How artists get paid for overseas use of their work
When your work is used abroad for example in a publication, exhibition, broadcast or resold on the secondary market, if you're a DACS member - royalties are collected by the rights organisation in that country. They pass these royalties to DACS, and we pay them to you.
What is DACS and how does DACS work globally?
DACS is a UK Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for visual artists and creators. We manage rights, negotiate licences, and collect royalties on your behalf – both in the UK and internationally. To do this we collaborate with a growing network of international rights organisations, often called sister societies.
This page explains how international licensing and Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) royalties reach you from around the world and how DACS works with an international network of rights organisations to ensure your rights are protected globally.
Why DACS works with an international network
DACS has agreements with sister societies around the world, so when you join DACS you benefit from this international network, which ensures your work is protected and you are paid wherever your work is used or re-sold.
We are part of a network of rights management organisations representing 180,000 artists in 36 countries.
National laws, industry norms and licensing frameworks vary between countries. Our international partner organisations understand the laws and cultural markets in their territory, ensuring your rights are applied effectively and opportunities are identified by people with on‑the‑ground expertise.
Our work with these rights organisations helps you benefit from:
More places where your work can generate income
By working with our partners abroad, DACS gives you access to markets that would otherwise be difficult to reach. This means more opportunities for your work to be licensed and to earn royalties from resales on the secondary market.
Efficient royalty collection and distribution
Instead of artists having to join multiple organisations in different countries, DACS’ international network allows royalties to be collected, processed and returned through one central point. This keeps administration simpler for you and helps ensure payments reach you smoothly.
How artists receive international royalties through DACS
When your work is used abroad for example in a publication, exhibition, broadcast or resold on the secondary market, if you're a DACS member - royalties are collected by the rights organisation in that country. They pass these royalties to DACS, and we pay them to you through our regular distribution timetable.
These examples show how our international networks can help you receive royalties from outside of the UK:
An example of how international licensing works
When Apple TV+ began production on the series Your Friends and Neighbors, our American sister society, Artist Rights Society (ARS), handled a request from the production team to feature a Francis Bacon artwork in the show. The series follows Jon Hamm as Coop, a recently divorced hedge fund manager whose life unravels after losing his job. In one episode, a burglary scene required a striking artwork to be stolen, and the production chose Bacon’s 'Study for a Pope, 1955'. The Artist Rights Society (ARS) licensed the use of the artwork under US law and industry practice, and the resulting royalties were then transferred back to DACS for distribution to the artist’s beneficiaries.
An example of how international Artist’s Resale Right works
When Bonhams France sold 'The Kiss Was Beautiful, 2016' by Dame Tracey Emin in 2024, our French sister society, ADAGP, collected the Artist’s Resale Right royalty due on the transaction under French law. They then transferred the royalty to DACS, enabling us to distribute the payment to the artist through our regular Artist's Resale Right payment schedule.
We continue to encourage the adoption of ARR in more countries, expanding opportunities for artists worldwide.
An example of how international collective licensing works
In many countries, artists are paid through collective licensing or extended collective licensing schemes. These allow certain low‑impact uses of works, such as photocopying in education, private copying, or the use of images to promote exhibitions, without individual permissions or licences being agreed each time.
Where national law allows these uses, local rights organisations collect these royalties under their national systems and pass them to DACS through our international agreements. We then process the payments, apply a standard administration deduction, and distribute the royalties to eligible members. While the individual uses are often small, these royalties recognise lawful use of your work and ensure you are paid without needing to take any action.
How overseas royalties are processed: payments, deductions and distribution
To ensure transparent and efficient distribution, DACS:
- processes incoming royalties from international partners,
- applies administration deductions to cover our operating costs,
- distributes royalties at regular points throughout the year.
This system ensures that, whether your royalties originate in the UK or overseas, you receive them through one trusted and streamlined process.
Royalty payments and DACS administration fees
DACS does not charge a membership fee. As a not-for-profit, we retain a small percentage of royalties collected on your behalf to cover our costs.
We distribute royalties regularly:
- ARR royalites are paid monthly. For royalties collected overseas we deduct 5% administration fee, before distributing the remaining royalties to you.
- Copyright licensing royalties and overseas collective licensing royalties are paid 4 times a year: in February, May, August and November. For royalties collected from overseas we deduct 15% administration fee, before distributing the remaining royalties to you.
Please see our distribution policy for further information.
Why some of your royalties come from overseas
Seeing royalties from abroad on your DACS royalty statement simply means your work is being used internationally:, a sign of growing reach and opportunity. DACS’ work with our international sister societies ensures these payments are gathered efficiently and returned to you without the complexity of navigating foreign systems.