In an evolving environment, national and industry controlled collections agency Screenrights, is being joined by the ABC,funded by a lump of federal money to build an alternate portal for educational material. Chris Oliver-Taylor wrangled the implied debate..
Simon Lake, CEO of Screenrights, explained the basics of the organisation, started in Redfern in 1990. They were solving a basic problem in consultation with the industry – how to organise the collection of rights income based on material copied off-air. The education sector was willing to pay, the producers needed the revenue and Screenrights provides the plumbing in the middle.