. Screenrights then on-pays those royalties to its members.
Royalties paid under the service
Screenrights International registers and collects 'Film' royalties on behalf of its members.
Screenrights does not make international title registrations on behalf of scriptwriters and directors. International collections for writers and directors are available through the Australian Writers' Guild and the Australian Screen Directors' Association respectively.
Claiming royalties under this service
To participate in this service you must appoint Screenrights as your agent and register your titles with us.
Become a member
Screenrights is required by law to pay royalties to members only. It is free to join - you only need to join once, and membership is straightforward. Furthermore you are not giving any rights away by becoming a member.
If you are unsure if you are a member already, please contact us.
Register titles
As a Screenrights member, the only step necessary to claim international royalties is to register your titles, or extend previous registrations to include the International Service.
If you are a member of Screenrights and would like to register or would like to check whether you have already registered for this service, please contact us.
Addressing Screenrights royalties in your contracts
Any agreements, including sales and distribution agreements, should ideally address who is entitled to claim Screenrights royalties as the owner, assignee, or exclusive licensee of the relevant copyright.
Screenrights publishes suggested clauses that address who is entitled to royalties under the various collection services we administer.
See also: Info Sheet - Standard Contract Clauses
Emergency Heroes, Ninox Television
quick links
The Screenrights money was an unexpected New Years bonus which means a great deal to me. It was more money than I was expecting and it will be used to help support my business over the next couple of months as I continue to develop new projects. In short: I was rapt.
- Liz Burke Partner K.S. Beamish, E.J. Burke and S. Owen
