Your question suggests a scenario through which I pose a couple of questions: You write something for which the publisher (AP) pays you, which in turn, depending on the terms of the agreement between you and AP, means you may have legally ceded your property rights over the words you used. If you later quote yourself without AP's permission, does it not stand to reason (from AP's point of view) that you have "stolen" their property without paying them their fair market value for that property? Notwithstanding the fair use concept that allows you limited but not wholesale use of APs property, have you not forfeited your property rights? Am I not understanding the contract principle involved in writer-and-publisher arrangements? Or am I misunderstanding the principles involved?
Well, when I write something for The Inquirer, for instance, I expect to be able to quote whenever I damn well please without them a dime. And If AP quotes something I have said or something I have written but not for them I don't expect to pay them either. And I've spent 45 odd years writing ... for money. AP gathers information. Does it pay for the quotes it publishes? I daresay not.
I sense a bit of anger. If I wrote (said) anything that contributed to or exacerbated the anger, I regret it, I withdraw it, and I apologize for it. My question came out of ignorance and curiosity--i.e., I'm someone who knows little about the financial end of journalism and publishing.
Oh, any perceived anger was directed at AP, not at you, R.T. You must remember I worked in the news business for nearly 30 years. The hypocrisy that afflicts it is appalling.
Your question suggests a scenario through which I pose a couple of questions: You write something for which the publisher (AP) pays you, which in turn, depending on the terms of the agreement between you and AP, means you may have legally ceded your property rights over the words you used. If you later quote yourself without AP's permission, does it not stand to reason (from AP's point of view) that you have "stolen" their property without paying them their fair market value for that property? Notwithstanding the fair use concept that allows you limited but not wholesale use of APs property, have you not forfeited your property rights? Am I not understanding the contract principle involved in writer-and-publisher arrangements? Or am I misunderstanding the principles involved?
ReplyDeleteWell, when I write something for The Inquirer, for instance, I expect to be able to quote whenever I damn well please without them a dime. And If AP quotes something I have said or something I have written but not for them I don't expect to pay them either. And I've spent 45 odd years writing ... for money. AP gathers information. Does it pay for the quotes it publishes? I daresay not.
ReplyDeleteI sense a bit of anger. If I wrote (said) anything that contributed to or exacerbated the anger, I regret it, I withdraw it, and I apologize for it. My question came out of ignorance and curiosity--i.e., I'm someone who knows little about the financial end of journalism and publishing.
ReplyDeleteOh, any perceived anger was directed at AP, not at you, R.T. You must remember I worked in the news business for nearly 30 years. The hypocrisy that afflicts it is appalling.
ReplyDelete