Membership of Copyright Agency vital for surveyor payments

August 28, 2014

The NSW Government will pay $2.25 million to compensate NSW surveyors for the sale of their survey plans prior to 2013.

The back payment is the latest good news for surveyors who have battled for more than a decade to have the rights in their plans recognised. The payment will be made to not-for-profit collecting society, the Copyright Agency, which will then distribute the money to the surveyors.

Previously, the plans were sold by the NSW Government and information brokers with no return to surveyors. But in July last year, the Copyright Tribunal determined the remuneration payable for the copying and communication of plans is 7.31% of the retail sale price of a plan. Due to the varying prices of plans sold by information brokers in NSW, the sale price of broker’s plans was deemed by the Tribunal to be $14.50, to be increased by CPI annually.

Copyright Agency’s Chief Executive Murray St Leger said, “We are so pleased to see this issue finally about to deliver some results to surveyors. About 430 NSW surveyors have become members of Copyright Agency to date, but it is vital that all surveying companies and sole traders join the Copyright Agency as soon as possible to facilitate the distribution of payments.”

“Surveyors in other States should join too as this decision will impact on payments to surveyors Australia-wide in the next few years.”

ACS NSW Chairman, Paul Rowlandson, said “After a 15-year joint effort from ACS NSW, Copyright Agency and Pat McNamara, we are in the finishing straight of the copyright issue. We need one last effort to complete the journey by supporting Copyright Agency to represent the surveying profession to accept and distribute copyright payments.”

“What needs to happen? We need all firms and entities to become a Copyright Agency member. It’s an easy online process that’s free and ensures that you will get any payments that you are due for copyright. Don’t delay! Jump online straight away and make sure you are part of history.”

Membership is free. To find out more, go to our Surveyors page. 

Membership benefits include regular communications via the agency’s e-news and member events.

For more information, contact Copyright Agency on 1800 066 844 Toll free or (02) 9394 7600.