IRISH PLAYWRIGHTS’ AND SCREENWRITERS’ GUILD
Equitable remuneration and the digital revolution
The European Commission is currently preparing a Green Paper on the Audiovisual which will
address questions of the developing online market for audiovisual content.
Writers, directors and performers are faced with the possibility of complex changes to the way in
which the material that they create is distributed, with probable consequential changes to what is
produced and how creators are compensated.
A key concept is that of equitable remuneration. An increasing tendency in contracts between
producers and writers throughout Europe is the buyout contract which purchases all rights,
everywhere, for ever (or as long as copyright lasts), in apparent contradiction to the principle that
the author should share in the economic life of the product.
Irish copyright law facilitates the buyout approach. This implies the exclusion of authors from the
economy of the digital revolution. How can this be effectively addressed – what changes could be
made at EU level; at the level of copyright law in Ireland (in line with the existing acquis
communitaire); or at the level of individual contracts to encourage economic participation of Irish
authors in the new marketplace for audiovisual product online? We would like to have a position
paper developed on this question specific to the Irish situation but rooted in a European Union
perspective.
The Irish Playwrights’ and Screenwriters’ Guild (www.script.ie) is the representative organisation for
writers in Ireland for radio, television, theatre and film. We are active members of the Federation of
Screenwriters in Europe and the International Affiliation of Writers’ Guilds.
We are happy to discuss the terms on which a student would work with us in respect of timescale
and place of work. We cannot afford to make a payment but would expect to cover any out-of-
pocket expenses.
Please apply to lawplacements@ucc.ie by Friday 15th April 2011