NUJ Glasgow Copyright

Copyright Guidelines for Commissioning Editors

1	Remember, copyright is the cornerstone of a creative society, the only means by which those who create original material can continue to benefit from the full value of their work.
2	Never seek to buy ownership of copyright from non-staff contributors. This is bad practice.
3	Good practice is one where a contributor keeps copyright and licences uses of his or her material.
4	Always be clear about which rights you are buying, bearing in mind the needs of your organisation and the fact that most contributors will want to strike a deal provided the terms are right.
5	Be prepared to negotiate extra payments for extra rights, beyond basic first use of the material. (see below)
6	Allow for the fact that not all contributors may want you to syndicate their material for them. Some can strike better deals on their own.
7	Wherever possible, put the terms you have agreed in writing so as to minimise confusion and avoid disputes.

Contributors license you to use their work, for which they are paid a fee.

Extra uses of their work, for which extra fees are paid, include:

	storage in a publicly accessible archive or database for the full term of the rights;
	publication on a CD-ROM;
	re-publication by the company in print;
	re-publication on a directly connected website:
	publication on another website;
	syndication, either through spot sales or through subscribers to the newspaper:
	public photo-copying.

Published by the National Union of Journalists, Headland House, 308-312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP.

Form letters for copyright breaches

Thompsons, the NUJ's retained solicitors, have issued the following advice for members who believe that their copyright has been infringed:

"In the first instance the member should issue a letter [letter one] to the party responsible, advising of the breach, seeking immediate payment (calculation of which reference should be made to the NUJ freelance fees guide) and enclosing an invoice.

Should there be no response within a two-week period the member should then issue a second letter [letter two] identifying the outstanding amount and interest and advising that the matter will be passed to the union's lawyers for consideration if no attempt at settlement is made.

Should neither letter prompt a response, or should the party concerned refute the alleged breach, the matter should then be passed to Thompsons.

We will endeavour to secure an opinion from a copyright specialist in our Congress House office and, if the opinion is favourable, undertake to issue a formal letter of claim.

Thompsons will then pursue the matter either through negotiation or court proceedings."

Letter 1

Letter 2