I recently wrote a news story for an NYC-based weekly. It was the first time in a year that I'd written for them, but there was no contract or even discussion of terms that preceded this article.
Then a week later I found out that a weekly in my home city (Toronto, Canada) had reprinted the article without my permission.
When I raised this with the U.S. weekly, the editor said they own all rights for two weeks and do not ask for payment for either the weekly or the freelancer when they grant reprint rights.
This is the first time I've come across such high-handed treatment, where I've been effectively denied the opportunity to sell reprint rights without even having been informed in advance of this loss of copyright.
But it's clear to me that if I make a fuss, the NYC weekly won't take my articles any more. Under the circumstances, do I have any leverage?
Thanks.
Then a week later I found out that a weekly in my home city (Toronto, Canada) had reprinted the article without my permission.
When I raised this with the U.S. weekly, the editor said they own all rights for two weeks and do not ask for payment for either the weekly or the freelancer when they grant reprint rights.
This is the first time I've come across such high-handed treatment, where I've been effectively denied the opportunity to sell reprint rights without even having been informed in advance of this loss of copyright.
But it's clear to me that if I make a fuss, the NYC weekly won't take my articles any more. Under the circumstances, do I have any leverage?
Thanks.
