Resale Royalty Archives - Copyright Agency

Resale Royalty: hear from the artists

On the eve of the scheme generating $14 million in royalties, here’s what some of our leading artists have to say about the importance of the Resale Royalty Right.

Resale Royalty Update (August 2023)

Here’s an update and a refresher on Resale Royalty: Artists, could your resold artworks be eligible for a payment? If you are aware of a resale and would like to check if a royalty may be due, please contact us. You’ve heard people talk about first and second resale but those terms can be confusing. A quick way to […]

The Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists 2010 to 2023

As we approach the 13th anniversary of the Resale Royalty Right, we celebrate the milestone of $13 million in royalties generated by the scheme. The Resale Royalty Right recognises artists ongoing rights in their work and provides them with a share of its ongoing value. Here’s how the scheme is performing: $13 million Over $13.3 […]

Copyright Agency welcomes Government’s new Cultural Policy

The Federal Government launched its new Cultural Policy, Revive, on 30 January. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and the Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, both spoke at the launch. The policy The policy includes recognition of the fundamental role of the copyright system in supporting Australia’s creative industries and workers: The Government […]

12 years of the Resale Royalty scheme

The Resale Royalty Right enables artists who create work to share in its value when it is resold. On the 12th anniversary of the scheme, here’s some information about how it’s performing.

Resale Royalty scheme hits $11 million milestone

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP and Copyright Agency join in celebrating Australia’s resale royalty scheme hitting the $11 million milestone.

Resale Royalty and international reciprocity

The Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Act 2009 (the Resale Act) allows for reciprocal resale rights to be established with countries that have an operating resale royalty scheme.

The Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists

The Resale Royalty Right enables artists who create work to share in its value when it is resold. Commencing on 9 June 2010, the scheme recognises artists ongoing rights in their work and provides them with a share of its ongoing value.

Can Blockchain assist with Resale Royalty?

Blockchain is once again hitting headlines, with Bitcoin more than doubling in value since December 2020, plus the high-value sale of an NFT.

Giving back through voluntary resale payments

Resales of artworks acquired before 9 June 2010 do not meet the criteria for a royalty payment – but they need not miss out altogether.

10 years of Resale Royalty for Australian artists

9 June 2020 marked a decade of the Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists in Australia. The Copyright Agency is appointed by the Australian Government to collect and pay royalties to artists when their work is resold. Under the Resale Royalty Scheme, a 5% royalty is payable on certain resales worth $1,000 or more. You […]

Copyright management and royalty income during COVID-19

With exhibitions, sales, teaching and other sources of casual income in short supply, the licensing income and resale royalties that flow to visual artists are more essential than ever. You’ve been asking for advice during this challenging period, so we’ve compiled some tips and information for you. And as always, the Visual Arts team remains […]

Government releases Resale Royalty Scheme Review Report

Last December the Copyright Agency welcomed the release of the Australian Government’s Post-Implementation Review for the Resale Royalty Scheme. The report analyses the first three years and four months of the Scheme and provides a valuable snapshot into its implementation and early operation. The Resale Royalty Scheme entitles visual artists to five per cent of […]

Annual Report 2018-19 released at AGM

Copyright Agency has issued its 2018-19 Annual Report at its AGM held in Sydney on 20 November 2019. The report provides the audited financial results of the company and reports on achievements in the last financial year. 2018-19 was a strong year with many gains for our members. Highlights include: Strong financial results We generated revenue of around $150m and paid […]

Artist Amanda Marburg's studio [Photo © Olivia Tran]

Getting help with your Resale Royalty queries

If you are an artist, art market professional or art collector, you may have some questions about the Resale Royalty scheme. Artists may be aware that their works have been resold and would like to know if they are owed a royalty payment. Similarly, art market professionals handling sales and resales might wonder if an […]

Canadian report recommends copyright changes to support local authors

The Copyright Agency welcomes a landmark report from the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage which has backed Canadian authors in their push to reform copyright laws in that country. Copyright Agency CEO Adam Suckling says, “Canadian authors and publishers have endured serious erosions to their livelihoods since 2012 as a result of copyright changes which […]

Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists

Over $1 million in resale royalty revenue was generated in the financial year of 2017-18, with more than 180 artists receiving their first eligible resale payment in that time. Artists from all stages of their careers are benefitting from the resale right, which entitles them or their estate to a 5% share of the sales […]

What does ‘second resale’ of an artwork mean?

While the Resale Royalty Right is generally well understood, we are often asked to clarify the term ‘second resale’ and how it affects eligibility for resale royalty. If used out of context this term can lead to the wrong conclusion on a royalty being due. The term second ‘resale’ is also sometimes confused with second […]

Could your resold artworks be eligible for a payment?

