Most countries have copyright laws similar to those in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. If your work is protected here, it will also be protected in most other territories under the local laws. International copyright treaties require certain miminum protections and enforcement of copyright law in member States.
Collecting royalties earned overseas
Both APRA and AMCOS have reciprocal representation agreements with similar societies around the world. These operate under the principal of "national treatment" - meaning foreign socieites administer the rights in their territories in the same way as they treat their own members' works.
Use of your work overseas is however subject to the laws, distribution rules and policies of the society in question. Societies are members of the international umbrella organisation CISAC (www.cisac.org), and BIEM for mechanical societies (www.biem.org), which have certain binding rules and resolutions for the operations of its members.
CISAC has also developed agreed standards and international ‘tools” for distribution rules and practices - the international exchange of society membership, musical work, cue sheets and agreement information, distribution statement data and society financial information.
APRA monitors particular oveseas uses of your repertoire, such as TV and cable broadcasts and chart information, in certain major territories. If you are aware that your work has been used in a foreign territory, you should let APRA|AMCOS know as soon as possible by completeing the relevant form (see Forms & Guidelines). Members should advise us of oveseas tours, the use of your music in film, TV, jingles and other broadcasts or of record releases. This will ensure we can make claims on your behalf to the relevant society and check the incoming royalties, if they are payable.
Royalty payments
APRA distributes foreign earnings together with the domestic distributions in February, May, August and November.
View Foreign Royalty Distribution Schedule>>
Please note: sometimes there can be a significant delay between the performance and the distribution to APRA.
More information
If you think your works are being performed or reproduced in a foreign country, let us know! Contact APRA|AMCOS Writer Services for further information: or 1800 642 634.