Legal Issues in Publishing â Copyright and Reprint ... - Venable LLP
Legal Issues in Publishing â Copyright and Reprint ... - Venable LLP
Legal Issues in Publishing â Copyright and Reprint ... - Venable LLP
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<strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Issues</strong> <strong>in</strong> Publish<strong>in</strong>g – <strong>Copyright</strong> <strong>and</strong> Repr<strong>in</strong>t Requests<br />
Lisa M. Hix<br />
<strong>Venable</strong>, <strong>LLP</strong><br />
Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, DC<br />
November 10, 2010<br />
© 2008 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong><br />
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Overview<br />
<strong>Copyright</strong> <strong>Issues</strong> Related To:<br />
• Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g copyright “ownership”<br />
• Ensur<strong>in</strong>g adequate rights are obta<strong>in</strong>ed (<strong>and</strong><br />
reta<strong>in</strong>ed) for your organization’s distribution<br />
• H<strong>and</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g third-party repr<strong>in</strong>t requests<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
What Are <strong>Copyright</strong> Rights?<br />
• What rights does a copyright owner enjoy?<br />
– The right to copy the work,<br />
– The right to distribute the work,<br />
– Make derivative works,<br />
– The right to prevent others from us<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
work,<br />
–Etc.<br />
• Remember - Applies to All Intellectual Property<br />
– Text, Graphics, Photos, Video<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
How Are <strong>Copyright</strong> Rights Obta<strong>in</strong>ed –<br />
Created by Conduct/Relationship<br />
• CREATION - Through creation (ownership<br />
resides <strong>in</strong> the author)<br />
• WORKS FOR HIRE – Generally limited to<br />
employees – otherwise, must be <strong>in</strong> writ<strong>in</strong>g<br />
• IMPLIED LICENSE – Where no written contract<br />
exists, “contract by conduct”<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
How Are <strong>Copyright</strong> Rights Obta<strong>in</strong>ed –<br />
Created by Written Agreement<br />
• ASSIGNMENT - Transfer of all copyright<br />
ownership<br />
– Organization may use <strong>in</strong> any form, at any time<br />
• LICENSE - Limited by scope, but can be very<br />
broad<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
Secur<strong>in</strong>g Rights - License<br />
• Def<strong>in</strong>e Future Uses<br />
– Particularly important for previously<br />
published materials<br />
–Def<strong>in</strong>eElectronic Rights<br />
• Def<strong>in</strong>e Any First Publication Rights<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
Secur<strong>in</strong>g Rights - License<br />
• Def<strong>in</strong>e Geographic Area<br />
• Exclusive or Non-exclusive<br />
• Perpetual or Limited <strong>in</strong> Duration<br />
• Def<strong>in</strong>e Payment (or Non-Payment) Terms<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
<strong>Copyright</strong> Law — Registration<br />
• Registration is a prerequisite to fil<strong>in</strong>g suit to enforce<br />
rights where necessary.<br />
– <strong>Copyright</strong> on the public record<br />
– Registered works may eligible for statutory<br />
damages <strong>and</strong> attorney's fees <strong>in</strong> successful<br />
litigation.<br />
– If registration occurs with<strong>in</strong> five years of<br />
publication, it is considered prima facie evidence<br />
<strong>in</strong> a court of law<br />
• Simple <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>expensive process (small fee, two-tothree-month<br />
wait).<br />
• Remember <strong>in</strong>ternational registrations<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
Additional Considerations<br />
• Works by Volunteers/Committee Members –<br />
Does not automatically vest <strong>in</strong> the organization<br />
• Contributions to Collective Works - In the<br />
absence of an express transfer, limited to use <strong>in</strong><br />
that particular collective work, any revision of that<br />
collective work, <strong>and</strong> any later collective work <strong>in</strong><br />
the same series<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
Additional Considerations<br />
• Jo<strong>in</strong>t Authorship – Need license from both<br />
authors.<br />
• Third Party Material – Ensure that author obta<strong>in</strong>s<br />
rights<br />
• Overlay of Third-Party Agreements/Acts<br />
– Publishers (Wiley, etc.)<br />
– Translations<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
Additional Considerations<br />
• Don’t Overlook these Clauses:<br />
– Indemnification (particularly for <strong>in</strong>fr<strong>in</strong>gement)<br />
–Delivery<strong>and</strong> Acceptance<br />
– Options for Subsequent Work<br />
– Compet<strong>in</strong>g Works<br />
– Revisions <strong>and</strong> New Editions<br />
• Beware of Revisions – Underst<strong>and</strong> impact on<br />
other contract clauses<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
Practical Tips<br />
• Strategy<br />
– License, Assignment, or Shared Ownership?<br />
• Adopt a st<strong>and</strong>ard policy <strong>and</strong> practice for all<br />
volunteer <strong>and</strong> committee work.<br />
– Volunteers sign from outset of work<br />
• Adopt st<strong>and</strong>ard agreements<br />
• Conduct an Intellectual Property audit<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
Protect<strong>in</strong>g Your Intellectual Property<br />
Clearly def<strong>in</strong>e scope of use<br />
• Identity of user<br />
• Transferability<br />
• Clearly def<strong>in</strong>e use <strong>and</strong> duration<br />
• Ensure you have what you give away<br />
• Monitor<strong>in</strong>g others’ use<br />
–Use cease <strong>and</strong> desist letters<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
contact <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
Lisa M. Hix<br />
575 7th Street NW<br />
Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, DC 20004<br />
lmhix@venable.com<br />
t 202.344.4793<br />
To view <strong>Venable</strong>’s <strong>in</strong>dex of articles <strong>and</strong> PowerPo<strong>in</strong>t<br />
presentations on Organization <strong>and</strong> nonprofit legal<br />
topics, see www.venable.com/nonprofits/publications<br />
www.<strong>Venable</strong>.com<br />
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© 2010 <strong>Venable</strong> <strong>LLP</strong>
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