Copyright Links

Introductory Remarks

In case you're not aware of it, there's a big battle going on in journalism over electronic rights. These are the rights (licence agreements) to put authors' works on a web site on the Internet, in a data base or on a cd. Many publishers have attempted to do this without compensating the freelance journalist or with only a token compensation. Two of the most notorious examples are Southam News in Canada and the New York Times in the United States. The stakes for the freelance journalist are high; many millions in potential additional earnings. Fortunately, there are growing signs that saner heads are starting to prevail. Witness the National Writers Union's Publication Rights Clearinghouse project. However, there is still a very long ways to go yet.

I would STRONGLY recommend that journalists not intimately familiar with this issue begin by reading the American Society Of Journalists & Authors E-Wrongs About E-Rights, which will provide you with a good general background. Then check out the Periodical Writers Association Of Canada, American Society Of Journalists & Authors and the National Writers Union for more information on this battle. The various trade journals also cover this issue.

Finally, before someone questions my linking to various publications that take all rights or as many extra rights as they can without paying for them,I would like to say that my linking to any site DOES NOT mean that I condone its policies. In fact I would highly recommend freelance journalists not writing for any publication that does not adequately compensate the journalist for electronic rights.

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