Intellectual Property Rights

nancy sv · Nov 15, 2007

I'm hoping you guys can shed some light on this one for me...

We hav just decided to partner up with Reach the World for our bike trip from Alaska to Argentina. RTW is a non-profit organization with an interactive website for kids in inner cities to access and learn from. We will be posting information on a regular basis to the website and will also be holding live chats with the kids in NYC.

The contract from RTW says that all info posted on the website becomes theirs - they hold the copyright on everything we write for them. Is that normal? I don't mind not having that content published somewhere else, but I wonder about the rights to it. Is that a normal thing, or should we push for the content to belong to us?

Birol · Nov 15, 2007

Unless there's some reason you want them to have all rights, I'd talk to them about changing that part of the contract.

JanDarby · Nov 15, 2007

This is something you really need to discuss with a qualified intellectual property lawyer who can read the contract and give you specific advice.

JD

a_sharp · Nov 15, 2007

Saw your earlier posts re: the book idea. Congrats on finding the partner, but listen to JanDarby and don't get screwed. You and your family will contribute the largest investment, and I'm not talking just money.

skelly · Nov 15, 2007

Yeah, what if you want to add that content to a future book about the bike tour (complete with photos of when you got attacked by Bigfoot)? I'd proceed with extreme caution.

IceCreamEmpress · Nov 15, 2007

Tell them that you think a more specific "right of first electronic publication" would be more appropriate in your case. Don't even apologize about it; just amend the contract to reflect this, and tell them that you'll need to make that change.

My guess is that they won't squawk. If they do, then you'll need to discuss it further. But in my experience, people generally are fine with amending a standard contract if you have very specific changes.

veinglory · Nov 15, 2007

I would agree with that. Copyright is rarely handed over except in work for hire, ghostwriting etc. Not to say their are not exception but I expect they are just sayiong 'copyright' without thinking about what it is and whether they have any basis for grabbing it.

nancy sv · Nov 15, 2007

I do think they will be open to changes. I heard from another family who is on a RTW voyage right now and they asked for that part to be changed - and they did it. I'll ask for "first electronic rights" and see what they say. I suspect they'll be OK with it.

Thanks everyone!

Intellectual Property Rights

nancy sv

30 months on a bicycle...

Birol

Around and About

JanDarby

a_sharp

Somebody give me an A

skelly

Kickin it old school, posers beware

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

veinglory

volitare nequeo

nancy sv

30 months on a bicycle...