Belgian SCAM brings cash to British journos

In 2008 the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) struck a deal with the Société Civile des Auteurs Multimedia (SCAM) in Belgium under which the latter was to collect fees due to UK authors under the terms of a statutory scheme dealing with the reprographic copying of UK newspapers in Belgium.  Having received the first payment of fees, ALCS is now preparing to make payments for this photocopying in its next distribution, scheduled for February 2011.

To receive a share of fees in this distribution, freelance journalists are invited to claim their share of the fund. They can only claim their slice of the revenue in respect of articles which are (i) written on a freelance basis, (ii) at least 250 words in length (this might pose problems for people writing for British red-top tabloids), (iii) accredited to the journalist by name and (iv) published in a national UK newspaper between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2008.  If you think you're entitled to a pay-out, visit the ALCS website or contact the ALCS Licensed Works department at on +44 20 7264 5700.