The Resale Royalty Right for visual artists entitles artists and their estates to a five per cent royalty whenever an eligible artwork resells in Australia. Copyright Agency is committed to ensuring that artists and their estates receive the resale royalties that they are entitled to. We actively investigate missed or inaccurate reporting to recover royalties. So […]

Why wills matter for artists

In Australia, copyright and the Resale Royalty Right in most cases lasts for 70 years after an artist’s date of death. This means that having a will is imperative for artists to ensure your intellectual property is passed on according to your wishes, and to assist your beneficiaries in effectively managing, and benefiting from, these […]

Resale royalty right discussed on world stage

In May, the World Intellectual Property Organisation hosted an international conference on the visual artists’ resale right. This landmark event was a milestone in the global campaign to promote international adoption of the right. The Copyright Agency | Viscopy’s Judy Grady presented evidence from Australia’s resale scheme via Skype, to the many artists, policy makers, […]

Accurate reporting vital for resale royalties

The Resale Royalty Right entitles visual artists to a 5 per cent royalty when an eligible work resells in Australia for $1,000 or more. One of the eligibility criteria for a resale royalty is that the person selling the artwork acquired it it on or after after the scheme commenced on June 9, 2010. To […]

More than $4m in royalties generated from resale scheme

Six years after it began, Australia’s resale royalty scheme has generated more than $4 million for artists, with more than half of those artists living and working in remote and regional Australia. More than 12,800 eligible artworks have been resold, well above predicted expectations for the scheme, returning a 5 per cent royalty to 1200 […]

Aboriginal artist Elton Wirri. Photo: Guy Louanglath.

Resale royalty admin fee adjustment

From 1 July 2015, the administration fee for royalties collect by the Copyright Agency under the Resale Royalty Scheme will be 15%. This fee is used to support the administration of the Resale Royalty scheme on behalf of right holders and their beneficiaries. A 15% fee for service reflects costs of managing the scheme and […]

Resale Royalties Generate $2.4 million to Visual Artists

By the end of June 2014, the Resale Royalty Scheme had generated 2.4 million dollars from more than 8,900 resales, benefiting more than 910 artists. Artists receiving royalties distributed through the scheme grew in 2013-14 by more than 30 per cent when compared with the previous year. The artists receiving resale royalties are diverse and spread across […]

Indigenous Education Program Reaches Remote Regions

Indigenous communications co-ordinator and legal officer Patricia (Trish) Adjei, travels more than 5,000 kilometres every year to deliver an Indigenous education program to remote regions in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia. Trish, a Torres Strait Islander and Ghanaian woman, gave presentations and information resources to more than 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists across seven states and territories in 2013-14 alone. […]

Resale Royalty Gains Momentum in US

18 July 2014: US artists in the US have been successful in getting a Bill introduced into Congress for an artists’ resale royalty scheme. Australia is one of about 50 countries to have an artists’ resale royalty scheme, whereby a small proportion of the sale price is paid to the artist each time an artwork […]

Remote Indigenous Artists top Resale Royalty Revenue

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists have earned 50% of all royalties generated so far. The majority of Aboriginal artists who receive royalties when their works are resold are located in remote and very remote areas in the Northern Territory, followed by Central Australia (SA and WA). Australia’s resale royalty scheme began in 2010 and […]

Copyright Agency manages Resale Royalty Scheme

Copyright Agency is appointed by the Australian Government to manage the Resale Royalty Scheme for artists, which began in June 2010. Here are the latest statistics about the scheme. Since its start on 9 June 2010 until 9 February 2014, the scheme has generated royalties: Totalling more than $2.28 million From more than 8,000 resales For more […]

Visual Artists all over the world need your support

An international group of organisations representing creators is calling on the global community to make the right for artists to earn income from resales of their work mandatory in all countries. Australia’s Resale Royalty Scheme provides artists with a five per cent payment from eligible resales of their work. “The protection of artists should be […]

Resale Royalty Scheme Reaches $1m for Artists

Over $1 million in royalties has been returned to Australian artists thanks to the Australian Government’s resale royalty scheme, administered by the Copyright Agency. The scheme provides artists with a five per cent royalty payment from eligible resales oftheir artwork and is an important source of additional income for many practising artists. Copyright Agency CEO Jim […]

Resale Royalty Messages Hit the Airwaves

The Copyright Agency, in partnership with IAG Productions, has developed a series of easy-to-understand audio messages about the resale royalty scheme in 11 different Aboriginal and Torres Strait languages for remote Indigenous artists. The short message has been produced for community radio and explains what the resale royalty scheme is and how artists can register […]