Struggling to Write Through the Recession?

LONDON -

- All Writers Should Check - has ALCS Collected Money for you?

As the Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) approaches the second of its bi-annual distributions this September, it continues to hold money for writers whom it is unable to trace, in spite of continued and concerted efforts by the ALCS membership research team.

“Although we’re paying out in excess of GBP6 million in September, we’re aware that there are writers, from all disciplines, whose work is being copied and who have yet to join ALCS. We continue to trace as many authors as possible”, says CEO, Owen Atkinson, “and once a writer becomes a member we can then pay any fees due to them. We ask all writers who are not yet members to use the `search for royalties’ function on our new website to see if royalties have been collected on their behalf and encourage all these writers to join ALCS.”

WHAT ALCS DOES FOR WRITERS

As with all collecting societies, ALCS’ primary role is to collect fees that are difficult, time-consuming or legally impossible for writers and their representatives to claim on an individual basis. Fees collected are distributed bi-annually to the full spectrum of writers including:

- novelists; - film & tv script writers; - professional & academic writers (inc. nurses, lawyers, teachers, scientists & academics); - literary prize winners; - poets & playwrights; - freelance journalists; and - translators & adaptors.

Membership of ALCS and Public Lending Right (PLR) is essential to make sure writers are paid for the secondary uses of their work, e.g. photocopying, rebroadcasting as well as for the lending of their books in libraries (via PLR).

AT ALCS ALL TYPES OF WRITER ARE ELIGIBLE

Many people do not consider themselves to be a `writer’ in the traditional sense as they only write part-time or occasionally. Many ALCS members who write have a primary professional occupation such as lawyer, doctor, scientist, academic or teacher, however they are still eligible to receive funds if their writing is copied and re-used. Writers can find out more by contact the ALCS membership department on +44(0)20-7264-5700 or checking on the website www.alcs.co.uk

Joining an organisation like the Society of Authors or the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain will also give writers the advice they need regarding their contracts which is so important in both a recession and with the plethora of changes taking place in the digital world.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR WORKS

The other issue for writers at a time of economic pressure, is to ensure they take good care of their rights. Reverting rights back to the author is an important step; it will be tied in to the rate of sale. When that rate of sale has not been reached, the book will be regarded as being `out of print’ and it is then that notice can be given to the publisher. Rights are becoming ever more important in this digital era.

ALCS - Protecting and Promoting Authors’ Rights

ALCS protects and promotes authors’ rights concerning their intellectual property and moral rights to ensure they are fully respected and fairly rewarded. ALCS is committed to fostering an awareness of the value of copyright issues amongst writers as well as the wider public who use, enjoy and benefit from the written word in all its forms.

Set up in the wake of the campaign to establish Public Lending Right in 1977, ALCS is a not-for-profit company that has distributed a total of GBP200 million to writers since its inception.

In its role promoting and protecting authors’ rights, ALCS consults regularly with policy makers in the UK and Europe over copyright, digital rights management and intellectual property matters.

ALCS - Sources of Income

ALCS has developed highly specialised knowledge and sophisticated systems which track writers and their work (both print and audiovisual) against various secondary uses for which they are due payment. The main sources of fees due are secondary royalties from: photocopying (through the Copyright Licensing Agency which is jointly owned by the ALCS and the Publishers Licensing Society); international Public Lending Right; cable retransmission; fees from the Educational Recording Agency (ERA) and sources such as blank tape and machine levies for private copying and small miscellaneous literary rights.

The All Party Parliamentary Writers Group (APWG)

ALCS has also supported the setting up of the All Party Writers Group (APWG) chaired by Janet Anderson MP. APWG is a forum for elected Parliamentarians in Westminster to consider and discuss matters of importance to writers. As a focal point for authors’ interests, with its links to UK writer organisations, APWG is well placed to draw attention to the current issues facing writers amongst an audience of decision-makers at Westminster and beyond.

ALCS - The International Picture

The Society is recognised internationally as a leading authority on copyright matters and authors’ interests. It maintains a close watching brief on all matters affecting copyright both in the UK and around the world and makes regular representations to the UK government and to the European Commission. ALCS pays royalties to Member writers based in 137 countries around the globe. ALCS has reciprocal arrangements with over 50 collecting societies around the world.

Notes for Editors

ALCS contact information

ALCS, The Writers’ House, 13 Haydon Street, London EC3N 1DB Tel: +44(0)20-7264-5700; email: alcs@alcs.co.uk Website: www.alcs.co.uk

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Source: ALCS

Media Contact: Becca Wyatt: +44(0)1798-867-117; +44(0)7801-061-420; ALCS, Alison Baxter: +44(0)20-7264-5700