Re: Never signing anything

In a message dated 5/11/02 10:02:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
genebush@otherside.com writes:


> In my years of dealing with newspaper I have never signed anything and
> nothing was ever presented for signature. Be it an article on my garden, a
> article I wrote freelance, etc.    

This is to the publisher's advantage, Gene.  Without a contract that 
specifies what rights the publisher is buying when they buy your article, I 
think you can assume that they will absorb ALL rights. They can publish the 
article in the original publication and any subsequent publications they may 
issue:  anthologies, spinoffs, web sites, etc.  They can probably even sell 
the article to other sources without your permission and without paying you 
additional fees.

So, what happens if you ask for a contract that limits their rights?  They 
tell you they don't want your article enough to do that. The writer is 
definitely at the disadvantage.  The individual writer has to determine how 
much future rights are worth to him or her and whether the article can be 
sold to other sources that may be more specific and generous about rights, or 
not publish it at all, thus giving up the fee and probably future 
opportunities as well. Damned if you do and damned if you don't!
Bill Lee 

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