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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