Frequently Asked Questions

  • There are no upfront costs for joining ASDACS; we instead deduct fees when we distribute any royalties that are due to you.

    ASDACS is a not-for-profit organisation and the fees we collect go toward our running costs so we can continue to service our members

  • If you’re a member of the ADG or DEGANZ, our 10% membership fee charged on royalties is waived.

  • Whilst we primarily represent Australian and New Zealand directors, ASDACS’ membership is open to all nationalities.

  • Dual membership with another collection society or guild, such as Directors UK, Directors Guild of America or the Directors Guild of Canada is possible; however you will have to specify the works you’d like us to collect for and the territories you would like us to collect from.

  • ASDACS distributes royalties once a year, commencing between July - December. This is for the previous year’s royalties and gives us a chance to prepare and check all of the data and associated income we receive. 

  • We’ll contact you during our annual distribution with further instructions on what to do to collect.

  • Currently directors do not have any rights within New Zealand, but the DEGANZ are campaigning to change this (with ASDACS' support).

  • You can register your work through the ASDACS online membership portal or by submitting a completed ASDACS credits form. We will also contact you from time to time to update or verify your titles. 

  • In 2005, directors were granted retransmission rights (free to air broadcasts simultaneously retransmitted by another service, such as payTV). The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission granted ASDACS authorisation to make membership conditional upon directors assigning retransmission rights to it (effective 19 Sept 2020). After signing up to the new membership terms, ASDACS now requires that you use our recommended clause in your directors contracts and register the work with ASDACS. We will then submit your work with Screenrights to ensure you receive any retransmission royalty income.

  • If you do not want to assign your retransmission rights to ASDACS, you have the option of cancelling your membership by giving 3 months notice in writing. Should you wish to rejoin ASDACS after resigning, then a waiting period of 12 months applies before your membership application will be accepted again.

  • If you’re already registered with Screenrights, than there’s a good chance you’re registered to collect the same rights that ASDACS would register you for – retransmission rights. As a condition of membership, ASDACS now requires that members register their retransmission rights with Screenrights through ASDACS.  Please contact the office for more information.

  • ASDACS has partnerships with over 38 international collecting societies; we register your work with our partners and they send us claims lists of works that have screened in their territory. We research, verify and claim works on these lists, as well as receive data sheets along with your payment during the year.

  • ASDACS invites all members to nominate for the board at its annual AGM in May. We will send notifications closer to the time and you’re welcome to apply.

Distribution Practices

  • You must be a member of ASDACS in order to be eligible to receive the royalties it collects. To be eligible for membership, you must have at least one credit on a publicly screened or commercially exploited audio-visual work or be a full member of the Australian Directors Guild (ADG) or Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand (DEGNZ) (or be a trustee or beneficiary of an eligible director).

  • There are no upfront costs on joining. ASDACS instead deducts fees and any relevant taxes when we distribute the royalties that are due to you – a breakdown is outlined on our website here. ASDACS is a not-for-profit organisation and the fees we collect go toward our running costs so we can continue to service our members. Any bank account interest earned on royalties prior to distribution is distributed evenly to members.

  • ASDACS distributes royalties once a year, commencing between July and December for royalties collected over the previous calendar year (both domestic and international). This gives us a chance to prepare all of the data and reconcile the corresponding income we receive.

  • The royalties we collect are due to the legal entitlements of a director – therefore you are only entitled to receive director’s royalties if you were attributed for your work. If you did not receive a credit for your work as a director (as per our list of eligible director credits), then we cannot distribute the associated royalties to you.

  • After you have notified ASDACS, we will then verify and reallocate the royalties to the correct director. You will then receive a deduction for any royalties received in the next distribution; this will be listed on your royalty distribution statement.

Undistributed Funds

  • ASDACS uses all means possible to distribute the income it collects to the rightful members. However, in some circumstances, ASDACS is prevented from distributing royalties.

    These include:

    • The member (or non-member) is untraceable or unresponsive.

    • The funds remain in dispute (no reported cases to date).

    • The amount due to the member remains below the minimum payment threshold ($100).

    • The data (director or work) is insufficient to make an accurate or equitable distribution.

  • In each distribution year, ASDACS will make at least three contact attempts via email, phone and/or post to contact the member. ASDACS also sends out distribution announcements through its quarterly e-News and distribution reminders through targeted mail list campaigns. We also publish the list of uncontactable members on our website and circulate the list in our e-News.

  • ASDACS undertakes extensive research and uses a number of resources, including international and domestic online databases (IDA, IPI, ISAN, IMDB-Pro, TVDB, NFSA, Screen Australia, NZ On Screen), broadcaster websites (ABC, SBS, TVNZ, Channels 7,9 and 10), social media (LinkedIn), publications (IF, Encore directory) and industry contacts (co-directors, production companies, sister societies) to help us identify works and directors.

  • After four distribution years, if the funds remain undistributed, the royalties are transferred into a trust fund referred to as the ‘development fund’. The ASDACS board then decides how these funds are to be spent in the best interest of the members.

  • The development funds (or expired distribution funds) are put toward the benefit of members (ensuring equity between past, present and future members), typically the further development of the organisation, with aim to increase royalty revenue back to its members and reduce the administration fee deducted from royalties on distribution. Examples of how these funds have been spent include:

    • a copyright campaign aimed at progressing the rights of directors with aim to ultimately increase royalty revenue to members.

    • development of an online membership portal to allow members to view and update their record details, as well as view and submit their distribution warranties electronically.

    • upgrade of the ASDACS’ internal database to enable the transfer of all members works into the international database system, IDA, to create internal efficiency’s and meet international governance standards.

  • Yes; you can still contact ASDACS in writing at any time to request release of your royalty payment (subject to board approval).