How it works

We collect and distribute rights payments owed to the principal director — or directors — of a programme when their work is used and reused in the UK, and across certain countries in Europe and Latin America.

This means that when a directors’ work continues to be enjoyed after broadcast, that work is fairly rewarded.

You have to be a member to receive a payment from Directors UK. We collect and distribute the following types of payments:

Information for production companies and agents

We're active in collecting (or negotiating for) rights payments for our members in three distinct areas:

1. We have an agreement with BBC, ITV, Channel 4, S4C, Channel 5, Sky, Pact and TAC under which we receive regular payments, from which we distribute to our members. The collection of these payments is managed by these broadcasters and if you're a production company producing a programme for one of these broadcasters (including co-commissions) you will be told how the scheme works and what you need to do. You don't need to contact Directors UK regarding these payments. Our members can freely assign their rights on these commissions. 

2. We're also negotiating a scheme to provide payments for ongoing uses of programming commissioned in the UK by the international SVOD platforms (Apple, Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount and WBD) and directed by our members. Whilst we negotiate, certain of those platforms are requiring production companies working for them to obtain confirmation that our members are free to assign relevant rights on productions that are commissioned by them. For the time being, we can provide that confirmation. Production companies and agents can contact [email protected]. 

3. We collect statutory remuneration payments and private copying fees for our members in countries around the world where directors, as original copyright owners, are entitled to such payments even when they have assigned all rights that can be assigned to producers.