Screenrights has announced that a record $49.7 million was available for distribution to members in the 2021/22 financial year, with $45.9 million distributed to 1,709 members.
The non-profit organisation that provides rights and royalty management services to the screen industry and facilitates access to screen content for licensees. It also licenses Australian and NZ educators, and Australian government and pay TV retransmitters to copy and communicate broadcast content.
Usage records of the Australian Educational Licence were up over 6% on the previous year, demonstrating continued growth after the end of pandemic lockdowns.
Board chair Kim Dalton said: “In 2021/22, Screenrights achieved a record year for revenue from our licences and other collection services.”
“We continue to support the integrity of copyright and our members’ rights to fair compensation for the use of their programs.
“We’re pleased to have worked with stakeholders towards positive solutions that address genuine problems, and look forward to working with the new Federal Government in constructive ways that benefit us all when it comes to copyright reform,” she added.
Sustaining its upwards trajectory, the Australian Educational Licence saw another record year of usage in FY2021/22.
Screenrights chief executive James Dickinson said: “We’re proud that our members’ programs continue to support educators.
“The usage data over the last financial year demonstrates beyond doubt the Australian Educational Licence’s extraordinary value to teachers and students,” he added.
At its AGM held as a hybrid in-person and online event on Thursday 27 October, Screenrights’ company secretary Natalie Buck also revealed the Board election results.
Elected to the Screenrights Board are: Paul Wiegard, co-founder and CEO of Madman Entertainment, one of Australia & NZ’s leading independent distribution and rights management companies, current president Australian Independent Distributors Association (AIDA), and co-chair of Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC); and Tom Alegounarias, policy advisor and adjunct professor of education at Sydney University and former president of the NSW Board of Studies.
Returned to the Screenrights Board is Kelly Lefever as authorial (Screenwriter) director, first elected to the Board in 2018.