Keypoints

As required by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), the NSW Government has entered an agreement with Screenrights for the payment of copyright fees. The agreement covers the recording of radio and television broadcasts until 30 June 2015, and also settles the outstanding liability dating back to 2000.

All agencies that are legally part of the State of NSW will shortly receive invoices from Screenrights. In most cases the invoice will require the agency to pay:

$0.86 per FTE for each year from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2010, to discharge retrospective liability; and

$0.86 per FTE for the year ending 30 June 2011.

For the remaining years of the agreement (1 June 2011 to 30 June 2015), agencies will receive annual invoices at the same rate, adjusted for CPI. The FTE figures used to calculate the liability of an agency in a given financial year are those produced by the Workforce Planning Unit within the Department of Premier & Cabinet, as at the end of the previous financial year.

All agencies are also required to participate in Sampling Surveys during the period of the agreement. The results will be used in negotiating rates for the subsequent agreement with Screenrights.

Agencies are reminded that the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) within the Department of Premier and Cabinet records all free to air Sydney radio and television broadcasts and can supply copies to agencies. Relying on this service will reduce duplication of resources and effort. MMU may be contacted:

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 9228 3319

If you have any queries regarding your agency’s obligations, please refer to the Copyright Unit website at www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lpd (then select Copyright Unit). The site contains information to assist agencies to understand the NSW Government’s obligations under the Copyright Act and to Screenrights. All other inquiries can be directed to the State Copyright Manager, NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice via email: [email protected]

Chris Eccles
Director General