Except in cases of mandatory collective management required by law, royalties can be distributed and paid out only to authors (or their successors in title) who are members, for notified works. Without membership and notification of works in accordance with LaScam’s statutes and general rules, the society would not have the legal title and information necessary to distribute royalties.

FREQUENCY AND TIMING OF DISTRIBUTIONS

LaScam makes five distributions a year: in March, May, July, October and December. Each of these distributions concerns specific categories of royalties. LaScam’s authors can consult their royalty statements by logging onto the secure site “members’ area".

DISTRIBUTION RULES

When authors join LaScam, they must contribute their rights. Therefore it is essential that authors should know the often complex, concrete aspects of the management of their rights. The distribution rules enable LaScam to remunerate authors. Access to these rules is thus a fundamental element of the trust between authors and their society. Since 2001, the Intellectual Property Code has confirmed this legitimate right of authors: “Any member may, at any time, ask the society for a document describing the applicable distribution rules…”

DISTRIBUTION SCALES

The works grading scale is used as a basis for calculating the remuneration paid to authors. Drawn up by the Board of Directors and validated by the Ordinary General Assembly, this scale applies only to audiovisual and sound works for the distribution of television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, podcasting and private copying royalties. The grading proposals put forward by the administrative departments are submitted to the Board of Directors.

DISTRIBUTION TARIFFS

The tariffs underpin the royalty distribution operations. Drawing up these tariffs is a long, meticulous process because it depends on many factors. LaScam takes into account, firstly, the collections from users which extend over several months or even several years and, secondly, all the notifications from authors which also spread over several months. Once all this information has been gathered, LaScam applies the distribution rules to draw up provisional minute tariffs, which are consolidated a year later when all the operations have been validated.