Statement From ALCS Following Fringe Event at Labour Party Conference

Statement From ALCS Following Fringe Event at Labour Party Conference

LONDON, September 25/PRNewswire/ --

- Secretary of State for Culture Calls for a Different Approach to the Internet That Brings Value Back to Content Creators

Britain's creators met with Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Culture on Monday at Labour's Conference to discuss the changing landscape brought about by the internet and digital use.

The Author's Licensing and Collecting Society and British Music Rights came together in support of giving both writers and musicians a fair reward where the use of their works has generated value.

Echoing speeches delivered by children's author Mal Peet and musicians Fergal Sharkey and Jazzie B, Mr Burnham supported the need for action to be taken to protect creators' rights in the light of recent surveys which show that young people are increasingly getting 'something for nothing'.

Recent research conducted for the ALCS suggests this extends beyond file-sharing websites where films, music and television programmes may be downloaded, to 'so-called' user-generated web-sites where a vast amount of copyright content is uploaded without even an acknowledgement to the rights-holder.

Barbara Hayes, Deputy Chief Executive of the ALCS said, "This shows that the Secretary of State is taking the issue of creators' rights very seriously. As a key member of the All Party Writers Group, we look forward to working with him on this issue once Parliament returns this autumn."

Notes for Editors

http://www.alcs.co.uk

ALCS - Sources of Income: ALCS has developed highly specialised knowledge and sophisticated systems which track writers and their work (both print and audiovisual) against various secondary uses for which they are due payment. The main sources of fees due are secondary royalties from: photocopying (through the Copyright Licensing Agency which is jointly owned by the ALCS and the Publishers Licensing Society); international Public Lending Right; cable retransmission; fees from the Educational Recording (ERA) and sources such as blank tape and machine levies for private copying and small miscellaneous literary rights).

ALCS - The International Picture: the Society is recognised internationally as a leading authority on copyright matters and authors' interests. It maintains a close watching brief on all matters affecting copyright both in the UK and around the world and makes regular representations to the UK government and to the European Commission. ALCS pays royalties to member writers based in 137 countries around the globe. ALCS has reciprocal arrangements with over 50 collecting societies around the world.

The All Party Writers Group (APWG): the latest information on the activities of the forum and issues under discussion can be found at http://www.apwg.co.uk The affairs of the APWG are administered by the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS).

Source: Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS)

Media Contact (please do not publish these numbers), Becca Wyatt: +44(0)1403-780-383; +44(0)7801-061-420; ALCS, Alison Baxter: +44(0)20-7264-5700. Contact information: ALCS, The Writers' House, 13 Haydon Street, London EC3N 1DB Tel: +44(0)20-7264-5700; email alcs@alcs.co.uk

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Profile: International Entertainment