Campaigns

Copyright Campaign

The Problem

Australian screen directors are denied any ongoing return in the films and TV they make because of an outdated and unfair interpretation of Australia’s copyright law.

Despite past victories which have returned a small stream of retransmission royalty payments, Australian directors continue to face strong opposition for fair pay for their creative work. They often receive no benefit from the growing digital market and have no body of work to derive future incomes from in contrast to directors from other parts of the world including the United Kingdom.

Key Issues:

1

Parity

Australia is well behind the rest of the world in recognition of directors’ rights.
Currently, directors in 37 international territories including most of Europe, South America and Hong Kong are primary copyright holders in a film.
Directors benefit from strong union negotiated agreements with residuals.
Other key creators in Australia including producers, script writers and musicians have an entitlement to ongoing returns; directors do not Australian directors get royalty payments collected overseas, and need to reciprocate.

2

Remuneration

In a 2024/25 ADG/ASDACS Members survey, 34% of respondents made less than $50,000 a year; despite 87% of respondents having worked in the industry for more than 10 years.
At a time when funding for the Arts & Screen has slashed, directors urgently need secure ongoing income streams through royalty payments.
Many Australian directors are forced to work overseas with the flow on impact of less productions, less mentoring and less jobs in Australia – all necessary for a fully functioning creative ecosystem in film and television.

3

Landscape

The work of directors is the foundation of Australia’s screen industry which contributed $6 billion to the GDP and supported 55,000 full time jobs in the 2021-2022 financial year.
The accelerating pace of digital distribution and production has disrupted traditional business models which no longer provide fair ongoing returns for directors.

What can members do?

Spread the word and use every opportunity to remind people of the importance of directors in Australia and their right to fair, ongoing streams of remuneration. Like other creatives in the film and television industry, directors have a legitimate entitlement to ongoing returns from the fruits of their labour.

The solution

A simple amendment to Australia’s Copyright Act so the definition of “maker” of a film specifically refers to directors. As a result, directors will share copyright in films and TV productions with producers. This change will ensure a sustainable future for directors with improved recognition of their creative contribution in film and television in line with producers, screen writers and composers.

"A director is the lifeblood of the film, it literally is not realised without the directors’ vision, persuasion and direction of talent and often access and logistical negotiations."

“Equal copyright ownership would not only recognise the director's creative influence but also ensure they receive fair compensation for their work, particularly when the film generates revenue over time. This balance would encourage a more equitable and collaborative approach in filmmaking."

“The director plays a central role in shaping the creative vision of a project, interpreting the script, guiding performances, and making key artistic decisions that bring the story to life. Just as the writer crafts the narrative and the producer oversees the production, the director’s contribution is integral to the final product.