Membership of the Copyright Agency Limited has just reached a significant milestone – with journalist Alison Aprhys becoming CAL’s 20,000th member.
Alison was excited to learn that not only was she was owed a CAL payment, but her membership will be remembered as an important landmark in CAL’s development as an organisation.
As a freelance journalist and photographer, Alison contributes to a variety of publications on topics such as surfing, firefighting, fashion, gardening and science. She also publishes book reviews.
'It’s great knowing is there to provide information and support in regards to copyright issues. Copyright can be a complicated issue and so the fact that CAL helps to regulate licensing and ensure fair payment to the copyright owners, it allows us to concentrate on creating the best work we can produce,' says Alison.
Alison is also a popular speaker at writer and publisher events - for more information about Alison visit
www.shewrites.com.au.
CAL’s Director of Member Services, Eloise Nolan, said the rapid growth in membership over the past few years represents the growing diversity in the range of works used by CAL licensees – which include educational institutions, state and federal government departments, businesses, associations and non-profit organisations.
‘It also suggests that CAL is becoming more relevant to Australian creators,’ she says. ‘In just four years our membership has doubled, which means that there are more authors, journalists, visual artists, photographers and publishers with access to the benefits of CAL membership such as industry information, member events and the advantages of being part of a broader network as well as receiving payments in addition to their regular income.’
‘What’s more, the growth in membership also gives CAL greater collective bargaining power – so we can champion the rights of creators in discussions that relate to Government policy and legislation,’ Eloise adds.
CAL’s membership is expected to grow even further over the next few years through the launch of a new payment model, CALdirect. Currently, many rightsholders are required to on-pay others when they receive CAL payments – but with the new system, all parties with a stake in a work will be paid directly.
Item posted 8 July 2011.