The agreement allows the BBC to license the programme(s) in which the script(s) are incorporated for use in overseas television and other media on payment to the writer of royalties calculated as a percentage of the distributor’s gross receipts. Provision for distribution on video is made in the separate Videograms Minimum Terms Agreement between the BBC and the Writers’ Guild.

Other matters of detail covered by the agreement include: the writer’s interest in any merchandising that comes from the series or serial for which the script is commissioned; provision for the writer to retain the rights in any fully fleshed-out character created by her/him; definitions of the writer’s entitlement to on-screen credits and billing; the writer’s right to see a roughcut of the programme; the writer’s right to attend read-throughs and

rehearsals, and the BBC’s right to require such attendance; the BBC’s right to make alterations to the script; warranties from the writer that her/his work is original, exclusive to the BBC, not defamatory, and does not infringe anybody else’s copyright; contributions by the BBC to the Writers’ Guild pension scheme, if the writer is a member of it; the BBC’s right of first refusal on the publication rights in the script for a year; and the writer’s assertion of her/his moral right to be identified as the author of the script.

In practice, you will find that you are negotiating with agents for most writers with any sort of television track-record. Agents are familiar with the structure of the BBC-WGGB Agreement and the