Three important authors’ bodies are coming together to demand legislation for equitable rights payments for European film and television directors and screenwriters. They are calling for unwaivable enforceable rights, fair contracts and stronger resistance to arguments put out by the pirate lobby.

On 22nd February we met Vice President Kroes of the European Commission who is in charge of everything digital there.  We had a very distinguished group of screenwriters and directors with us – Robert Alberdignk Thijm, Fred Breinersdorfer, Bertrand Tavernier and Susanna White.

Delegation of leading European Audiovisual Authors presents their vision for the future of the online market – one that brings their works to as many people as possible while guaranteeing authors a fair deal and securing the financing of future works.

Paul Powell's keynote speech at SAA's conference - Audiovisual Authors Online - Seizing the Digital Revolution.

European officials and a variety of actors from across the audiovisual sector came together in Brussels on 29th November 2011 to look at what the digital revolution means for audiovisual authors like directors and screenwriters and came up with concrete ideas for how this revolution could be seized as an opportunity to finally link authors’ remuneration more directly to the success of their works.

The conference was held on 29th November from 2pm to 6pm at the Concert Noble in Brussels followed by a reception and a screening of "Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro" by Robert Guédiguian, this year's LUX Price winning film, at Flagey.

The conference was held on 29 November at Concert Noble in Brussels followed by a reception and a screening of this year's LUX Prize winning film, "Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro" by Robert Guédiguian at Flagey.

SAA submitted its response to the EC’s Green Paper on the Online Distribution of Audiovisual Works calling for the European Commission to support its proposal for a collectively managed unwaivable remuneration right for the online access to films.

The European Commission published its Green Paper on “Online Distribution of Audiovisual Works in the EU – opportunities and challenges towards a digital single market” on 13th July 2011.

Some of Europe’s leading audiovisual creators and CEO’s of Europe’s audiovisual collective management societies presented the Society of Audiovisual Author’s (SAA’s) White Paper investigating the rights and remuneration of audiovisual authors in the digital age. The meeting was timely following the publication of the Commission’s communication on a Single Market for Intellectual Property Rights which confirmed that the subject will be treated in the forthcoming Commission Audiovisual Green Paper.

Public consultation on the European Commission report on the application of Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

White Paper to raise awareness of the legal and practical situation of audiovisual authors in Europe in terms of their rights and remuneration. New solutions are needed in the digital era.