As a freelance writer, you generally work on a contract basis for your clients. You may write a short, 100-word product description or you may ghostwrite an entire novel on behalf of a client. Some assignments may include details to write just one piece, but other assignments may provide you with work on an on-going basis. While some clients will allow you to include your own byline in the piece and take credit for its authorship, most clients will want to purchase the rights of the work from you and to use your work as their own.
Different Types of Rights
Freelance writers today should be aware that there are different levels of rights that you can sell when you sell your services. You can sell full rights to your work, which allows the client to use the piece in any way he or she sees fit, to make changes to it, and to place his or her own name on it as the author. You can also sell usage rights, which allow the client to use your piece but allows you to sell the piece to other clients as well. Between these two extremes, there are other levels of rights that you can sell as well. In most cases, however, a client will want to purchase full rights to the work.
Defining the Terms
If you work on behalf of freelance writing websites, content writing websites, or self-publishing sites, you will find that the issue of rights is clearly spelled out in most cases. You may have to agree to give up your rights as a condition to work for these sites, or you may be permitted to publish an article with your byline such as is the case with many self-publishing sites. When working with a direct client, however, often the issues of rights does not come up. Many individuals make the assumption that since they are paying you for an article, blog post, or other piece, they will have full rights to use it however they wish once they pay for it. These are generally not professional writers who are aware of the legal nuisances of the industry, and so you do want to carefully spell out your own terms for completing the work before you accept the assignment and start writing.
Negotiating Terms
In many cases, a freelance writer has no problem agreeing to sign over full rights of a piece to a client. After all, do you really need your byline reflected on a short, 100-word product description on a company’s website that you will never visit? However, there are some cases when you may want to include your byline and enjoy credit for your fine work. For instance, if you working on a well-researched, newsworthy or informative paper, article, or book, you may want some credit for your efforts. These significant efforts on your part can help you to earn more business in the future or may help you to land a salaried gig with a publishing or editing house at some point in the future. Often, suggesting a co-author status with the client will be acceptable to many clients, but you may need to finagle this through negotiations.
It is easy to simply sign away rights to your work without giving it a second thought. However, there are times when retaining usage rights can allow you to make greater profits by re-selling a piece numerous times. There are also times when taking credit for your work can progress your career. Take time to consider the rights to your work and use them to your advantage in certain situations!
As a freelance writer, you generally work on a contract basis for your clients. You may write a short, 100-word product description or you may ghostwrite an entire novel on behalf of a client. Some assignments may include details to write just one piece, but other assignments may provide you with work on an on-going basis. While some clients will allow you to include your own byline in the piece and take credit for its authorship, most clients will want to purchase the rights of the work from you and to use your work as their own.
Different Types of Rights
Freelance writers today should be aware that there are different levels of rights that you can sell when you sell your services. You can sell full rights to your work, which allows the client to use the piece in any way he or she sees fit, to make changes to it, and to place his or her own name on it as the author. You can also sell usage rights, which allow the client to use your piece but allows you to sell the piece to other clients as well. Between these two extremes, there are other levels of rights that you can sell as well. In most cases, however, a client will want to purchase full rights to the work.
Defining the Terms
If you work on behalf of freelance writing websites, content writing websites, or self-publishing sites, you will find that the issue of rights is clearly spelled out in most cases. You may have to agree to give up your rights as a condition to work for these sites, or you may be permitted to publish an article with your byline such as is the case with many self-publishing sites. When working with a direct client, however, often the issues of rights does not come up. Many individuals make the assumption that since they are paying you for an article, blog post, or other piece, they will have full rights to use it however they wish once they pay for it. These are generally not professional writers who are aware of the legal nuisances of the industry, and so you do want to carefully spell out your own terms for completing the work before you accept the assignment and start writing.
Negotiating Terms
In many cases, a freelance writer has no problem agreeing to sign over full rights of a piece to a client. After all, do you really need your byline reflected on a short, 100-word product description on a company’s website that you will never visit? However, there are some cases when you may want to include your byline and enjoy credit for your fine work. For instance, if you working on a well-researched, newsworthy or informative paper, article, or book, you may want some credit for your efforts. These significant efforts on your part can help you to earn more business in the future or may help you to land a salaried gig with a publishing or editing house at some point in the future. Often, suggesting a co-author status with the client will be acceptable to many clients, but you may need to finagle this through negotiations.
It is easy to simply sign away rights to your work without giving it a second thought. However, there are times when retaining usage rights can allow you to make greater profits by re-selling a piece numerous times. There are also times when taking credit for your work can progress your career. Take time to consider the rights to your work and use them to your advantage in certain situations!
