An authors' rights collective management society
Created in 1777 on an initiative taken by Beaumarchais, the SACD (Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques – Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers) was the very first authors' rights collective management society. The growing number of means of exploitation and the increasing complexity of the techniques deployed have made it practically impossible for authors to manage their works on their own. Therefore, The SACD considers its first duty to collect and distribute the royalties accruing from the exploitation of authors' works. The Society currently counts about 31,000 member authors in the performing arts and audiovisual sectors: playwrights, choreographers, theatre directors, film/TV directors, scriptwriters, authors of interactive creations and stills.
Authorize, collect and distribute
The entire SACD repertoire currently comprises about 500,000 works, from the performing arts (all types of theatre, dance, opera, musicals, mime, circus, puppet shows, sketches, etc) and the audiovisual sector (all types of fiction, TV films, animation films, interactive creations, stills, etc). New works are being declared by SACD author members each day.
In virtue of the principles underpinning the collective management of authors' rights, an author, on becoming a SACD member, transfers his/her rights to the Society which shall manage them in the authors' name and on his/her behalf. By joining the SACD, authors bring their entitlement to authorize or forbid the performance and reproduction of their works, and are guaranteed that the exploitation of their works shall be controlled and their royalties collected.
On the strength of this transfer, the SACD negotiates general agreements for the performing arts and general performance contracts for the audiovisual sector, thus guaranteeing its members fair remuneration for each mode of dissemination.
The 1985 Lang Law introduces a remuneration for private copying. By "private copying" is understood the reproduction of recorded works using tape or video recorders, done by private individuals for their personal use. This remuneration is now applicable to all fixed (computer hard disk) and removable (audio CDs, DVDs, etc) digital media which could be used for private copying, and its purpose is to help artists, authors and producers. For its part, the SACD distributes the royalties collected to authors of audiovisual fiction works.
Developing a social and cultural action
As stipulated by the 1985 Lang Law, 75% of the collected royalties are distributed to the authors, according to the number of private copies made. The remaining 25% is reserved for "assisting the creation and dissemination of performing arts and artist training". These support schemes are handled by the Beaumarchais Foundation, a branch of the SACD.
The SACD assists authors with all aspects of their artistic and professional life, offering them tailored financial support to help them complete their projects. In addition, a social and legal counselling service is available. The SACD manages fees collected through the July 3, 1985 Lang Law designed to remunerate authors for private copying of their work. In application of this same law, the SACD develops each year social and cultural action programs, mainly financed through monies collected for private copying. A constant and reliable partner to authors, ready to offer moral support, financial assistance and advice to help them bring their projects to fruition or resolve personal life difficulties which can befall any author.
Promoting and defending author's rights internationally
The SACD protects and promotes the rights of its members internationally. Frequently, in order to defend authors within a constantly changing legal and technical environment, the Society has to make decisions on questions relating to new technologies, author's rights, and audiovisual policies chosen by countries. For the SACD, this entails making sure its voice is heard by international and European institutions. The society also works with authors' societies outside of France to encourage the adaptation of legislation favourable to the protection of authors worldwide. In order to make sure its members receive their due remuneration for exploitation of their works internationally, the SACD has developed bilateral relations with authors societies outside of France by signing reciprocal representation contracts (in French) in the performing arts and audiovisual sectors.
