Cécile Despringre, SAA Executive Director, said: “The remuneration of creators should be part of any European work on authors’ rights and copyright.  We are pleased to see it mentioned in the strategy.  SAA’s members can play a constructive role in making the digital single market work for Europe’s audiovisual authors, the creators behind the works that are driving the development of new online markets. We look forward to working with the Commission ahead of the legislative proposal.”

SAA published its white paper on audiovisual authors’ rights and remuneration in Europe in March demonstrating the current situation of screenwriters and directors and making concrete practical suggestions to improve royalty flows to screenwriters and directors for the online use of their work.

SAA said it welcomes a number of other aspects of the Commission’s strategy notably its proposal to support the promotion of European productions online.  This pro-active action seems much more appropriate to really help European works travel across borders.  Enforcement of copyright and intermediary responsibility are also important areas for Europe’s screenwriters and directors but should not be seen in isolation from the need for authors to secure a fair return for the exploitation of their works.