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Re: Same content for multiple clients

Subject: Re: Same content for multiple clients
From: Dick Margulis <margulis -at- fiam -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Sat, 14 Dec 2002 17:52:05 -0500


DaveC wrote:


I haven't yet seen the topic of ownership brought up.

Hasn't the first client paid you for the document? Don't they own it completely, now? Wouldn't reusing your own words constitute plagiarism, even if you wrote the words first?



I don't see it that way. Many kinds of consultants recycle their old work all the time and collect full payment each time they do so. I think the key factor is how the relationship is constructed. If you are doing work for hire, then, yes, the first client owns the work. But if you retain the copyright to the work and merely sell the first client a non-exclusive license to reproduce it under their own brand, you can continue to sell such licenses to other clients.

It is fairly common for the price of that first license to be enough to cover your costs of researching and writing the work, but that does not mean that the company that paid that price automatically owns it.

On the other hand, if there was no written contract with the first client, or if any contract was vague on the point of ownership, then anyone in this situation should consult an attorney before assuming anything.


Dick


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References:
Same content for multiple clients: From: meem writer
Re: Same content for multiple clients: From: Anthony Davey
Re: Same content for multiple clients: From: DaveC

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