Question NW1484 to the Minister of Communications
11 December 2019 - NW1484
Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Communications
With reference to determining net profit of a commercial script, why does the SA Broadcasting Corporation insist on deducting fees paid to contract writers as if it is a royalty fee paid to a copyright owner?
Reply:
I have been advised by the SA Broadcasting Corporation as follows:
The fees received by Script Writers are contract fees for the writing of the scripts, not “royalties” as the writers are commissioned to produce an SABC owned script. However, the writer’s fee is currently deducted from the sales amount when calculating the producer’s portion as part of the administrative process. However, the SABC is reviewing its TV Script Writer’s Agreement and is re-looking the term “royalties” in the Agreement.
MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS
MINISTER