Did Less Than 10% Of Access Copyright's Income Go To Authors Last Year?
from the for-the-authors! dept
Access Copyright, the copyright collection society that collects money from universities for people copying written works, has been somewhat controversial. Even putting aside its silly attempt to claim a trademark on the © symbol, it's also been looking to increase its fees massively (over 1,000% in some cases). Michael Geist has been digging in on some of the numbers behind Access Copyright (something the non-profit does not make easy, since it appears to obfuscate the money flow), and appears to have worked out that less than 10% of the money it brings in goes to authors. You can read his methodology at the link, where there are some important caveats, including some money that's being held back until the results of a lawsuit are worked out. However, it does seem quite eye opening to find out that the group brought in $33.7 million last year, and only about $3.1 million of that went to authors directly, while $8.7 million went to administrative expenses. Kinda makes you wonder who Access Copyright is really representing.
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Filed Under: authors, canada, copyright
Companies: access copyright
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Is this one of those deals where groups hide money under general headings like "administrative expenses"? For instance, are lobbying efforts covered by that designation?
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Sure sounds profitable for a non profit
Administrative overhead!
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Re: Sure sounds profitable for a non profit
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The view from on top is:
Besides, don't ebooks write themselves? That's what I've been hearing from the Real Authors, who still use good old fashioned typewriters, whiteout and absinthe to craft their literary gems.
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Re: The view from on top is:
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Re: Re: The view from on top is:
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Re: Re: Re: The view from on top is:
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Re: Re: Re: The view from on top is:
Wait....that's how my uninebriated writing is....
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Re: Re: Re: The view from on top is:
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There's nothing better than receiving 75p in the mail and knowing it's been checked, cleaned, checked again, cleaned in preparation for checking, checked in preparation for cleaning, cleaned and checked again for proper conformance with cleaning regulations.
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Re:
Collection Society...it's such a prim and almost Victorian turn of phrase, isn't it? Much classier than Protection Racket.
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Obligatory trolling
Oh, and, you are anti-choice.
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Re: Obligatory trolling
King Arthur: I am your king.
Peasant Woman: Well, I didn't vote for you.
King Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Peasant Woman: Well, how'd you become king, then?
[Angelic music plays... ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king.
Dennis the Peasant: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Arthur: Be quiet!
Dennis the Peasant: You can't expect to wield supreme power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
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Re: Re: Obligatory trolling
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Re: Re: Obligatory trolling
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The real question
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Since we're already there...
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well
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