The Society of AuthorsThe British authors’ organization, with a membership of over 7,000 writers. Membership is open to those who have had a book published, or who have an offer to publish (without subsidy by the author). Offers individual specialist advice and a range of publications to its members. Has also campaigned successfully on behalf of authors in general for improved terms and established a minimum terms agreement with many publishers. Recently campaigned to get the Public Lending Right fund increased from £5 million to £7 million for the year 2002/2003. Regularly uses input from members to produce comparative surveys of publishers’ royalty payment systems. http://www.societyofauthors.org/ (SoA) has renewed its calls for TV companies to pay and credit historians and authors for their research work after a rise in complaints from members.
SoA c.e.o. Nicola Solomon said writers were increasingly complaining of not being paid or credited where books had formed the basis of hit shows or for research they provided to producers. She claimed it was a "perennial problem" made worse by the huge amount of television now being produced and the need for content to fill them.