NUJ Glasgow Freelance - Copyright Guidelines for Commissioning Editors

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.