[cma-l] Copyright

[Felixstowe Radio]

As a small publisher I can only add the following:

All authors have automatic copyright protection of all written works, without doing anything, for up to 70 years after their death - a safeguard is to post a copy of the script to yourself - which provides a date stamp - provided you don't open the envelope!

Provided the station has permission to use the script they would then acquire certain rights - and these are a matter of contractual discussion - first broadcast rights will allow just that - the right to broadcast. The author never loses rights to the work - unless a contract specifically says that is the case. My advice to authors is 'never let it go'.

A contract may go further, perhaps providing for the author to receive a percentage of any resale rights, or to give the station rights to use for a year (or more).

This refers to written work - don't use this for recorded voices, for music, as there's another minefield.

Trevor Lockwood
www.felixstoweradio.co.uk
www.braiswick.com
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