FAQs

New Zealand writers currently have access to two collection schemes Screenrights which collects a levy for use of screen material by Australasian educational institutions and AWGACS (the Australian Writers Guild Authorship Collecting Society Ltd) which collects a levy based on works broadcast on television overseas.

The income from such agencies and societies is rarely huge but is certainly worth pursuing as New Zealand writers don't usually receive residuals for the re-use of their work.  The clause below will enable you to access these monies.  Without this clause the collected writer's levy will either go to the Producer or stay inaccessible with the international collection agency, as follows:

"Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Author from receiving money collected by authorised collecting societies of any country in respect of any rental and lending rights and/or in respect of any educational copying, retransmission or private copying levy and/or in respect of the other similar rights to which the Author may hereafter become entitled under the laws of any country in connection with the exploitation of the Film provided that nothing herein shall impose any obligation on the Producer to make or collect such payments."