Payback for Writers and Payback for Visual Artists

Click here to login to make your Payback claim and update your affiliation agreement if you haven’t already.

Payback is now open and we will be accepting claims from April 1 to May 31.

Details on this year’s Payback

All creators affiliated with Access Copyright as of December 31, 2017 are eligible to submit a claim for this year’s payment. Payments will be distributed at the end of November.

This year’s Payback claim will cover works published between 1997 and 2016. Works published in 2017 will be requested next year. Digital/online works are not eligible.

You do not need to make a claim for this year’s payment if:

1. You have submitted a claim in the past and do not have any 2016 works to add. Your 2018 payment will be calculated based on the data submitted previously.
2. You did not publish any works in print format for which you retain copyright between 1997 and 2016.

Before beginning your claim this year online, you will be prompted to review and sign an updated creator affiliation agreement if you have not signed it.

Steps to complete your Payback claim

• Writers (English, French)
• Visual Artists (English, French)

Frequently asked questions (English, French)

This is the time to stand up and take action.

The federal government has launched a review of the Copyright Act.

This is an important opportunity to call on the government to ensure that balance is restored so that creators will once again be fairly compensated for educational copying of their works.

How to get involved: Visit I Value Canadian Stories to explore ways you can make your voice heard, including tools to write to your local MP, share message on social media and encourage your friends to get involved too.

I Value Canadian Stories is an initiative driven by a coalition of associations across the creative industries founded by: Access Copyright, Association of Canadian Publishers, Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens, Canadian Publishers’ Council, News Media Canada, Playwrights Guild of Canada and The Writers' Union of Canada.