Jun 01 2009
Who Owns the Quotes in an Article?
My thanks to Dana Cassell who granted permission for me to reprint this article from the Freelance Writer’s Report, June 2009.
Olde Lessons
Four years ago, Freelance Writer’s Report gave readers information that’s as useful now as it was then. It’s worth repeating.
Who owns the quotes in an article: the writer or the person being quoted? According to a source at the U.S. Copyright Office, the words belong to the interview subject.
Contracts Watch added, “This causes complications in contracts that ask for transfer of rights and restrictions on use of anything in the article. If a quote is involved. you are promising something you have no control over. Another reason to carefully read contracts and be wary of what you promise on paper.”
Note: For a free PDF sample of the Freelance Writer’s Report, click on this link:
http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Membership/FWR_Online/fwr_online.htm
