Foxtel, Screenrights return to Federal Court

Copyright disbursal organisation Screenrights and Foxtel are returning to the Federal Court in a stoush over retransmission fees.

Trade publication Screen Hub reports it is the third time since 2000 the parties have faced down legal action over the fees for  FTA channels on the Foxtel box.

In August last year Foxtel reportedly started to renegotiate the amount (worth $9.6 million in 2018-19)  but stopped at the end of the year.

Screenrights chair Kim Dalton said: “While it is disappointing to be in the Tribunal again, it is vital that we continue to support copyright owners and ensure that they receive a fair payment for the use of their content. This is especially important now when so many of our members in the creative arts sector are suffering from the severe economic impacts of the pandemic and rely on receiving this income.”