The Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) is a not-for-profit collective management organisation (CMO) established in the United Kingdom in 1983, operating since 1984. DACS is dedicated to advocating, protecting, and managing the copyright and related rights of visual artists, helping them collect and maximize royalties owed for the use of their works. The society represents over 180,000 visual artists and their estates worldwide, boasting an international reach through its collaborations with various collecting societies and membership networks. It distributes millions in royalties annually—by 2024, DACS had distributed more than £200 million.
DACS’ core mission is to champion artists’ intellectual property rights, ensuring fair compensation through licensing, royalty collection, and advocacy. Their three main services are: DACS ARR (Artist’s Resale Right), DACS Payback (for secondary uses and collective licensing), and DACS Licensing. The organization works with major cultural and commercial players, including the BBC, Tate, Netflix, Penguin, and international fashion brands, negotiating licensing agreements and defending artists’ rights in legislative, regulatory, and digital contexts.
As a lobbyist accredited with the EU Transparency Register, DACS actively participates in EU-level advocacy, seeking to influence policy development related to copyright, intellectual property rights, collective licensing, and fair remuneration for creators. They’ve run and participated in campaigns to modernize copyright law, advocate for the Artist’s Resale Right, address challenges around artificial intelligence, and protect the interests of visual artists amid EU policymaking.
DACS operates under transparent governance, with a board of directors and a global membership. It is noted for pushing forward the interests of artists at parliamentarian levels, not only in the UK but also through EU policy mechanisms. It provides secretariat support to parliamentary groups and networks with legislative and sector organizations to advance the rights of artists. As a recognized lobbyist in the EU, DACS is committed to open advocacy, responsible representation, and detailed reporting to the Transparency Register on its lobbying activities, financial data, and networking.
