As trustee of the money that it collects, Screenrights must ensure that the royalties are paid to the correct person or entity.
We seek to identify potential rightsholders in programs that have been copied, communicated and retransmitted by a variety of means, using:
- an extensive database of registered programs or programs we have paid in the past (existing warranties by Members);
- a range of external research databases;
- supplier information from the broadcaster;
- Internet research;
- industry resources; and
- industry knowledge.
To claim royalties a rightsholder must join as a member and warrant to Screenrights that they are entitled to royalties for a program. The member indemnifies Screenrights in the event that they claim royalties in error. Only then does Screenrights continue to pay future royalties to that member for titles which they do hold the rights to.
Screenrights has a policy for competing claims where more than one party makes a claim to a royalty. See More than one claim to royalties.