The Screenwriters Association's (SWA) Dispute Settlement Committee (DSC) has helped writers recover nearly ₹55 to 60 lakh in unpaid dues over the last six years.
Out of the 50 cases handled annually, the majority are resolved through mediation, negotiation, and settlement, with only a handful escalating to court cases.
According to data from DSC, copyright and plagiarism issues account for 55 to 60 per cent of disputes, followed by non-payment or delayed payments at 30 to 35 per cent, while credit-related conflicts account for less than 10 per cent.
SWA aims to educate writers to have their contracts in order, before putting pen to paper, to prevent disputes arising from a lack of clarity during the early stages of collaboration.
