DACS Payback for 2025
DACS (the Design and Artists Copyright Society) has launched its annual Payback scheme.
This year, for the first time, creators can also claim for work featured in TV programmes on Film Four and Sky Arts in addition to BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and specialist channels. A full list is available here.
Last year, 109,000 artists, photographers, and illustrators received a record-breaking £5.3 million in royalties – an 18% increase in participation from the previous year. Since 1999, £80 million has been distributed overall.
“For over 25 years, Payback has been an important source of income for creators, helping artists, photographers, and illustrators sustain their work in an increasingly challenging landscape – from rising costs and bills to the rapid pace of technological change. As we launch Payback 2025, DACS remains committed to protecting creators’ rights and ensuring they are fairly compensated for the reuse of their work.” Christian Zimmermann, DACS Chief Executive
Visual creators can register now at https://payback.dacs.org.uk and share details of where their work has been published. The key dates for Payback 2025 are:
- 14 February: Deadline to register.
- 11 April: Final deadline to complete their claim.
- Autumn 2025: Royalties paid to claimants
DACS is committed to ensuring visual creators are paid fairly as AI technology develops. Last year, DACS surveyed its members on new workplace AI licences proposed by the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) from which DACS receives revenue distributed through Payback. These licences will allow published content to be used as prompts on paid-for enterprise versions of generative AI platforms for internal uses only. Rights relating to any training, including that of large language models are not included and are being consulted on separately. Members showed clear support for the idea, giving DACS the mandate to back it. The licences will launch this year, with royalties distributed to claimants via Payback from 2026. This is a key step forward in protecting creators’ rights in the age of AI.
Find out more information: DACS website
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