SAA - Society of Audiovisual Authors

Study written by Prof. Raquel Xalabarder, Copyright law specialist and Chair Professor at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Intellectual Property.

Commissioned by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) and Writers & Directors Worldwide (W&DW), and supported by the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA).

Audiovisual authors often receive only an upfront payment, while producers and distributors retain control of exploitation rights and revenues—including from rapidly growing online and on-demand services. The study finds that contractual safeguards and voluntary arrangements alone rarely deliver fair, lasting remuneration across markets and borders. It calls for an unwaivable, inalienable right to equitable remuneration for every use of audiovisual works, collectively managed and paid directly by users, so that creators share fairly in the value generated by their work.