Is your artwork in UK books, magazines or on TV? Apply to DACS’ Payback scheme for a share of over £4 million in royalties for the re-use of your published work, by Wednesday 14 October 2015.
What is Payback?
As the UK’s leading rights management organisation for visual artists, DACS set up and has been running the annual
Payback scheme for over 15 years. This year we have over £4 million in royalties to distribute to visual artists and their beneficiaries.
The royalties come from the re-use of published artwork, such as the photocopying and scanning of work in books and magazines, or the recording or re-broadcasting of work in TV programmes.
Last year, we paid royalties to over 20,000 artists and estates just in time for Christmas. Individual payments ranged from £25 to over £4,100, supporting studio rent, creative materials and equipment, tax returns and anything in between.
Illustrator Tom Hovey said: “I know plenty of illustrators and designers that do it every year and some might get thirty quid and some might get a couple of grand every year. No matter how much you get it is all money that you deserve, so go get it!”
Read more.
Fine artist Annabel Tilly said: “It's very easy. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.”
Read more.
Read interviews with artists who have benefitted from Payback
How to apply for royalties
Applying to Payback is simple and straightforward. All types of artists are eligible, from fine artists and photographers, to designers and illustrators.
All you need to do is:
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tell us the number of UK books and magazines your work has appeared in and provide the ISBN or ISSN numbers of up to 6 examples
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tell us the number of times your work appeared in TV programmes broadcasted in the UK in 2014, and provide up to 3 examples
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confirm you own the copyright to your work and authorise us to collect these royalties on your behalf
The easiest way to apply is by completing our online application form. If you prefer paper, please
email us to request a paper form.
If you are a returning applicant, we save your details from your last application.
Apply online
The deadline for online applications is
Wednesday 14 October 2015. If you are submitting a paper form, the deadline is Thursday 17 September.
If you have previously received royalties through a picture library or agent, you may want to check your agreement with them to see if it is possible to apply directly through DACS. We take 18% of your royalty to cover our operating costs and are always seeking ways to reduce this percentage. Since 2007 our commission rate has fallen by 7%.
Find out more about Payback
Payback is an important and valued initiative and is part of an established portfolio of services run by DACS to support artists to make a living from their practice and develop their work.
Each year we receive Payback royalties to distribute to artists and estates from various collective licensing schemes operated by organisations such as the
Copyright Licensing Agency and the
Educational Recording Agency. They issue licences to businesses and organisations which allow them to legally photocopy or scan, record or re-broadcast media featuring artists’ copyright-protected artwork.
Payback royalties are therefore in addition to the copyright fees artists might receive when their work is first published or used on TV.
Find out more about Payback for artists.
Find out more about Payback for the beneficiaries of deceased artists.
This year we are giving away iPad Airs to three lucky Payback applicants! Find out more.
Image: Photographer Kevin Cummins, who receives Payback royalties from DACS. Photography by Brian Benson © Brian Benson, 2015.