Pressure building in directors' campaign

Pressure is building for action on the copyright claim from freelance directors working for ITV, with an open meeting planned for early February.

The copyright claim submitted to the ITV companies aims to achieve full recognition of freelance directors under copyright law, and is backed by BECTU, the Directors Guild of Great Britain (DGGB) and Directors & Producers Rights Society (DPRS).

Freelance film and television directors have had statutory recognition as joint authors and co-first owners of copyright since 1996. The claim is for parity of treatment with writers and performers who also have similar legal rights.

The BBC already has an agreement with BECTU covering secondary use payments for freelance directors, and the union believes it is time for ITV to come to the negotiating table.

BECTU Deputy General Secretary Roy Lockett says: "Internationally, the current situation of freelance directors working for ITV is indefensible. Statutory provision for directors in Europe and powerful collective agreements in the USA and Canada guarantee directors fair and realistic payment for the massive growth in outlets through which their work is screened. The position in he UK is a blackspot in the audiovisual world".

A freelance directors open meeting has been arranged to discuss the ITV claim on 2 February 1999 at 1900 at the Thomas Ashton Suite, Berners Hotel, Berners Street, London W1.