We wanted to get to know MJ Courchesne (NAIWE’s Copyright & Permissions Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here is what she shared with us.

 

In what situations must permission be obtained?

If you do not own the copyright to a piece of intellectual property (whether text, photos, or art), in many cases you should obtain permission prior to incorporating it into your work. Although there are exceptions, it’s important to understand when you should seek permission.

 

Is there standard language or a template of a permission letter?

There are certain items that should be in every permission request including but not limited to the name of your publication, when it’s publishing, what format(s) your work will be published in, as well as language(s) and territory (territories) it will publish in.

 

In the writing industry, besides publishers, who else requires permissions?

Anyone wishing to re-use intellectual property that is not their original creation should consider whether they need permission before re-using, adapting, or putting the original IP into a new format.

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Learn the ins and outs of what publishers require when they ask you to “clear” permission for third-party materials you are incorporating into your work. What things do you need to have in a permission agreement, and how do you go about getting permission anyway? How long will this process take?

You can join in this conversation on May 27, at 3 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on handling permissions. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!

We wanted to get to know MJ Courchesne (NAIWE’s Copyright & Permissions Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

 

What aspects of publishing can be turned into avenues for marketing?

Whenever you execute a license of your material to a third party by way of an excerpt, new edition (think audio), permission, or other adaptation, you can think of that as a sort of “ad” for your book and your publishing brand (you as an author or you as a publisher). Essentially, any new venue that you can reach beyond traditional sales is a good opportunity to call back to the original publication and generate more sales or at the least awareness of your product. Of course, you need to ensure that the license includes an appropriate credit line, thumbnail of your cover, or other callback to your original work so that people can read more!

 

Can protecting your intellectual property with a copyright be an advantage when it comes to advertising it?

Copyright vests with the creator from the moment of creation, but registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office is a useful (and recommended) way to protect your intellectual property from possible infringement that may occur online or in other venues. Although I’d still say it’s rare for someone to be infringed from an advertisement of their work, it’s good to have that protection in place. Registration is certainly not a requirement, but I usually recommend my clients take that extra step for the peace of mind it offers, especially once that title is out there in the world.

 

You belong to several associations. Do you find that being a member of associations leads to more advertising opportunities? 

Membership in professional organizations and associations certainly helps me to network and find those people who might need my services, so I always look forward to joining associations where I might be of use to their members. Education is a big part of my business, and so webinars, talks, and simple networking are useful in educating authors and publishers about issues surrounding copyright and permissions. It’s all about finding people when they need you.

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