Our history

Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) is a not-for-profit membership organisation started by writers for the benefit of writers. We’re open to all types of writer, and owned by our members. We collect money that’s due to our members for secondary uses of their work.

ALCS was set up by writers, for writers. We began in the 1970s, when a group of writers were discussing why they weren’t receiving payment when their books were being used. The ‘Writers Action Group’ set about trying to remedy this, campaigning initially for writers to receive recompense when their works were lent by libraries — payments a different organisation looks after these days.

As a result of the group’s long-running campaign, ALCS was founded in 1977, and has grown to represent writers in all genres, collecting and distributing fees for many different rights. Initially a small affair, with writers volunteering their time to admin and campaigning, ALCS is now run with more of a business focus, and employs staff chosen for their particular skills and experience. What started as an action group is now very much a passionate, professional and highly efficient body working worldwide on many levels.