Understanding what royalties are and how they contribute to visual artists and creators
DACS exists to champion, protect and maximise royalties for artists and creators – which is why it’s important to understand what royalties mean, how they work, and why they matter.
For visual artists and creators, royalties are an important way to earn beyond the first sale of a work or the original commission. They ensure artists are fairly paid when their creations are reproduced, shared, or resold, recognising the ongoing value of their work.
What are artist royalties?
Royalties are payments that can be made to artists, creators and their beneficiaries when their work is used, shared, or sold beyond the first transaction. They recognise that an artist’s contribution continues long after an artwork leaves their studio - whether it’s a painting changing hands at auction, an illustration being published in a book, or a photograph reproduced in a magazine.
Visual artists and creators, may be eligible for royalties depending on how and where their work is used.
Artists estates and beneficiaries, maybe eligible for royalties depending on when the artist died, how the work is used, and where.
Where do royalties come from?
DACS Artist’s Resale Right (ARR)
In the UK, the Artist’s Resale Right entitles artists and their beneficiaries to a royalty when their work is resold for £1000 or more on the secondary market through an auction house, gallery, or dealer. It ensures artists and their beneficiaries benefit from the increasing value of their work.
It is the responsibility of the art market professional and seller to pay the royalty to organisations like DACS, who then distribute the money to ARR members.
DACS Licensing
Artists can license their work for specific uses, such as being featured in a book, film, on a product, or in a digital campaign. This type of licensing agreement usually includes permission for certain people to reproduce copyright-protected artwork in specific ways, which typically involves a cost. The terms of this agreement determine how much you are paid in royalties for the use of your work.
When you join DACS Licensing, we handle the negotiations and licensing process, protect your rights, and collect these royalties on your behalf. Payments are then distributed to members four times a year.
Collective Licensing (DACS Payback)
Collective Licensing royalties are distributed through services like DACS Payback and the overseas Public Lending Right (PLR). Every day, creative works are reused - scanned in libraries, photocopied in offices, or recorded for educational purposes - and it’s often difficult for artists to track these uses one by one. Annually DACS receives a share of revenue which we distribute as royalties to creators for such uses.
What royalties can I receive?
The royalties you are entitled to collect depends on how DACS can help you.
If your work is resold, for over £1000, you may be able to collect royalties by joining DACS Artist’s Resale Right.
If your work is published in a book or magazine or used in a TV programme you may be able to collect royalties by joining DACS Payback.
If you receive requests to license your work, you may be able to collect royalties through DACS Licensing.
How to pay royalties to artists
It’s vital that artists understand the royalties they’re entitled to – but just as crucial that those who use and sell their work recognise their responsibility to pay them. If you’re involved in the reselling of an artist's work or reproducing an artist’s work, you may need to pay royalties.
This could mean:
Checking whether a sale is eligible for Artist’s Resale Right if you’re selling a work.
Checking who owns the copyright in any work and obtaining a licence to use it before reusing or repurposing the artwork. DACS represent artists in the UK and overseas, through our partnerships in over 30 countries. Our team of licensing experts can help clear the rights you need, no matter how complex your project or how many artists it involves.
- If you’re a business, educational institution or public body: paying a fee under a blanket license that covers uses such as photocopying, scanning and broadcast recordings that may feature artists' works.
Why royalties are important
Royalties help sustain artists’ careers by providing ongoing income that reflects the continued impact of their work. They also encourage creativity by showing that society values and respects artistic contributions.
At their heart, royalties are about fairness. They make sure that visual artists, can keep creating, innovating, and enriching our culture.
Read more
- How to join DACS and start collecting artist royalties
- How we advocate for fair pay and support freelance work
- Earn through licensing your work
