Dutch cable operators UPC and Ziggo do not have to pay royalties to Vevam, the association of Dutch film directors.
According to the court, the technical conditions have changed and the existing model in which the cablers paid Vevam was no longer applicable. However, the directors still have a right for monetary compensation, but the method needs to be changed.
The cablers stopped paying the directors in October 2012, claiming that the distribution method has changed.
Formerly, the cable operators received the signal from a satellite or terrestrial feed for further distribution on their networks, but now the programmes are directly injected into the network.
This means that cable carriage is now the primary distribution rather than a secondary one, removing the basis for additional payments to the director’ association.